This article was written by Ashley Hibbard. She will be tutoring for Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Studies.
“I’m really impressed that you didn’t fly across the chairs at him.”
A few years ago, I was part of an adult bible class, and a visitor started to talk about how wonderful it is that we have all kinds of online tools and internet books and resources, so now we don’t have to study original languages.
I’m not quite sure what the look was on my face, but I can imagine. One of my friends wandered over to me after and said, “I’m really impressed that you didn’t fly across the chairs at him.”
This visitor was, to my mind, quite wrong. A proliferation of resources does not give us reason or license to stop learning. But I think I can also see a few people scratching their heads. Isn’t he at least a little bit right? Even on a broader secular level, there’s much critique that we don’t teach our kids real skills. “School taught me the equation for the slope of a line, but not how to do my taxes!” “School taught me how to play an instrument, but not how to find a healthy relationship.”
While I would agree that schools could put more emphasis on practical skills, I am deeply concerned by strongly utilitarian approaches to education. I’m not sure that a single person in my high school music class became a musician, but it was a place to learn the beauty of creative expression, and was a class with an entirely different pace from the math and science and language that filled the rest of our day.
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” ~Charlemagne
As an academic in the humanities, I’m not sure I’ve ever needed the information I gained from any number of high school chemistry or physics experiments, but they taught me something about rigorous research, validating a hypothesis, and the controls that are necessary to obtain valid data.
Biblical Hebrew: A Good and Valid Endeavour
So I’ve convinced you that study is a good and valid endeavour, even in cases where we have many study aids and tools made possible by technology. I’ve convinced you not all study has to be utilitarian. But if we’re going to teach biblical languages, shouldn’t we teach Greek? It has a moderate degree of use in the sciences, was a lingua franca of the ancient Mediterranean world for several centuries, and—most of all—we’re new covenant believers! Shouldn’t we be studying the language of the gospels, the language of the New Testament? To which I say: absolutely! But not at the expense of the language of the Old Testament.
If anything, I would argue that if you can only get one biblical language, it should be Hebrew. There are two reasons for this: first is a simple matter of numbers. The New Testament represents about a quarter of the bible. To have Hebrew is to have access to the original language of just over 75% of our scriptures.
Second, there is an old saying, sometimes attributed to Charlemagne, “To have another language is to possess a second soul.” Language is not a neutral tool, but rather a product of our culture. To learn what a language is capable of expressing simply in its grammar is to learn something about their priorities. To understand a language’s limits helps us to understand a little about how they think about their society.
Dabble Your Toes In Another Culture
Several years ago, I taught a two-week course at a bible college in Eswatini. The students there struggled to know what to call me, because in siSwati, the polite forms of address for adults, the equivalent to “Mister” and “Ms”, are the same as the words for “Father” and “Mother”. In traditional Swazi culture, marriage and adulthood are inextricable. As a single woman, there was no polite form of address for me. As a lecturer, a polite form of address was required. (The end of the story: I tried to encourage them to call me “Ashley”; most of them chose the rather colonial sounding “Ma’am”.)
To learn another language lets us dabble our toes in another culture, a different world. Now, neither the culture of ancient Canaan nor the Greco-Roman world are ours. Both languages offer insights that are valuable to us as modern Westerners. But Western culture does owe many ideas of science, art, and philosophy to the Greek world. It is nearer to us.
The Hebrew world is very distant, sometimes almost alien. To have some facility in Hebrew is to be able to stand, just a little, in the shoes (sandals?) of some of the most foreign people we’ll ever have cause to study: but people who, like us, were loved by a God who chose to covenant with them.
In learning Hebrew, we see not only incredible differences across time and space, but the universality of God’s plan: that whether homeschooled teenagers in a 21st century Zoom class, or Bronze Age nomads, we all find ourselves caught in sin, longing for peace and justice, and loved indescribably by a God who calls us to follow him in faith.
Biblical Hebrew Year 1
We believe in a God who had reached into his world to communicate with his creation. While the biggest way in which we know this has happened is through the incarnation of Jesus, it is also true in that he has communicated to us through human language. But we are English speakers, and thus we have work to do to understand languages that are 2000 and more years distant from us.
Hebrew is a fascinating language, very different from the Indo-European languages which students more conventionally study in school, and learning it provides not only the ability to engage with our Old Testaments on a new level, but also a window into their world and culture.
There are few biblical Hebrew courses specifically for teens. We are delighted to invite homeschool teens the opportunity to study ancient Hebrew as a literary language while creating an opportunity to better understand biblical theology. this online class focused on the Hebrew language will delight and inspire teens as they dig into ancient texts.
Biblical Hebrew Year 1 (GCSE Prep)
Biblical Hebrew Year 1 Live Class (GCSE Prep)
This live course will follow the GCSE Biblical Hebrew exam curriculum for Edexcel.
Required Materials:
Please note that the third edition is what is current. Students may be inclined to borrow from pastor friends, but unless that pastor’s Hebrew was quite recent, it’ll be the wrong edition, and there are just enough differences that it will eventually be problematic.
These required materials will also be used in biblical Hebrew Year 2 planned for 2026-27.
Day & Time: Thursday 2:30-4:00 PM GMT (Two 40-minute sessions with a short break in the middle.)
Location: Zoom Meeting
Tutor: Ashley Hibbard
15 in stock
An Introduction to The Basics Of Biblical Hebrew Grammar and Vocabulary
The Biblical Hebrew Year 1 course will provide an introduction to the basics of biblical Hebrew grammar and Hebrew vocabulary. This should allow students to use original language resources effectively (lexicons, theological dictionaries, technical commentaries). The first step – learning the Hebrew alphabet and studying Hebrew scriptures and biblical texts will also lay the foundation for intermediate level Hebrew exegesis courses, and discussions of syntax and more complex grammar.
Students completing this course will:
- have memorized all Hebrew words occurring in the Hebrew bible 100 times or more, plus several other significant terms;
- be able to parse Hebrew verbs; and
- provide basic translations of select passages from sacred texts.
Together, these skills are one of the best ways to produce an understanding of the bible at a new and deeper level.
This class will provide the student with the equivalent of first year Hebrew on a bible college or seminary level. We will follow the GCSE Biblical Hebrew guidance to assist students in preparing for UK Exams. This course fulfills a second language requirement and is eligible for 1 Foreign Language credit for those following USA Qualifications (transcript & diploma).
The Benefits of Learning Biblical Hebrew
Learning a new language opens the door to exploring different cultures and worlds, and Biblical Hebrew is no exception. As your teens embark on this journey, they’ll not only gain insight into a fascinating language, but they’ll also step into the sandals of those who lived thousands of years ago. It’s a unique chance to connect with the rich history and context of the Old Testament in a way that’s both profound and engaging.
We believe that learning Hebrew is not just about language—it’s about building bridges to understanding and faith. If you’re looking for a meaningful addition to your homeschool curriculum that inspires curiosity and deepens biblical knowledge, we invite you to join us for Biblical Hebrew Year 1!
Is Biblical Hebrew A Good Fit For My Teen?
Great Question! Sign up for the World Language Exploration taster sessions. It’s free and will give your teen a window into how to study foreign languages online.
World Languages Exploration FREE Taster Sessions
World Languages Exploration
World Languages Exploration: A FREE 6-week taster live class for students 12+. Explore German, Biblical Hebrew, or Scottish Gaelic for homeschoolers.
Day & Time: Monday’s 3-3:40 pm GMT 3 March – 7 April (one 40-minute session each week)
Location: Zoom Meeting
Tutor: Agnes Mitchell, Bella Tanzer, and Ashley Hibbard
Required Materials: None – everything is included for these World Languages Exploration taster sessions
Prerequisite: None
40 in stock
Further information about the course can be found in the Biblical Hebrew course details.
Biblical Hebrew FAQ
While modern Hebrew was derived from biblical Hebrew, there are some substantial differences, not the least of which are the vocabulary differences between the ancient and modern worlds. Students taking the Biblical Hebrew class will be prepared to read and understand scripture but not be prepared to communicate in modern Hebrew as a spoken language.
Absolutely! Our live online class using Hebrew texts is perfect for teens looking for foreign language credit (USA Qualifications) or those wanting to sit the GCSE Exam.
Here are just a few benefits of diving into Biblical Hebrew:
Cultural Exploration: Understanding Hebrew allows students to appreciate the incredible differences and similarities across time and space, highlighting the universality of God’s plan.
Deeper Engagement with Scripture: With a foundation in Hebrew, your teens can engage with the Old Testament on a new level, unlocking nuances and meanings that are often lost in translation.
Connection to God’s Communication: As we study the language God used to communicate with His creation, we gain a greater appreciation for His desire to reach us, and we begin to grasp the beauty of His message.
Are Arise Live Classes A Good Fit For Your Teen?
Grab a live lesson bundle and learn about the course, the tutor, and the weekly homework load.
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