Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible - Jeff A. Benner
Full Details
All previous Biblical Hebrew lexicons have provided a modern western definition and perspective to Hebrew roots and words. This prevents the reader of the Bible from seeing the ancient author's original intent of the passages. This is the first Biblical Hebrew lexicon that defines each Hebrew word within its original Ancient Hebrew cultural meaning. One of the major differences between the Modern Western mind and the Ancient Hebrew's is that their mind related all words and their meanings to a concrete concept. For instance, the Hebrew word "chai" is normally translated as "life", a western abstract meaning, but the original Hebrew concrete meaning of this word is the "stomach". In the Ancient Hebrew mind, a full stomach is a sign of a full "life". The Hebrew language is a root system oriented language and the lexicon is divided into sections reflecting this root system. Each word of the Hebrew Bible is grouped within its roots and is defined according to its original ancient cultural meaning. Also included in each word is its alternative spelling, King James translations of the word, and Strong's number. Indexes are included to assist with finding a word within the lexicon according to its spelling, definition, King James translation Strong's number.
About the Author
When Mr. Benner first began reading the Hebrew text of the Bible, he quickly discovered that the Ancient Hebrews did not think in the same manner we do, and he realized that we should not be reading the Biblical text as if we were reading a modern novel. Mr. Benner founded the "Ancient Hebrew Research Center" in 1999 in order to promote and teach the Ancient Hebrew language, culture, and thought to those interested in learning how to read the Bible from an Ancient Hebrew perspective. Mr. Benner is also the author of several books related to the study of the Ancient Hebrew language and thought, including Learn to Read Biblical Hebrew, The Ancient Hebrew Language and Alphabet, and His Name is One.
Hardcover. 615 pages.
Customer Reviews
(6/22/11)
Review by L.T.
General
"There are numerous lexicons, dictionaries, and concordances on the market for students to use when translating Hebrew words as they appear in the Old Testament Hebrew text into English. This is one the few (and the only one I know of personally) that not only gives on the viewpoint of translating Hebrew words into English, while carrying across the thought process that comes with Ancient Hebrew culture.
A good example is the word, "Bara" in Genesis 1:1, where it says, "In the beginning, God created (bara) the Heavens and the Earth. The word "Bara" in most concordances and lexicons will simply trnaslated this word as "to create or to make". However, this is an abstract translation. A more concrete translation, as seen from a ancient Hebrew perspective would be "To fatten, or to fill", as what is fattened is filled. Thus, Genesis 1:1 would be better translated, "In the Beginning, God fattened and filled the Heavens and the Earth", portraying the idea of God filling a Earth that was without form and void, and not the idea of him creating it that way.
There needs to be more works into the study of Ancient Hebrew culture & thought, and how it effects Biblical interpreation and translation. The only reason why I give it 4 stars, is because there are some roots (only a few) that are left without all their proper translations, but that is the case with pretty much any lexicon, which is why a serious student should always have more than one resource in the first place."
(6/15/11)
Review by Callie
General
I will probably never be able to get through this entire book--it is so jam-packed with knowledge! If you can't learn Hebrew, using this book may be the next best thing.
Product Tags
Use spaces to separate tags. Use single quotes (') for phrases.
