Biblical Languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
A comprehensive, in-depth introduction to the three original languages of Scripture - Biblical Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, and Koine Greek. Students will learn each language's alphabet, grammar, vocabulary, and syntax in genuine depth, building the real skills needed to engage the Bible's original text directly rather than through translation alone.
Learning Objectives
- Read and pronounce the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek alphabets
- Understand Hebrew noun and verb systems, including the full range of verb stems (binyanim)
- Understand Biblical Aramaic's grammar and its relationship to Hebrew
- Understand Koine Greek noun declensions, verb tenses, voices, and moods
- Build working vocabulary in all three languages
- Read and translate guided passages of Scripture in each original language
- Apply these languages directly to deepen personal Bible study
Syllabus
Overview
A comprehensive, in-depth study of the three original languages of Scripture: Biblical Hebrew (Weeks 2-21), Biblical Aramaic (Weeks 22-29), and Koine Greek (Weeks 30-49), framed by an introduction and a closing week. Each language is taught from the alphabet through full grammar, vocabulary, and guided reading of an actual biblical passage.
Reading Plan
Week 1: introduction. Weeks 2-21: Biblical Hebrew (alphabet, vowels, nouns, the full verb stem system, syntax, vocabulary, guided reading in Genesis 1). Weeks 22-29: Biblical Aramaic (alphabet, nouns, verb system, syntax, guided reading in Daniel 2, Aramaic in the New Testament). Weeks 30-49: Koine Greek (alphabet, noun declensions, the full verb tense/voice/mood system, syntax, guided reading in John 1). Week 50: conclusion and applying the languages to lifelong Bible study.
Required Materials
A personal Bible in one of the following standard translations: ESV, NIV, NASB 1995, CSB, LSB, or NLT; a notebook for practicing alphabets and vocabulary; access to a Hebrew-English and Greek-English lexicon is recommended but not required.
Grading & Completion
Assessment focuses on engagement with the material and demonstration of comprehension. Students complete weekly reading and practice assignments and a short weekly quiz covering that week's material. A final exam covering the entire course is available once every week has been passed.
Course Outcomes
- Upon completion, students will be able to read Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek script accurately
- Upon completion, students will be able to parse basic nouns and verbs in all three languages
- Upon completion, students will be able to work through a guided original-language passage with genuine comprehension
Weekly Lessons
- Wk 1 Introduction: Why Study the Biblical Languages?
- Wk 2 The Hebrew Alphabet: Consonants and Their Sounds
- Wk 3 Hebrew Vowels: The Niqqud (Vowel Pointing) System
- Wk 4 Syllables, Accents, and Reading Hebrew Aloud
- Wk 5 The Hebrew Noun: Gender and Number
- Wk 6 The Hebrew Noun: The Construct State
- Wk 7 Hebrew Pronouns and Pronominal Suffixes
- Wk 8 The Hebrew Verb: Introduction to the Root System (Shoresh) and Binyanim
- Wk 9 The Qal Stem: The Basic Verb Pattern
- Wk 10 The Niphal Stem: Passive and Reflexive Action
- Wk 11 The Piel and Pual Stems: Intensive Action
- Wk 12 The Hiphil and Hophal Stems: Causative Action
- Wk 13 The Hithpael Stem: Reflexive and Reciprocal Action
- Wk 14 Hebrew Verb Conjugations: Perfect (Qatal) and Imperfect (Yiqtol)
- Wk 15 The Hebrew Waw-Consecutive: Narrative Tense
- Wk 16 Hebrew Participles and Infinitives
- Wk 17 Weak Verbs: Hebrew's Irregular Patterns
- Wk 18 Hebrew Adjectives, Numbers, and Prepositions
- Wk 19 Hebrew Syntax: Word Order and Sentence Structure
- Wk 20 Building Hebrew Vocabulary: The Most Frequent Words
- Wk 21 Reading Hebrew: A Guided Walk Through Genesis 1
- Wk 22 Introduction to Biblical Aramaic: Where and Why It Appears in Scripture
- Wk 23 The Aramaic Alphabet and Its Relationship to Hebrew
- Wk 24 Aramaic Nouns, Pronouns, and the Emphatic State
- Wk 25 The Aramaic Verb System: Peal, Pael, and Aphel
- Wk 26 Aramaic Verb Conjugations and Participles
- Wk 27 Aramaic Syntax and Key Vocabulary
- Wk 28 Reading Aramaic: A Guided Walk Through Daniel 2
- Wk 29 Aramaic in the New Testament: Jesus's Own Words
- Wk 30 The Greek Alphabet: Letters and Pronunciation
- Wk 31 Greek Breathing Marks, Accents, and Punctuation
- Wk 32 The Greek Noun: Cases and Their Functions
- Wk 33 First Declension Nouns
- Wk 34 Second Declension Nouns
- Wk 35 Third Declension Nouns
- Wk 36 The Greek Article and Its Uses
- Wk 37 Greek Adjectives and Agreement
- Wk 38 Greek Pronouns
- Wk 39 Introduction to the Greek Verb: Tense, Voice, and Mood
- Wk 40 Present Tense Verbs: Indicative Mood
- Wk 41 Imperfect and Future Tense Verbs
- Wk 42 Aorist Tense: The Greek Simple Past
- Wk 43 Perfect and Pluperfect Tense
- Wk 44 Middle and Passive Voice
- Wk 45 Subjunctive, Optative, and Imperative Moods
- Wk 46 Participles: Greek's Verbal Adjectives
- Wk 47 Infinitives and Prepositions
- Wk 48 Greek Syntax: Sentence Structure and Clause Types
- Wk 49 Reading Greek: A Guided Walk Through John 1
- Wk 50 Conclusion: Putting the Languages to Work in Lifelong Bible Study