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THEO3951: Intermediate Hebrew

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Type Open
Level 3
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Theology and Religion

Prerequisites

  • Biblical Hebrew (THEO1151 / THEO2651) or equivalent.

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop a good facility in reading biblical Hebrew, with an awareness of a range of Hebrew idioms, Hebrew poetry and prose styles, and of text-critical and exegetical issues.
  • To develop knowledge of the language introduced at level 1 or gained through equivalent study.
  • To equip students with skills and knowledge ancilliary to other modules which they are taking.

Content

  • Texts in biblical Hebrew will be studied with reference to linguistic, text-critical, and exegetical issues, and consideration will be given to their broader significance.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • An intermediate knowledge of biblical Hebrew which includes:
  • The ability to explain complex features of biblical Hebrew grammar and syntax
  • An understanding of a wide range of biblical Hebrew vocabulary and idioms
  • A familiarity with differing prose and poetic styles within the Hebrew Bible.
  • An understanding of the text-critical and exegetical issues arising from the set texts.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An ability to translate and appreciate the style of Hebrew poetry and prose texts.

Key Skills:

  • Generic linguistic skills.
  • Exegetical skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches. In this module, the seminars focus on translation and discussion of the set texts.
  • The essay assesses subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form.
  • Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints. In this module, facility and fluency in translation are also assessed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Seminars11 per week in Terms 1 and 22 hours40Yes
Preparation and Reading1160 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Online Examination2 hours100
Component: Summative EssayComponent Weighting: 40%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay2,000 words100

Formative Assessment

Preparation of text for each class One Essay 1,500 words

More information

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