Elements of Hebrew Syntax by an Inductive Method Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Elements of Hebrew Syntax by an Inductive Method

It is commonly taught that the Syntax of Hebrew is a matter of small importance. Very seldom, indeed, is any special attention given to the subject. The grammars upon which American students have depended furnish exhaustive treatments of Etymology, but contain only a meagre amount of Syntax. It is because men have not studied Hebrew Syntax, because, as a matter of fact, they are ignorant of it, that they have failed to appreciate its value.

It is true that the Hebrew 118 lacking 1n the power to present without ambiguity many of the exact and beautiful shades of thought for which expression is found in the Latin and the Greek. It is true that the Hebrew is more dependent upon the context for the precise determina tion of the meaning than is either of these languages. It is all the more necessary, however, to become acquainted with the constructions which are possible in agiven case. It will generally be conceded, that in no respect is the Revision of the Old Testament so weak as in its Syntax. One need only compare critically the translation of the tenses in the first ten or twelve Psalms, to discover the shortcomings of the Revision, and at the same time to understand the difficulty and importance of the subject.

It may be said that, notwithstanding the lack of American grammars in this respect, the existence of such works as those of Driver, Ewald, and Muller renders the publication of a new treatment unnecessary. But it will be remembered that Driver, aside from his Appendices, treats exclusively of the Tense, the most important of all syntactical sub jects, yet a single subject; that Ewald's work, the only philosophical treatment of the subject, can only be appreciated by one who has given much time and attention to Hebrew Syntax; and that Muller's book is brief, obscure, and unsatisfactory. If a new text-book has been needed in any department of linguistic study, it is in that of Hebrew Syntax.

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