The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1 - cover image

Book Series

Copyright

Geoffrey Khan

Published On

2020-02-20

ISBN

Paperback978-1-78374-675-0
Hardback978-1-78374-676-7
PDF978-1-78374-677-4

Language

  • English

Print Length

761 pages (xv+746)

Dimensions

Paperback156 x 39 x 234 mm(6.14" x 1.52" x 9.21")
Hardback156 x 41 x 234 mm(6.14" x 1.63" x 9.21")

Weight

Paperback2320g (81.84oz)
Hardback2730g (96.30oz)

OCLC Number

1144100857

LCCN

2019452965

BIC

  • HRCG
  • CFF
  • CFP

BISAC

  • REL006020
  • LAN009010

LCC

  • PJ4865

Keywords

  • Biblical Hebrew
  • medieval manuscripts of the Bible
  • Tiberias
  • early Islamic period
  • Tiberian Masoretes
  • Hidāyat al-Qāriʾ
  • ʾAbū al-Faraj Hārūn

The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1

Winner of the 2021 Frank Moore Cross Book Award for best book related to the history and/or religion of the ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean.
This book is part of a 2-volume set. The other volume in the set is:
The form of Biblical Hebrew that is presented in printed editions, with vocalization and accent signs, has its origin in medieval manuscripts of the Bible. The vocalization and accent signs are notation systems that were created in Tiberias in the early Islamic period by scholars known as the Tiberian Masoretes, but the oral tradition they represent has roots in antiquity. The grammatical textbooks and reference grammars of Biblical Hebrew in use today are heirs to centuries of tradition of grammatical works on Biblical Hebrew in Europe. The paradox is that this European tradition of Biblical Hebrew grammar did not have direct access to the way the Tiberian Masoretes were pronouncing Biblical Hebrew.

In the last few decades, research of manuscript sources from the medieval Middle East has made it possible to reconstruct with considerable accuracy the pronunciation of the Tiberian Masoretes, which has come to be known as the ‘Tiberian pronunciation tradition’. This book presents the current state of knowledge of the Tiberian pronunciation tradition of Biblical Hebrew and a full edition of one of the key medieval sources, Hidāyat al-Qāriʾ ‘The Guide for the Reader’, by ʾAbū al-Faraj Hārūn. There is also an accompanying oral performance of samples of the reconstructed pronunciation by Alex Foreman. It is hoped that the book will help to break the mould of current grammatical descriptions of Biblical Hebrew and form a bridge between modern traditions of grammar and the school of the Masoretes of Tiberias.

Endorsements

These volumes represent the highest level of scholarship on what is arguably the most important tradition of Biblical Hebrew. Written by the leading scholar of the Tiberian Masoretic tradition, they offer a wealth of new data and revised analysis, and constitute a considerable advance on existing published scholarship. It should stand alongside Israel Yeivin’s ‘The Tiberian Masorah’ as an essential handbook for scholars of Biblical Hebrew, and will remain an indispensable reference work for decades to come.

Dr. Benjamin Outhwaite

Director of the Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit, Cambridge University Library

Additional Resources

[audio]Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading without melody(Alex Foreman)

Genesis 1.1-13 — Oral Performance

[audio]Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading with Sefardi melody(Alex Foreman)

Genesis 1.1-13 — Oral Performance

[audio]Extended Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading without melody(Alex Foreman)

Genesis 1.1-13 — Oral Performance

[audio]Extended Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading Sefardi melody(Alex Foreman)

Genesis 1.1-13 — Oral Performance

[audio]Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading without melody(Alex Foreman)

Psalm 1 — Oral Performance

[audio]Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading with Sefardi melody(Alex Foreman)

Psalm 1 — Oral Performance

[audio]Extended Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading without melody(Alex Foreman)

Psalm 1 — Oral Performance

[audio]Extended Dagesh forte-dagesh lene reading Sefardi melody(Alex Foreman)

Psalm 1 — Oral Performance

Contributors

Geoffrey Khan

(author)
Regius Professor of Hebrew at University of Cambridge