Someone asked me, “How can I do good exegesis if I don’t know the biblical languages?”
This is a good question, especially since many seminaries are no longer teaching biblical languages.
I will begin by saying that it is good to recognize that the languages are important, even if you don’t have the opportunity to study them in seminary. All of our English Bibles, including the one that says “Aurhorized King James”, have been translated from Hebrew, Greek and Latin writings that preceded the English that we speak and write today. In addition, the Bible represents a number of document types that have been collected together but were originally written individually for people who lived much differently from the way that we live. The best exegesis includes translation, historical research, social research, and application for today’s context.
If you cannot do your own translation, my best recommendation is to compare several English translations and provide an interpretation using notations from commentaries where there are differences in the translations. Which wording would you choose and why? Don’t just choose based on your opinion. These differences arise from interpretations of Hebrew and Greek words. Commentators will discuss these things, sometimes at length. Many commentators will provide transliterations into English pronunciation so that you can see how the word is pronounced. Also, using a software tool such as Logos or an online tool such as Bible Gateway you can paste in words from a Hebrew or Greek translation. Study Light also has a number of tools, including lexicons, that can be helpful.
There are numerous helps for general exegesis in print. I recommend starting with How to read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee. I also recommend the A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis (Craig Blomberg and Jennifer Foutz Markley) and Old Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors (Douglas Stuart).
If you are working in the New Testament, I encourage you to see what is available in your library about New Testament use of the Old Testament. There are many titles available on this topic that may be of help to you.
If you want to dip your toes into the waters of biblical languages and learn to use Bible study software to do exegesis, Greek and Hebrew for the Rest of Us provides 20 lessons in the basic of Hebrew and Greek. Each language is arranged into six weeks. You can buy https://amzn.to/3rZofDh and Greek individually if you don’t want the whole pack.
If you wish to study languages for your own enrichment at any time, please drop me a note.
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