Recommended Reference Tool: Mitchel’s Hebrew & Aramaic Vocabulary

As many of us spend precious summer moments catching up on our reading and researching, I wanted to recommend a valuable reference work for those looking to stay sharp on their Hebrew.

Larry A. Mitchel’s A Student’s Vocabulary for Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic (Zondervan, 1984, 88pp.) is a simple to use and very helpful work for maintaining mastery of Hebrew OT words.

Mitchel was professor of Old Testament at Pacific Union College in California, and has compiled a simple to use vocabulary builder for all first year Hebrew students.

Words are presented in descending order according to frequency, with brief lexical definitions (from Holladay) presented along with pronunciation keys.  The list includes some 236 hapax legomena.  An interesting preface states the reason for the work, and the “How to Use” section ought not to be skipped.  There is also a useful index and a brief but strong bibliography.

The volume’s size is such that it can easily be carried on one’s person and pulled out while on the train or waiting in line, to keep the mind meditating on God’s words in the Old Testament.

Highly recommended!