Although interlinear bibles may seem like an attractive option for many students studying Bible, the fact is that interlinears should be avoided. This is because interlinear bibles usually interfere with a student’s ability to learn Biblical Hebrew.
Instead of using an interlinear bible, there are several other resources that can help students to read the Bible in Hebrew while still making progress learning Biblical Hebrew.
Here are 3 good alternatives to interlinear Hebrew bibles:
1) A Reader’s Hebrew Bible
A Reader’s Hebrew Bible is a complete version of the Bible in Hebrew. What makes it unique is that it contains certain reading aids which can be very helpful for advanced beginning and early intermediate scholars.
These reading aids include glosses for words used less than 100 times in Scripture, shading of proper names for easy identification, and parsing information on verbs. The font is also large and easy to read.
If used properly, A Reader’s Hebrew Bible can help students gain fluency reading the Hebrew Bible. It is an excellent tool for students who have completed a year of Biblical Hebrew.
Information about A Reader’s Hebrew Bible can be found here.
2) JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh
Many students like having a copy of a Hebrew text and an English translation in class. Students may find that using translations can be quite useful, particularly when looking at previously unseen biblical texts. For these students, the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh is a great option.
The JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh has the Hebrew text and English translation across from one another on the same page. Though this layout may not seem so different from that of an interlinear, separating the text and translation makes all the difference in the world.
The extra work of trying to figure out how JPS arrived at the translation they did (rather than simply having word-by-word information given to you) serves to strengthen your skills in Hebrew. You are also much less likely to become dependent upon the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh than an interlinear.
Information about the JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh can be found here.
3) Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew
Unlike the two resources above, a Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew is not a bible. Instead, it is a collection of relatively easy-to-read biblical passages.
Each passage includes grammatical notes, a parsing key, and glosses for words used less than 50 times in Scripture. Although a Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew has a limited number of biblical texts, it can be very helpful for teaching and reinforcing Biblical Hebrew grammar.
Information about a Graded Reader of Biblical Hebrew can be found here.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. Here are at least 3 good alternatives to interlinear bibles, and there are even more that didn’t make this list! Now you have no excuse to continue using an interlinear bible.