Hebrew Bible Insights

What does it really mean to “serve” in the book of Exodus? In this episode, Matthew Delaney and Dr. Nathan French explore how a single Hebrew word weaves through the early chapters of Exodus—from Israel’s oppression under Pharaoh to their calling to worship Yahweh. By tracing this vocabulary across key moments in Exodus 1–14, we uncover a powerful theme: the Exodus is not just about escaping slavery—it’s about being set free to worship. Along the way, we also explore fascinating connections with Genesis, the meaning of Passover, and how this theme shapes our understanding of purpose, identity, and calling today.

Chapters

0:00-2:58 Intro
2:59-6:53 Hebrew “service” in Exodus
6:54-10:05 Vocabulary Connections in Genesis
10:06-16:34 The Problem in Exodus: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 1–2
16:35-31:48 Purpose in Exodus: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 3–4
31:49-43:06 Pharaoh’s Response: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 5
43:07-48:25 That they may serve/worship me: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 7–10
48:26-1:03:41 Passover as Worship: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 12–13
1:03:42-1:07:37 Escaping Egypt: Tracing “service” vocabulary in Exodus 14

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Dive into the diverse roles of biblical prophets with Dr. Todd Hibbard. In this episode, we discuss his book "Prophets and Prophecy," examining the phenomenological aspects of prophecy and its implications for economic and legal criticisms in ancient Israel and Judah. Dr. Hibbard also connects these insights to modern Christian perspectives and the teachings of Jesus, offering a transformative look at how these ancient messages influence our understanding of justice and righteousness today.

Todd Hibbard is Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy. He has a PhD in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from the University of Notre Dame

"Prophets and Prophecy" by Todd Hibbard: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/4987-2/prophets-and-prophecy.aspx

"Prophets and Prophecy" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Prophets-Prophecy-Ancient-Israel-Judah-ebook/dp/B0DWNCLDFZ/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sxBHKoR22_luBKs21tBXq1fv1BwHay9GHSMiV3gXuhyTjJEFe46bpThS4woa9_oar7l090zyKjwhqejMz9U_Eg.Ub67uRwgXOZlaiDQK2qP8hNdvIBpUTwprV5KuOasmrA&dib_tag=se&qid=1742787297&refinements=p_27%3AJ+Todd+Hibbard&s=books&sr=1-2

Chapters

0:00-6:33 Intro
6:34-14:56 Diversity of what prophets do
14:57-23:39 The Phenomena of Prophecy
23:40-28:28 Prophets of the Bible vs prophets of the ancient Near East
28:29-34:15 Prophets as Social Critics
34:16-41:00 The economy of ancient Israel
41:01-45:45 Where to start with prophets
45:46-53:39 Proverbs and Prophets
53:40-1:00:59 Jesus as a prophetic social critic

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Read 1 Enoch with us in the Hebrew Bible Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
In today's episode, we explore the significance of the Book of 1 Enoch and its impact on early Christian thought. Although most Christians today do not consider this book canonical, 1 Enoch offers valuable insights into Jewish eschatology and its influence on the New Testament. It is even quoted by Jude who says that Enoch prophesied. We delve into how early Christians, including church fathers like St. Irenaeus, engaged with Enoch's visions and teachings, and what this means for understanding prophetic traditions and the Gospel today. Join us as we uncover why 1 Enoch remains a vital text for Christians seeking a deeper historical and theological context.

Chapters

0:00-7:12 Why does the book of 1 Enoch matter?
7:13-12:39 How we first encountered 1 Enoch
12:40-19:42 1 Enoch and the Biblical Canon
19:43-27:02 Enoch in Scripture and Enoch as a prophet
27:03-37:10 St. Irenaeus of the early church and Enoch
37:11-46:08 Prophetic tradition, the ancient Near East, and Enoch
46:09-55:35 The Incarnation, the Gospel, and Enoch

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Read 1 Enoch with us in the Hebrew Bible Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

In today’s episode, we tackle an important question: How should we evaluate biblical characters? Are they flawless heroes, irredeemable villains, or something more complex? We explore how to move beyond simplistic views by looking at the actual text and learning from the wisdom of St. John Chrysostom.

We also discuss themes of exile, repentance, and restoration. This conversation is all about embracing the depth of Scripture and avoiding the trap of false dichotomies—biblical characters are neither perfect saints nor one-dimensional sinners. There’s so much we can learn from their lives, struggles, and faith.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of these ancient stories and discover how they speak to us today.

Chapters
0:00-11:18 Growing up with Heroes OR Villains
11:19-20:40 Going back to the ACTUAL text
20:41-32:02 Wisdom from St. John Chrysostom
32:03-43:48 Exile and Repentance
43:49-47:25 Enoch!

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Join a Hebrew language cohort with Matthew Delaney: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

In today’s episode, we chat with Bobby about his fascinating journey into the world of biblical languages and dive deep into his work on a Hebrew dictionary. What inspired him to create it? How do we understand Hebrew words beyond the Bible? And what’s the deal with Paleo Hebrew? We also get a behind-the-scenes look at the joys and challenges of putting together a dictionary and how the process shaped Bobby spiritually. It’s a rich and inspiring conversation for anyone interested in biblical studies, language, or the intersection of work and personal formation.

“Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary” https://zondervanacademic.com/products/biblical-hebrew-and-aramaic-dictionary

Robert R. Duke, (PhD, University of California, Los Angeles) is a professor in the Honors College and former dean of the School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University. He is the author of The Social Location of the Visions of Amram and serves as the director of the Scholars Initiative at the Museum of the Bible.

Chapters
0:00-2:25 Introduction
2:26-8:11 Dr. Kirk’s journey in biblical studies
8:12-11:28 Elevator pitch for Agur
11:29-15:23 Order, Disorder, and Stuart Weeks
15:24-26:11 History of Wisdom Literature Interpretation
26:12-34:20 Agur the Eccentric Genius
34:21-45:40 What is Philology?
45:41-56:31 Difficult title and the genre of Agur
56:32-1:02:52 Humor in the Bible
1:02:53-1:09:07 The Big Picture Flow of Proverbs 30
1:09:08-1:16:05 Reading Agur as Christian Scripture

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Enroll in the "What is Biblical Wisdom" Video Course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom

In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Alexander Kirk to explore his book, Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30. Who is Agur, and why does he stand out as an eccentric genius? What can we learn about wisdom literature from the history of its interpretation? And how do we approach the humor, structure, and deeper meanings in Proverbs 30?

Dr. Kirk also shares his journey in biblical studies and gives us a glimpse into the art of philology. Whether you're curious about Agur’s unique voice or how to read Proverbs 30 as Christian Scripture, this episode has something for everyone who loves wisdom literature and the Hebrew Bible.

“Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30” https://a.co/d/2xCSGgf

0:00-2:25 Introduction
2:26-8:11 Dr. Kirk’s journey in biblical studies
8:12-11:28 Elevator pitch for Agur
11:29-15:23 Order, Disorder, and Stuart Weeks
15:24-26:11 History of Wisdom Literature Interpretation
26:12-34:20 Agur the Eccentric Genius
34:21-45:40 What is Philology?
45:41-56:31 Difficult title and the genre of Agur
56:32-1:02:52 Humor in the Bible
1:02:53-1:09:07 The Big Picture Flow of Proverbs 30
1:09:08-1:16:05 Reading Agur as Christian Scripture

Alex Kirk joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2024 to teach Old Testament and Hebrew after serving in global theological education for nearly a decade. He has previously taught in over a dozen countries, at schools like Ecole Superieure Baptiste de Théologie de l’Afrique de l’Ouest in Lomé, Togo, Institut Biblique de la Croix-des-Bouquets in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, and Baptistička teološka škola in Novi Sad, Serbia, as well as helping to launch William Tennent School of Theology in Colorado and serving with Crosslands Training in the UK. Both a philologist and a theologian by training, his academic interests range from biblical Hebrew linguistics and text criticism to poetry, wisdom literature, hermeneutics and theological interpretation of Scripture. His first book, Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30 (SBL, 2024), combines many of these interests to present a detailed interpretation of Proverbs chapter 30 as a coherent collection that mocks pride and commends humility as the better part of wisdom. Ongoing projects relate to the relationship of wisdom and law in the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism, the role of humor in biblical wisdom and theological interpretation of Ecclesiastes.

As the son of a pastor and an enthusiast for literature of all types, Kirk is particularly passionate about leading church leaders deeper into the text of the Old Testament to encounter God. To this end, he continually strives to deepen his own understanding of the hermeneutical reality that this ancient text is the word of the LORD to his people. Alex is married to Meghan and they have three daughters, Rue, Willa and Janie. Their family attends Christ the King Anglican Church (ACNA) in Hoover, Alabama.

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Enroll in the "What is Biblical Wisdom" Video Course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom

We interview the authors of a new intermediate Hebrew grammar: “Going Deeper with Biblical Hebrew.” Dr. Chip Hardy and Dr. Matthew McAffee give insights and methods for how students can learn during the unique intermediate phase of the Hebrew language journey. They also give thoughts for professors and teachers who are instructing others in intermediate Hebrew. 

0:00-2:14 Intro
2:15-6:51 Why an Intermediate Grammar of Hebrew?
6:52-12:26 Challenges of intermediate Hebrew
12:27-22:48 Best method for learning/teaching intermediate Hebrew
23:49-29:02 Inspiration to learn Hebrew
29:03-39:42 Examples that show the need for understanding Hebrew
39:43-44:08 Hebrew insights about Pharaoh’s heart
45:15-54:51 With great (Hebrew) power comes great responsibility
54:52-1:00:13 The balance of reading the text vs grammar
1:00:14-1:05:04 The need for Hebrew in every generation

Biblical Hebrew Cohorts: https://www.patreon.com/c/hebrewbibleinsights/membership?view_as=patron

“Going Deeper with Biblical Hebrew”: https://a.co/d/jln0Gnb

Chip Hardy: https://www.samford.edu/beeson-divinity/directory/Hardy-Chip

Matthew McAffee: https://welch.academia.edu/MatthewMcAffee

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In this episode Rabbi Eisen shares insights about the connections and differences between Torah and Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. 

Rabbi Chaim Eisen is joining us from Israel! He has been teaching, editing, and publishing on the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Philosophy, and more for over 40 years. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between Torah and wisdom. 

To learn more and Rabbi Chaim Eisen and connect more with his content, check out https://zionbiblestudies.org

Chapters
0:00-1:33
1:34-7:48 Do the nations of the world have wisdom?
7:49-13:12 Proverbs and Torah
13:13-27:37 Interpretations on wisdom and creation vocabulary
27:38-36:13 Why is the Torah the “wisdom” of Israel?
36:14-38:54 Prophets, Priests, Kings, and Sages
38:55-47:43 Complexities of the Priest-King
47:44-57:01 Prophecy, Wisdom, and Philosophy
57:02-1:08:20 What Wisdom Endures?

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What is Biblical wisdom? Wisdom is such an important topic of life, and it is critical to think about this biblically. In this special episode, Dr. Nathan French asks Matthew Delaney (MA Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) questions about the first ever Hebrew Bible Insights video course. Matthew shares why he created the course, the methodology behind the research, as well as a number of insights from studying wisdom in the original languages of Hebrew and Aramaic of the Hebrew Bible.  

Link to the course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom
Coupon Code for 50% off the video course (expires Monday October 7 11:59 US Central time): WISDOM

Chapters
0:00-3:25 Our first video course!
3:26-7:39 Why a course on wisdom?
7:40-11:41 Following the wisdom vocabulary, not modern categories
11:42-20:14 Biggest surprise in researching biblical wisdom
20:15-25:03 Does Scripture talk about anti wisdom?
25:04-32:40 What is the connection between God and wisdom?
32:41-37:26 Are wisdom and covenant related?
37:27-44:54 What does the Hebrew word for wisdom really mean?
44:55-53:46 The goal of the video course and what comes with it

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Rabbi Chaim Eisen is joining us from Israel! He has been teaching, editing, and publishing on the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Philosophy, and more for over 40 years. In this episode, we talk about the third section of the Hebrew Bible called the “Ketuvim” or the “Writings.” The order of the books of the Hebrew Bible are very different from the order that many experience in Bibles in Christian communities. The way that books are grouped can impact how we interpret the books themselves. Learning about very old traditions of the Hebrew order can yield interesting insights for those engaging with the Hebrew Bible. We give special attention to Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Chronicles, and even talk about the Holy Spirit in Rabbinic tradition. 

To learn more and Rabbi Chaim Eisen and connect more with his content, check out https://zionbiblestudies.org

Chapters
0:00-1:45 Intro
1:46-11:40 Why a different order?
11:41-18:56 Why Psalms, Job, and Proverbs are connected
18:57-23:00 Two essential levels of meaning in Scripture
23:01-34:23 How authoritative are the Writings compared to the rest of the Hebrew Bible?
34:24-42:50 What makes the “Megillot” special?
42:51-49:36 The placement of Ruth
49:37-1:05:00 The value of Chronicles
1:05:01-1:19:31 Rabbinic tradition and the Holy Spirit
1:19:32-1:20:32 Conclusion

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