New Editions of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments
The Hebrew Old Testament Reader's Edition (Westminster Leningrad Codex). Wheaton: Crossway, 2021. 2204 Pages. Hardcover with box. $89.99. https://www.crossway.org/bibles/the-hebrew-old-testament-readers-edition-hconly/
Like most pastors trained in the last several decades, our Greek and Hebrew study tools were primarily Novum Testamentum Graece XXVII/United Bible Societies 4 and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (4). There were older editions out there in the used market. There were few other editions of the Greek and Hebrew testaments available to us (and affordable on a student budget).
When I paid Crossway's home office a brief visit in July 2019, I did not fully realize what the two Greek Bibles in front of me meant. Let's talk about that in this review.
First up is a Reader's Edition of The Hebrew Old Testament.
The Hebrew Old Testament, Reader’s Edition combines the text of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC) with a running list of glosses of every word that occurs fewer than 75 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, for an easier reading experience in the original language.
Those with limited knowledge of Hebrew can smoothly read the Hebrew text without needing to constantly refer to other reference resources—accelerating their facility with the Hebrew text and making their time more rewarding and more enjoyable as they read the Word of God. Likewise, readers with a more extensive grasp of Hebrew will find the accessible glossing a helpful tool for recalling vocabulary words.Download an Excerpt
Features
- Single-column format, in accord with the earliest Hebrew manuscripts
- Running glosses of words that occur fewer than 75 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, placed below the Hebrew text
- Dictionary of frequent words in the back
- Complete morphological parsing of Hebrew verbs used in uncommon or difficult forms
- Smyth-sewn binding
- Packaging: Slipcase
(Publisher's Website)
Unlike The Greek New Testament below, there is one edition of The Hebrew Old Testament, a hardcover Reader's Edition with box. No premium editions are anticipated at this time. I added ribbons for my study convenience.
If you carefully examine a copy, you will note some Hebrew words in gray. This is done to help the reader identify proper nouns and gentilic nouns (nouns that describe the ethnic identity of a person or group of people).
In addition, running glosses of Aramaic words that occur fewer than 10 times in the Old Testament are placed below the text.
This is a reader's edition. That means that a parish pastor or an intermediate or beginning Hebrew student can focus on the Bible text, learning syntax and reviewing vocabulary during study, without text critical notes at the bottom of a BHS getting in the way. It feels more like devotion time when I use a reader's edition. I especially like using them for sermon preparation throughout the week.
I love that there is an impressive, widely-available, slightly larger-print edition (about 13.5 point font) of the Hebrew Bible available.
The box will help you protect the pages during travel for a lifetime of use.
And, because it is durably smyth-sewn, you can always get this edition rebound with a custom leather cover!
This volume gets our highest recommendation.
At first glance, it looks like this edition is a similar price to the BHS when shopping online. You do not have to order all of your theological books from a big box company with a smile on their cardboard shipping boxes.
Don't forget to go to crossway.org, sign up for a free Crossway+ account, and ALWAYS get a 30% discount with free shipping on orders over $30. Besides, Crossway packages their books carefully, unlike a certain unnamed River-in-South-America-Company.
A special summer discount of 50% is currently in effect through September 30 with the code SUMM22.
I'll be buying another copy when THOT is available on Logos Bible Software.
We now turn to The Greek New Testament.
Reflecting decades of scholarly advances, The Greek New Testament, Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge was created under the oversight of editors Dr. Dirk Jongkind (St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Peter Williams (Tyndale House, Cambridge). Their team took a rigorously philological approach to reevaluating the standard text—reexamining spelling and paragraph decisions as well as allowing more recent discoveries related to scribal habits to inform editorial decisions.
This edition features an exhaustive dictionary, giving readers a tool for rewarding study. Eliminating the need to frequently reference other materials, this resource with the added dictionary is ideal for students, pastors, and those who are less familiar with Greek.
Features
- Exhaustive dictionary
- Ribbon marker
- Smyth-sewn binding
(Publisher's Website)
I'm impressed. I think you will be, too.
Yes, this an eclectic text, like NA28/USB5, yet avoids the personal controversies of Westcott/Hort by going back to the text of Samuel Prideaux Tregelles.
This is a great alternative to NU.
What editions are available?
- Hardcover with ribbon and box
- Hardcover with dictionary and ribbon and box
- Hardcover Reader's Edition with ribbon and box (received for review)
- Trutone (synthetic leather) with ribbon (Cambridge University Press)
- Grey Imitation Leather with ribbon (Cambridge University Press)
- Brown Cowhide with ribbon (Cambridge University Press)
- Black French Morocco Leather with ribbon (Cambridge University Press)
- Faithlife/LOGOS Bible Software
- Companion volume: An Introduction to the Greek New Testament (paperback)
The paperback companion volume allows the editors from Tyndale House, Cambridge, explain their own editorial decisions (on variants, the ending of Mark, the woman caught in adultery, etc.), their perspective on the Textus Receptus and the Byzantine Text, the differences between their minimal critical apparatus and those of NA/UBS, and the difference between a critical edition and a reader's edition. The transparency is refreshing, whether I agree or disagree with the editors on some decisions.
Again, don't forget to go to crossway.org, sign up for a free Crossway+ account, and get your 30% discount (with free shipping on orders over $30). The special summer discount of 50% is currently in effect through September 30 with the code SUMM22.
I would encourage the publishers involved with these Greek and Hebrew Testaments to:
- Make The Hebrew Old Testament available on Logos Bible Software.
- Produce and edition of The Hebrew Old Testament with a BHS-style apparatus.
- Offer The Hebrew Old Testament in one premium leather edition.
- Consider a combined THOT/THNT combined edition with a very durable cover.
The Lord bless your study of His Word always!
Rev. Paul J Cain is Senior Pastor of Immanuel, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster-emeritus and instructor at Martin Luther Grammar School and Immanuel Academy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, First Vice-President of the Wyoming District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Rhetoric Teacher for Wittenberg Academy, and Editor of Lutheran Book Review. He has served as an LCMS Circuit Visitor, District Worship Chairman, District Evangelism Chairman, District Education Chairman/NLSA Commissioner, and District Secretary. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Rev. Cain is a contributor to Lutheranism 101, Lutheran Service Book and the companion hymn and liturgy volumes, and is the author of 5 Things You Can Do to Make Your Congregation a Caring Church. He is an occasional guest on KFUO radio. He has previously served Emmanuel, Green River, WY and Trinity, Morrill, NE. Rev. Cain is married to Ann and loves reading and listening to, composing, and making music. He dreams of running his own publishing house according to the Lord's timing.
