The Home for Bible Translators and Scholars…

1. The Home for Bible Translators and Scholars… inJerusalem Associate Member of the International Forum of Bible Agencies (IFOBA)

2. Why a Home for Bible Translators in the land of the Bible?

3. The Land is the context of Biblical writings.

5. Of the 6,912 languages worldwide only some 420 have the Old Testament.

6. Vision 2025 requires urgency for training translators who can work with both speed and quality. The solution: Training nationals in Biblical Hebrew and the cultural backgrounds of the text.

7. Translators of these 46 languages have studied in Jerusalem: Attie Bamenda Baoulé Bariba Basar Berom Chadian Arabic Dagara Djimini Fon Fulfulde Kissi Kpelee Kru Kurdish Lama Lobiri Gokana Igbo Kabiye Kikongo Mawchi Vasavi Mbai Mina Nangnda Nangjere Nawdm Ngambai Ngas Nuni Nyaboa Obolo San Sabaot Sar Sicité Sisaala Soninke Tamajeq Tarok Udmurt Wobé Yele Yom

8. The mission of HBT is to provide: An academic program at the Hebrew University for studying Hebrew text in its geographical and cultural context. The Hebrew University Rothberg International School

9. The Hebrew University An Accredited Program forBible Translators

10. Graduates of the special program receive: • University Credit • and… • A Certificate of Completion

11. The Hebrew University Study Program • Pre-requisites: • At least two-years of post- • high school studies. • 2. Participation in a Bible • translation project. • 3. Completion of first-year • Biblical Hebrew.

12. The Six-month Study Program Historical Geography and Cultural Backgrounds of the Text. 2. Training in Modern Hebrew. 3. Biblical Hebrew-Intermediate Level. 4. Syntax and Discourse Analysis of Biblical Hebrew. 5.Translation WorkshopandSeminar on Exegesis.

13. 1. Historical Geography and Cultural Backgrounds of the Text • The lectures and field trips provide • first-hand experiences of the • geographical features, archaeology, • flora, fauna, and cultural artifacts • of the Land. • Relevant Hebrew texts are read • on location.

14. 18 days of studytours throughout the Land Translators become acquainted with:

15. Flora of Israel

16. An example from botanyfrom the contrast of a tree with an herb

17. Cedars of Lebanon

18. I Kings 4:29-30,33-34 29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. … 33 And he spoke of trees, • from the cedar that is in Lebanon • even to the hyssop that grows on the wall;

22. Fauna of Israel

23. The Biblical Culture Ancient Biblical Culture

24. The Archaeology of Israel Archaeology of the Bible

25. Archaeology can clear up the interpretation of obscure texts.

26. I Kings 2:28 28 Now the news came to Joab, for Joab had followed Adonijah.... And Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of thehornsof the altar.

27. Solomon’saltar Moses’Tabernacle altar “horn”

29. The Geology of Israel Geographical Features

30. For example: Psalm 23

31. “Paths” “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” Pslam 23:2 (Heb.) “neot deshe” = oasis of grass

32. “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” Psalm 23:2 (Heb.) “neot deshe” = oasis of grass

33. “He leads me beside quiet waters…” Psalm 23:2 (Heb.) “mei menuchot” = restful waters

35. “He leads me by paths of righteousness…” Psalm 23:3 (Heb.) “ma’aglei tsedek” = “circles” of righteousness

36. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” Psalm 23:4 (Heb.) “gai”= ravine

39. 2. Training in Modern Hebrew • State-of-the-art techniques for rapid language acquisition are used to internalize the vocabulary and grammar of the language. • Speaking the language contributes to long-term retention. • The basic vocabulary of modern Hebrew is the same as Biblical Hebrew.

40. 3. Biblical Hebrew – Second Year • The focus is on more advanced • grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of • the Biblical texts. • Emphasis is given toward extensive • readings from the Massoretic text (BHS).

42. 4. Syntax and Discourse Analysis of Biblical Hebrew • The focus is on foregrounding and • backgrounding devices of Biblical text • so that the translator is able to • discover and comprehend these • features in the text. • Taught by a translation consultant

43. 5.Translation Workshopand Seminar on Exegesis (June) • Issues in Old Testament translation • are discussed and relevant material • from the other courses is applied to • the task of translating into the mother • tongue of the student. • An experienced translation consultant • teaches the seminar and coaches the • work of the translators – SIL or UBS. • .

44. The Translation Seminar

45. Students are guided individually

46. 74 translators from 26 countries have taken advantage of HBT’s unique training program.

47. Some of the 2005-2006 students at HBT:

48. Slava - Udmurtia, Russia 2005

49. Ndormadji - Chad, Africa 2005

50. Suren – Kurdish, Russia 2005