The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible: Introduction
Overview
This resource introduces the concepts behind the annotations of The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible. Each discourse device is discussed, with several examples, to show the exegetical significance of the device in question.
Top Highlights
“Introducing information that is syntactically outside the main clause (i.e., it is dislocated) but that is reiterated somewhere within the main clause using a pronoun or other generic reference. Left-dislocations typically introduce something that is too complex to include in the main clause, where it might otherwise cause confusion. The element of the left-dislocation that resumes the information essentially summarizes new content, allowing the writer to easily comment about the new entity.” (source)
“This label indicates that the following sentence contains subordinate clause components preceding the main clause. The main clause of the sentence is indented one level from the ‘complex’ label even though it is not grammatically dependent. Dependent elements are indented two or more levels from the complex label.” (source)
“A sentence introduced by כִּי that is marked as reinforcing or supporting the preceding discourse. Support sentences do not extend or develop an argument. The support sentence and the ones it governs are indented one level to represent their logical support of what precedes.” (source)
“A clause that is grammatically dependent on another one. In most cases, the clause on which it depends precedes the sub-point. In ‘complex’ constructions, the sub-point may precede the clause on which it depends. Sub-points are normally signaled in Hebrew by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Sentences that build on the sub-point are indented and labeled as sub-points.” (source)
“Sentences that begin a speech reported within the discourse are labeled as ‘sentences,’ but are indented one level in the outline to reflect that they are technically dependent on (i.e., subordinate to) the verb of speaking that introduces them. Sentences are most often coordinated to the preceding discourse using וְ or the absence of a conjunction.” (source)
- Title: The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible: Introduction
- Authors: Joshua R. Westbury, Steven Runge
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Hebrew language, Biblical › Discourse grammar
- Resource ID: LLS:LDHBINTRO
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:11:51Z
Reviews
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Max Kerr
11/30/2020
This resource is meant to be used with The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible. It is a useful introduction to discourse analysis and clearly defines the authors’ understanding of highlighting devices. Forward-pointing devices, thematic highlighting, word-order analysis, emphasis, frames of references, and reported speech are all devices that are covered in this work. It is not meant to be a scholarly work, but there are some references to outside works, mostly grammars. Some salient negatives of this work are all the spelling and grammar errors. By grammar errors I do not mean Hebrew grammar errors but English. It seems as though this was rushed to market because there are many blatant errors like, “creating an emphasize,” “There something that remains,” and “Anohter.” There are also highlighting devices that are mismatched. One would think that since this is an electronic-only edition mistakes could be quickly identified and corrected, but it does not appear that this is the case. It is only $4.99 and it reads like it. For all the salient negatives, there are tremendous positives to this work. The explanations are clear and concise. It is a helpful read to a student of Biblical Hebrew wanting to deepen their understanding of discourse analysis. One final note: this resource and The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible: Glossary are very similar. They both have the same Introduction and cover the same highlighting devices. The glossary is a shortened version of this resource and does not include full explanations and examples.