Rating: 
Summary: Jewish review of Zondervan Interlinear OT
Review: As a Jew who is happy to be Jewish -- not a Messianic Jew -- I think that this is a terrific book. I am a graduate of the Baltimore Hebrew College High School department, studied at the Hebrew University for college third year in Jerusalem and speak Hebrew fluently. This interlinear OT is great for anyone who wants to learn Hebrew or brush up on Hebrew. As with the Zondervan Interlinear NT by Berry, the print is very clear. Unfortunately, there is no Hebrew dictionary at the end of the OT as there is a Greek one at the end of the Interlinear NT. It would be more convenient to have a Hebrew dictionary at the end to obviate the need for a separate dictionary by the side. Of course, this interlinear OT is so large, adding a dictionary might not be practical. The only objection I have is one that Kohlenberger has himself alluded to in his introduction. That is, the interlinear translation of the Hebrew word "almah" as "virgin" instead of "young girl." As Kohlenberger says, it should be "young girl" just as YHWH should be "God" and not "Jehovah." This will collide with Christian theology and I understand that Zondervan is a Christian publishing company. However, even Kohlenberger says that it should be translated "young girl." This is simply a fact. I want to congratulate Zondervan on a great product. I must say however that the publisher's description is confusing. Zondervan states that "specific" words are translated in the interlinear format. As the 2 excellent reviews above indicate, every word is given the interlinear treatment. I do not understand why Zondervan does not make this clear in their promotional material. One final word. I live in the Jewish community of Baltimore. I checked with 3 different Hebrew book stores in town. Apparently there are no equivalents from Hebrew publishing companies to the interlinear format. In fact, no one in any of these stores knew what I was talking about. Maybe one day Soncino Press and other Jewish publishing companies will catch up to Zondervan. Three cheers for a job well done. Shalom.
Rating:
Summary: Jewish review of Zondervan Interlinear OT
Review: As a Jew who is happy to be Jewish -- not a Messianic Jew -- I think that this is a terrific book. I am a graduate of the Baltimore Hebrew College High School department, studied at the Hebrew University for college third year in Jerusalem and speak Hebrew fluently. This interlinear OT is great for anyone who wants to learn Hebrew or brush up on Hebrew. As with the Zondervan Interlinear NT by Berry, the print is very clear. Unfortunately, there is no Hebrew dictionary at the end of the OT as there is a Greek one at the end of the Interlinear NT. It would be more convenient to have a Hebrew dictionary at the end to obviate the need for a separate dictionary by the side. Of course, this interlinear OT is so large, adding a dictionary might not be practical. The only objection I have is one that Kohlenberger has himself alluded to in his introduction. That is, the interlinear translation of the Hebrew word "almah" as "virgin" instead of "young girl." As Kohlenberger says, it should be "young girl" just as YHWH should be "God" and not "Jehovah." This will collide with Christian theology and I understand that Zondervan is a Christian publishing company. However, even Kohlenberger says that it should be translated "young girl." This is simply a fact. I want to congratulate Zondervan on a great product. I must say however that the publisher's description is confusing. Zondervan states that "specific" words are translated in the interlinear format. As the 2 excellent reviews above indicate, every word is given the interlinear treatment. I do not understand why Zondervan does not make this clear in their promotional material. One final word. I live in the Jewish community of Baltimore. I checked with 3 different Hebrew book stores in town. Apparently there are no equivalents from Hebrew publishing companies to the interlinear format. In fact, no one in any of these stores knew what I was talking about. Maybe one day Soncino Press and other Jewish publishing companies will catch up to Zondervan. Three cheers for a job well done. Shalom.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Devotional and Reference. Finally, A True Interlinear
Review: Firstly, this book is one of the more affordable and one of the few true interlinears. Many interlinear Bibles available, especially the Hebrew-English Old Testament interlinears, are either too expensive and, perhaps too scholarly for the ambitious layman, or else missing the Hebrew language that you might expect from an interlinear! Of course, you can look up Strong's numbers, but you might as well get a lexicon if you want to study the meaning of words, in depth. I have always wanted to read both the original manuscripts in printed form in the original syntax, grammar, and alphabet, even though that doesn't guarantee that I would understand everything better. This book has a good general sketch of Hebrew pronouns, grammar, pronunciation, history, and textual history; but it has no concordance, index, or appendix, and it has no deep explanation of precise semantics. This interlinear has a main text area on each page that displays the Hebrew text and its literal English. The margins contain the NIV Bible in small print. The footnotes explain variations in spelling, wording, and pronunciation compared to other texts. (This book uses the Masoretic Texts based almost entirely on the oldest text, Biblia Hebraica.)
Rating:
Summary: Good Devotional and Reference. Finally, A True Interlinear
Review: Firstly, this book is one of the more affordable and one of the few true interlinears. Many interlinear Bibles available, especially the Hebrew-English Old Testament interlinears, are either too expensive and, perhaps too scholarly for the ambitious layman, or else missing the Hebrew language that you might expect from an interlinear! Of course, you can look up Strong's numbers, but you might as well get a lexicon if you want to study the meaning of words, in depth. I have always wanted to read both the original manuscripts in printed form in the original syntax, grammar, and alphabet, even though that doesn't guarantee that I would understand everything better. This book has a good general sketch of Hebrew pronouns, grammar, pronunciation, history, and textual history; but it has no concordance, index, or appendix, and it has no deep explanation of precise semantics. This interlinear has a main text area on each page that displays the Hebrew text and its literal English. The margins contain the NIV Bible in small print. The footnotes explain variations in spelling, wording, and pronunciation compared to other texts. (This book uses the Masoretic Texts based almost entirely on the oldest text, Biblia Hebraica.)
Rating: 
Summary: Not beneficial for translation critique.
Review: I had hoped to find a literal word-for-word translation of the Hebrew which I could then compare to the NIV to see what words have potential alternate translations - not so much to critique the NIV, as to alert me to significant words that would produce an interesting or rewarding study.
Instead, in his introduction, the translator says that his goal was to use the SAME words as the NIV as often as possible. (Even if an alternate word seems to be a better translation, he defers to the NIV, rather than offering an alternate possibility - as in the case of Isaiah 7:14.)
Thus, the interlinear is not a translation, so much as it is a tool for helping readers know which English words correspond to which Hebrew words. If you already have some ability to read Hebrew or plan to learn Hebrew, this may be helpful. Otherwise this text probably won't do you a whole lot of good.
Rating:
Summary: One of the things I would grab during a fire if I could...
Review: I love my Hebrew English Interlinear. First, I've learned somany Hebrew words this way. It's such an enjoyable way to read theBible.. and my vocabulary grows each time. Second, I love the way that Hebrew sounds and how passionate a language it is. In English, when Moses is praying for Miriam, it reads, "Heal her, O God." But in Hebrew, the text says, "O God! Heal now to her!" The text is more immediate, more emotional. Third, I love being able to read the Bible in the original language as a layperson for myself. Now when people say, "Well, in the original language it doesn't really say that!" I can look it up and see, yes, it does say "ben" or "son" in Psalm 2, etc. The Hebrew is on top in nice large letters; the English is underneath word for word... and the NIV text is along the side. It's heavy... (kvod...weighty/full of glory)... and worth every shekel. :) For me, reading this Bible is a closer way of listening to God face to face...like Moses experienced in Exodus 33... an intimate way of listening to God, my joy and my delight.
Rating:
Summary: One of the things I would grab during a fire if I could...
Review: I love my Hebrew English Interlinear. First, I've learned somany Hebrew words this way. It's such an enjoyable way to read theBible.. and my vocabulary grows each time. Second, I love the way that Hebrew sounds and how passionate a language it is. In English, when Moses is praying for Miriam, it reads, "Heal her, O God." But in Hebrew, the text says, "O God! Heal now to her!" The text is more immediate, more emotional. Third, I love being able to read the Bible in the original language as a layperson for myself. Now when people say, "Well, in the original language it doesn't really say that!" I can look it up and see, yes, it does say "ben" or "son" in Psalm 2, etc. The Hebrew is on top in nice large letters; the English is underneath word for word... and the NIV text is along the side. It's heavy... (kvod...weighty/full of glory)... and worth every shekel. :) For me, reading this Bible is a closer way of listening to God face to face...like Moses experienced in Exodus 33... an intimate way of listening to God, my joy and my delight.
Rating:
Summary: Good Enough for What it is
Review: I read criticisms in the other reviews, and most are well founded. Who is the book really for? Hints: Old Testament. NIV. Are you looking for an end all tool to teach Hebrew, to give all the various shades of meaning in the text, the Hebrew root of each word or Strong Concordance Lexicon numbers? OY!!! Slackers!! ;-) Guys, there's few shortcuts, but this book is for starters. It is a time saver. A novice to Hebrew can quickly get an idea of syntax, some literal definitions, noun (plural, singulars), verbs and often aspect, in short, Biblical Hebrew grammar illustrated, quickly. That's what it is good for. I bought the 4 volume edition when I began studying Hebrew. When it came out in single volume form, I eventually bought two---one for home and one for my office study. It is a good tool---because I know how to use it according to its limitations (and the same most Hebrew to English tools and translations have). You can't expect too much. Here's the way I use this book. I have a text or construction in question. I grab this book (or similar), AND then start looking at lexicons, and other works and translations. I can tell you, I don't look at the NIV seriously just as I do not look at the KJV for meaning---unless I want to compare the text with Christian manipulations of it. So if you are not willing to study Hebrew, do not buy this book. If you expect to have "the real" meaning encapsulated in a few little words, dream on. This is a time-saver, not an answer to the mysteries of the universe (written by a non-Christian, non-Western culture in a non-Western language) in a fat little book. Come on. ;-) Don't use the NIV translation beside the interlinear. Don't take the interlinear's translation as authoritative or inclusive. It is just a stepping stone. By the way, it is an overpriced stepping stone, but so is the BHS Hebrew text it is based upon. Try Dotan's BHL. If you just want quicker and dirtier and understand a little of Hebrew grammar, get the Old Testament Parsing Guides. And to you "Old Testament" people---it is not old, and quit subjecting our Tanak to your weird theology to call it that. How can you understand a Hebrew Bible with a subconscious cultural disdain for it and its people? In spite of the origins of this book, it is useful if used as meant or sensibly. Tip: I found this book at a Foozle's (like an overstocked book outlet, like Book Warehouse) for $17.95 a few years ago, and one at a Bible Warehouse for $30---avoid the Bible Warehouse---98% crapola. And yeah, why isn't there a Jewish sponsored, interlinear Tanak?
Rating: 
Summary: Can't comprehend the purpose
Review: I was thrilled that finally an Old Testament Interlinear was readily available for purchase on the mass market and bought this huge edition impetuously without researching the matter much; big mistake. Someone else who reviewed this article before basically hit the nail on the head: the interpreter clearly states in the intro. that his main intent is to copy the NIV in interpreting for the most part. So basically all you're buying is a 60-80 dollar expanded version of the NIV O.T., which is of course one of the most inacurate Bibles on the Market. Admittedly, the one purpose of this book is if one wanted to look up a word from the Hebrew text, the fact that an english interpretation is presented underneath is handy for that purpose. The problem with this facet of using it is that there is no Strong's Numbering anywhere, so for beginners in Hebrew who know not root words, it will be a long go in the BDB or in any other lexicon in locating any definition. The point is, I don't think this publication was so well thought out as to its usefulness as it truly has no great purpose, and I would recommend Jay Green's Interlinear O.T. years before this one, even though it's not perfect, of course it destroys the NIV for accuracy and it has the Strong's Numbering. Thank you for your time:o)
Rating:
Summary: Great Interlinear
Review: It is very easy to find good Greek Interlinears but a good Hebrew interlinear is nearly non-existent. I was a little nervous about buying it because the description did not clearly state whether the Hebrew text was written from right to left as is it is supposed to be. Thankfully, it is!!! The English "letters" are below the Hebrew and are in left to right order as we read in English, but the English "words" follow the Hebrew text which is right to left. This is what a true intelinear is supposed to be!
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