Most Hebrew Interlinears are in four volumes and can be very expensive. This book contains the entire Tenach/Old Testament and at a very reasonable price. The Hebrew text is written in standard Hebrew fashion (right to left) with the English translation (based on the NIV translation) of each word directly under each Hebrew word. As the NIV is not a "literal" translation of the text, it is not the best translation for an interlinear but it does work. The translation under the Hebrew is not always consistent. For example, the Hebrew word "vayomer" may have the translation "and he said" under it, but at other times it might be "but he said", "and he spoke" or "now he said". But with that said, this is the best priced and "useable" interlinear for beginning Hebrew students, in fact this is the very book I used to teach myself Hebrew. Also at the side of each page is a complete English translation (NIV) so that the reader can read the passage in context which helps with reading the Hebrew.

These four volumes in one binding include the standard Hebrew text Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, the NIV (North American version) as the English parallel text, a word for word translation for renderings of specific Hebrew words, and an introduction on how to use the Interlinear text.

Main Features: The standard Hebrew text, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, with all necessary variant readings and major textual conjectures in footnotes The New International Version (North American Edition) as the English parallel text, complete with special indentation and paragraphing, section headings, and footnotes A grammatically literal, word-for-word translation with English phrases reading in normal left-to-right order for renderings of specific Hebrew words A complete introduction explaining translation techniques and characteristics of the Hebrew and English texts A special introduction for the general reader on how to use an interlinear for word studies and learning Hebrew

John R. Kohlenberger III (M.A., Western Seminary) is the author or coeditor of more than three dozen biblical reference books and study Bibles, including The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, NIV Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament, NRSV Concordance Unabridged, Greek-English Concordance to the New Testament, Hebrew-English Concordance to the Old Testament, and the award-winning NIV Exhaustive Concordance and NIV Bible Commentary. He has taught at Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

These four volumes in one binding include the standard Hebrew text Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, the NIV (North American version) as the English parallel text, a word for word translation for renderings of specific Hebrew words, and an introduction on how to use the Interlinear text.

Main Features: The standard Hebrew text, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, with all necessary variant readings and major textual conjectures in footnotes The New International Version (North American Edition) as the English parallel text, complete with special indentation and paragraphing, section headings, and footnotes A grammatically literal, word-for-word translation with English phrases reading in normal left-to-right order for renderings of specific Hebrew words A complete introduction explaining translation techniques and characteristics of the Hebrew and English texts A special introduction for the general reader on how to use an interlinear for word studies and learning Hebrew

shemayah phillips from huntsville, tn United States
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?

Tim Courtois from Ann Arbor, MI USA
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.

Timothy Dougal from Madison, Wi United States
This is the only interlinear Hebrew-English Bible I have seen. As to layout and clarity of printing it is very good. However, and this is a big however, the "literal" translation is often not that literal or consistent, even in small matters. Frequently it seems geared primarily to justifying theological or stylistic decisions of the NIV translators. Why not just make an honest, literal, consistent interlinear, and let readers exercise their minds?

reformer5 from SAN FRANCISCO, CA USA
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.)

Alan Tischler from Baltimore, Maryland United States
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.

Pam Carnie from Houston
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.

A reader from Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Seminary students know that their classroom knowledge of the biblical languages (Hebrew/Greek) is probably the first thing to disappear from their minds after seminary. And no doubt, the Hebrew language will disappear sooner than the Greek because most seminary students do refer to their Greek more often than Hebrew after seminary graduation.

Fortunately, Kohlenberger's Interlinear Old Testament is handy (in one volume), complete (has all 39 books of the OT), and is readable (has larger print than most), and this Interlinear Old Testament should be on the shelf of serious students who know Hebrew or who have previously studied Hebrew. No other volume in print has all the above features of the complete Hebrew text along with a word for word English translation underneath each Hebrew word in the Old Testament text. This volume will save one a lot of time in looking up the underlying Hebrew meaning behind an English translation.

So if one is going to continue on with their Hebrew in the ministry after seminary, this book is the way to go. One will find this volume very useful and efficient in helping to accurately pinpoint the underlying Hebrew of an English translation of the Old Testament.