Hebrew Audio Bible - Another Appeal

We should ask Faithlife to incorporate the Hebrew Audio Bible (by Abraham Shmuelof) on Academy of Ancient Languages: http://www.aoal.org/hebrew_audiobible.htm

Would be really cool.

Patrick Rietveld said:

We should ask Faithlife to incorporate the Hebrew Audio Bible (by Abraham Shmuelof) on Academy of Ancient Languages: http://www.aoal.org/hebrew_audiobible.htm

Would be really cool.

That's the best Hebrew Audio OT I have found. It would be great to have it in Logos.

Patrick Rietveld said:

We should ask Faithlife to incorporate the Hebrew Audio Bible (by Abraham Shmuelof) on Academy of Ancient Languages: http://www.aoal.org/hebrew_audiobible.htm

Would be really cool.

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I think it's time to collate some of the many suggestions for a Hebrew Audio Bible in Logos. I chose this thread because it appears to have the most posts/requests.

First, there are many suggestions on the Logos forums (arranged chronologically, except for the last thread, which is found in the Logos 6 forum):

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/84337.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/p/87690/615530.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/p/87734/615491.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/99027.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/p/100038/691481.aspx  

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/114745.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/p/124762/814065.aspx 

https://community.logos.com/forums/p/119056/808546.aspx 

Second, interest has also been expressed in some of the reviews for Randall Buth's and Vincent Setterholm's Hebrew Audio Pronunciations.

Third, there's at least one suggestion for Audio Hebrew on the Logos 6 UserVoice site. It appears that the forums have received far greater attention than UserVoice.

I think the general interest in Hebrew and Greek audio resources reinforce this suggestion. Audio can help almost any Greek or Hebrew student read with greater comprehension and ease.

John Goodman said:

This is the very top of my wishlist for Logos. I need my hebrew audio Bible to be of better quality than the one I have and built into logos. I'd like both my hebrew audio Bible and my greek one to work on mobile apps. I find it crucial for building my fluency.

Same here, John. [Y]

An interesting interview with Randall Buth was recently posted on the Biblical Language Center Blog (link). Listening to Greek and Hebrew audio recordings is a key component to building fluency and learning to read the biblical languages with increasing ease. Having a Hebrew audio Bible integrated directly into Logos would be a boon to practically anyone interested in the biblical languages—including students, pastors, and teachers at every level.

Anyone else interested?

I would be interested in discussing this further if anyone from Logos is biting. For one thing, I encourage my online students to use audio to build their fluency. If Logos had this option, it would allow me to promote use of Logos in my courses. Additionally, I have been attempting to promote accessibility for people who use synthetic speech. There is, in fact, Hebrew support in Voiceover (IOS devices) It is very good. With improved accessibility for these devices, a modicum of audio support could be enabled.

Good to hear, Phil. Thanks for the response.

Great, Phil! A number of us are very anxious to have the control and convenience that an audio Hebrew TANAK would bring to Logos compared to such current alternatives as:

http://www.aoal.org/hebrew_audiobible.htm 

https://www.jewishsoftware.com/products/Sound_of_Psalms_Authentic_Liturgy__Melody_1776.asp

Phil Gons (Faithlife) said:

We're interested in offering a Hebrew audio Bible at some point. It's been on the list for a while. I'll look into it again and see what we can do.

Hey Phil, I just wanted to point out another recent, high quality audio-bible from the Bible Society in Israel. Their recordings cover both the OT and the (Modern) Hebrew New Testament (HNT) and come in both dramatized and undramatized versions (the only difference being the inclusion of music & sound effects). Thankfully, the text of the HNT is already available on Logos (here). Aramaic sections are apparently translated into biblical Hebrew (e.g., as in Daniel). (By the way, anyone who can read much of the Hebrew OT shouldn't have too much trouble reading the Modern HNT, especially the narrative portions.) You can find many of these recordings available for free:

Hebrew OT and HNT (Dramatized):
http://www.bible.is/HBRHMT/Gen/1/D  
http://haktuvim.co.il/ 

HNT (Dramatized):
http://www.biblesocietyinisrael.com/nt-audio-gospel-matthew  
https://www.amazon.com/Hebrew-Testament-Modern-Version-Dramatized/dp/B0080PQU6K/ 

HNT (Undramatized):
http://www.bible.is/HBRHMT/Matt/1/N 

I know it's been a few months since you posted, but thanks for looking into this Phil!

David Paul said:

Adam Olean said:

Hebrew OT and HNT (Dramatized):
http://www.bible.is/HBRHMT/Gen/1/D  
http://haktuvim.co.il/ 

The use of the Vav rather than a Waaw is unnerving. I made it to verse 4 before reflexively clicking the pause button.

Meh...NOT Biblical Hebrew.

I'd certainly welcome a more antiquated pronunciation scheme(s). I rather like "Restored Koine", for instance—although the best overall recording I've heard so far of the entire GNT uses a Modern (or Demotic) Greek pronunciation. Randall Buth has stated that professional readers/narrators in Israel often use at least some archaisms, although they certainly fall short of a "Restored Hebrew" (e.g., of Moses or David). That said, there are benefits to learning both modern and ancient pronunciations for those who are interested.

Great suggestions, Adam! Anyone out there in Bellingham listening in?

Steve Maling said:

Great suggestions, Adam! Anyone out there in Bellingham listening in?

Thanks, Steve! I don't know: Things seem awfully quiet in Bellingham after another several months down the road. I haven't given up, but I'm grateful for the excellent recordings that are already available online!

I think Faithlife could really promote and facilitate increased fluency in the biblical languages, but that may be left to a few but growing number of individuals and groups like Randall Buth and Biblical Language Center. There are also a growing number of resources and supplements available online for Modern Hebrew. As I recall, John Schwandt, Executive Director of Logos Mobile Ed, has taught Classical and Koine Greek conversationally through his Institute of Biblical Greek.

https://www.logos.com/products/search?Author=8891%7cJohn+Schwandt 

Phil Gons (Faithlife) said:

We're listening. We've been exploring one Hebrew audio Bible recently.

[Y]

Steve Maling said:

Phil, thank you for the reassurance. I'm sure many of us are cheering you on in this exploration. And yes, I too am impatient

Indeed, thank you Phil! I'll look forward to sharing in the fruits of your labor. Keep up the good work.

Lee, your emoticon to the contrary notwithstanding, my response is, "Right sentiment, wrong tone." BTW, from the number of times I've posted to this thread one can see I share your impatience! Shalom, shalom, Steve

Steve Maling said:

Lee, your emoticon to the contrary notwithstanding, my response is, "Right sentiment, wrong tone." BTW, from the number of times I've posted to this thread one can see I share your impatience! Shalom, shalom, Steve

Steve, that sentence I wrote is not my own. No offence was intended at all. It's a famous comedic catchphrase, ironically describing a desperately compelling product. Apologies if the reference wasn't clear.

Hi, Lee and Matthew, thanks for helping plug a gap in my lamentable ignorance of pop culture![:)]

Rob Lambert said:

Guys, I can't find a Hebrew Audio Bible.  Is this still the case?   

thanks

Rob

Hi, Rob. That's right. It looks like the last updates from Phil are coming up on one and two years ago. That doesn't mean that they're not working behind the scenes.

Anyway, there a number of free Hebrew and Greek recordings available on the internet, even now one for the so-called Septuagint(a). It'd be great if Logos explored that as well.
https://community.logos.com/forums/p/76863/929148.aspx#929148 

Phil, this is great news, that you guys are really working on this. I don't have a specific suggestion for the way forward, but I most assuredly DO cheer you on your way!

Phil Gons (Faithlife) said:

Still working on it. Multiple conversations about it in the last month. Unfortunately no progress to report. We're exploring both licensing an existing audio Bible and producing our own. Is there one you like that you'd like to see us license? Or a scholar you think we should have produce one for us?

Thanks for the update, Phil.

Well, it might take at least two recordings to make almost everyone happy! I definitely wouldn't settle for anyone who lacks fluency in Modern and Biblical Hebrew; otherwise, the pronunciation will fall well short of any historically attested and/or reconstructed form of Hebrew (including prosody).

Randall Buth uses an "oriental Israeli pronunciation" because it's a historically attested, albeit minority dialect of Modern Hebrew; it preserves archaic features situating it "halfway between King David's pronunciation and Masoretic pronunciation"; and, of course, it is also comprehensible by Modern Hebrew speakers. In Living Biblical Hebrew: Part 1, Buth summarizes his rationale as follows:

"An Israeli pronunciation will give the student the easiest access into further Hebrew studies. This includes working with other dialects like the Hebrew of the Dead Sea Scrolls, mishnaic Hebrew and Israeli scholarly literature. An Israeli pronunciation also serves as a standard when meeting people from around the world who come from many different linguistic backgrounds." (see this post for additional quotes and citations)

Such a system has many advantages as an entry point into Hebrew studies. It would probably satisfy those who use and are familiar with Sephardi(c), oriental, and/or Modern Hebrew pronunciations. There are also a number of such recordings available. If Buth isn't one of the best to record it (or just way too busy to do so), he'd probably be one of the best to consult with in order to find someone (or someones) who would.

The Bible Society in Israel's recordings are phenomenal for Modern Hebrew. Dan Be'eri's are probably the best that I have access to that use an oriental pronunciation. Unfortunately, it's incomplete and portions of it are cantillated, which might or might not be appreciated by everyone.

Finally, I understand the desire and motivation to attempt more robust historical reconstructions (e.g., from the First Temple and Second Temple periods). I know that some like David Steinberg have attempted this (interacting with Joshua Blau and others), although I haven't done enough reading to evaluate it:
http://www.adath-shalom.ca/history_of_hebrewtoc.htm 
http://www.houseofdavid.ca/anc_heb.htm  

Here's a brave fellow who attempted to make recordings using Steinberg's system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjuU9T0RgrE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwSf911-URI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwneEBprmtA 

Phil Gons (Faithlife) said:

Still working on it. Multiple conversations about it in the last month. Unfortunately no progress to report. We're exploring both licensing an existing audio Bible and producing our own. Is there one you like that you'd like to see us license? Or a scholar you think we should have produce one for us?

Phil, I should have added that an additional advantage of the Bible Society in Israel's (BSI) recordings is that they cover both the Hebrew OT and the (Modern) Hebrew New Testament. This is a huge boon to one's Hebrew fluency for anyone who takes advantage of it. I hope that you'll take this into consideration and not neglect the HNT.

If you produce your own then you might consider Delitzsch's translation for something closer to the OT and Second Temple periods. Faithlife might even want to publish Delitzsch's Hebrew New Testament while they're at it (as a Logos Edition). It's in the public domain, after all! It'd be a rather unique Logos resource (i.e., having the text with audio). https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=3vvjQlpWlKYC 

Edit: The one quirk about BSI's recordings, if I recall correctly, is that they translate at least some Aramaic sections into Biblical Hebrew (e.g., in Daniel).

Lucian Benigno said:

I'm +1 with Adam Olean: Franz Delitzsch HNT is priceless, and the audio from the Bible Society in Israel is breathtaking:

http://haktuvim.co.il/en/study/Gen.1.1

[Y]