Lesson 2 | Vocab
Memorization
In each vocabulary lesson, you’re going to work on memorizing the Hebrew of Numbers 6:23-27. There are three reasons why we have included Bible memorization in this course:
1. It will help you learn inductively.
You have already been given new vocabulary to memorize in a list. But that’s not the most natural way to learn a language. As children, we learned words as adults talked with us. We learned phrases and idioms that we didn’t understand, but could use—our full understanding came later. The best way to learn a language isn’t through paradigms and rules but through extensive exposure.
So in Numbers 6:23-27, you’ll learn words as they occur “in the wild”—that is, in the text of Scripture itself. The more you memorize and even just read, the more words and syntactical constructions (groups of words) you’ll absorb in the process.
2. It will help you quickly improve your Hebrew through a passage you’re already familiar with.
You may not have memorized Numbers 6:23-27, but you’re probably familiar with the blessing it gives: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you…” (Num 6:24-25). Other passages in our Hebrew courses will be some of the most important passages in the תנ״ך, which you will be familiar with and which are quoted frequently in the NT.
3. It will be a means of grace.
The psalmist wrote,
When you internalize God's words, they will guide your heart and mind into righteous ways and away from sinful ways. May God “equip you with everything good that you may do his will ... through Jesus Christ” as you memorize these verses (Heb 13:21).
Setting The Stage
Here's the process you'll follow in each memorization step:
1. Listen to me read all of Numbers 6:23-27, following along in the text below.¹
0:00
0:00
2. Then listen to me read verse 24 (we’ll save verse 23 for the last vocab lesson). Do so at least five times.
0:00
0:00
Working On Pronunciation
3. Now listen to me read each phrase of verse 24, and then say each phrase after me.
²יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה (the LORD bless you)
0:00
0:00
וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ (and keep you)
0:00
0:00
