Comparative Philology and the Text of the Old Testament: With Additions and Corrections

by James Barr

In this expanded version of James Barr’s classic work, three additional articles by the author are added. They are (1) “Philology and Some General Remarks, with Illustrations from Job,” (2) “Ugaritic and Hebrew sbm?” and (3) “Limitations of Etymology as a Lexicographical Instrument in Biblical Hebrew.” The text of the original edition (Oxford University Press, 1968) remains unchanged. In addition to the seventy-five pages of additional material, this expanded version concludes with a postscript by Professor Barr, placing the articles within the context of the book.

Genres: Biblical Studies

436 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

James Barr, FBA, was a Scottish Old Testament scholar. At the University of Oxford, he was the Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture from 1976 to 1978, and the Regius Professor of Hebrew from 1978 to 1989.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B...

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Reviews

[Nicholas Meriwether · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed linguistic and methodological critique of comparative Semitics. While this book came out in 1968, it still holds up as a standard work in Old Testament studies. It certainly addresses the scholarship of its time, particularly where Old Testament scholars use other Semitic languages to determine the meaning of Hebrew words. Barr exposes the numerous pitfalls of this approach, and advocates for a much more careful approach that takes into account the complexity of comparative linguistics, textual transmission, and semantics. Chapter 4 was my favorite chapter, as it is where he lays out the central principles of the book. While I really gleaned from his methodological discussion, it is an understandably dry read; one look at the title could probably tell you that. Slow, but worth the brain power for those who want to responsibly evaluate comparative philology.

[Colby Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s the takeaway: don’t do comparative philology until you know Biblical Hebrew really really well and then post-biblical Hebrew really really well. At that point you can start thinking about learning Ugaritic, Arabic, and Akkadian. But even then, you better be super careful and probably not take too much stock in any one philological observation unless it provides demonstrable evidence.

[Derek Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A necessary read. Very helpful.