Top 5 Best Biblical Hebrew Courses Online (Free & Premium)
Written by Marko Marina, Ph.D.
Author | Historian
Author | Historian | BE Contributor
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Date written: April 19th, 2025
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman
What is the best Hebrew course available online? People have become interested in the answer, especially since Old Testament stories about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, the fall of humanity, Noah and the flood, and Moses parting the Red Sea are foundational narratives that are deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Western civilization. Additionally, they were originally written in Hebrew.
These stories echo through our education systems, resonate in great works of art, and inspire everything from sacred music to blockbuster films. Indeed, ancient Hebrew is an evocative, poetic, and complex language that shaped some of the most influential texts in human history.
For centuries, Biblical Hebrew remained largely inaccessible to the general public. It was the domain of seminary students, philologists, theologians, and historians, studied in hushed university libraries and parsed in footnotes of academic journals. To learn it meant years of formal education and access to specialized programs.
But with the rise of modern technology and the spread of online learning platforms, that landscape has dramatically changed. Today, anyone with curiosity, an internet connection, and a bit of discipline can begin learning Biblical Hebrew from the comfort of their home.
Whether you're a pastor preparing sermons, a scholar-in-training, or simply a curious reader who wants to delve deeper into the Old Testament texts, there are now more tools than ever to help you succeed.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 Hebrew courses online, including both free and premium options. We’ll walk through the strengths and drawbacks of each, look at user reviews and course structure, and offer recommendations for different kinds of learners — from absolute beginners to academic researchers.
Best Overall Hebrew Course:
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 based on 175 reviews on The Great Courses
Our journey into the best Hebrew course begins with Biblical Hebrew: Learning a Sacred Language, offered by The Great Courses and taught by Dr. Michael Carasik, a well-respected biblical scholar and translator.
This course stands out as one of the most accessible and academically grounded introductions to Biblical Hebrew currently available online. With 36 half-hour lectures, a downloadable guidebook, and a clear pedagogical structure, it delivers both depth and clarity— qualities not always easy to balance in language instruction.
What I especially appreciate about this course is its blended approach to learning. While many older programs lean heavily on memorizing grammar rules, Dr. Carasik integrates that traditional method with a hands-on, active engagement with the language.
In each lecture, Carasik guides his students through reading Hebrew text, analyzing how grammar and syntax shape meaning, and applying their knowledge through carefully designed exercises.
The instructor regularly highlights how subtle grammatical features can significantly alter the interpretation of a biblical verse — something particularly valuable for students of theology or anyone interested in exegesis.
The accompanying guidebook reinforces the lecture material with summaries, Hebrew passages, vocabulary, and drills.
It's well-organized and user-friendly, but I would recommend supplementing it with a dedicated Biblical Hebrew textbook if you want to go beyond the course's scope. Fortunately, the guidebook includes a list of suggested texts under the References section.
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One downside for some learners might be that the course isn’t interactive. There are no quizzes or assignments to submit, so motivation and self-discipline are key. Another consideration is cost: the Instant Video version of the course is currently listed at $339.95, though The Great Courses often runs significant discounts throughout the year.
While this price may seem high compared to free resources, the combination of high-quality instruction, scholarly rigor, and the structured guidebook makes it a solid investment, particularly for serious students of the Bible looking to learn Hebrew in a methodical and accessible way.
One student summed up the experience beautifully:
“Biblical Hebrew is not an easy language to learn (I'll be working through this course for some time), but this instructor is excellent in presenting the material. It emphasizes a hands-on approach rather than the usual grammar rule-based way of learning, but he mixes both methods to good effect. The exercises he uses to help the student grasp and remember the information are very helpful. I particularly like when he explains how the grammar affects the meaning of the Biblical text. The accompanying booklet is useful, but I would strongly suggest the student also get a Biblical Hebrew textbook (suggestions for useful textbooks are provided in the booklet under References).”
Best Free Biblical Hebrew Course:
Ratings: Estimated 4.3 out of 5 based on user engagement and community feedback.
If you’re looking for a completely free way to begin your Biblical Hebrew journey, Aleph with Beth is one of the most creative and engaging options available online. This video-based course, hosted on YouTube, offers 150 lessons ranging from 4 to 20 minutes each.
It uses an immersive method, meaning there’s no English in the videos. Just Biblical Hebrew, paired with visuals and gestures to build understanding naturally, much like how we learn our first language. A very interesting method!
That said, while Aleph with Beth isn’t a formal, in-depth academic course, it does offer a surprising amount of supplementary materials to support learners.
On its companion site (freehebrew.online), you’ll find interactive quizzes, vocabulary flashcards, Hebrew alphabet worksheets, and even grammar aids to reinforce what’s covered in the video lessons. That makes Aleph with Beth among the best free Hebrew language training channels/sites.
Still, the structure remains quite informal — there are no textbooks, reading assignments, or comprehensive grammar lectures. This makes it an ideal resource for those looking to start slowly and intuitively without being overwhelmed by technical details too early in their learning journeys.
For a free resource with excellent production quality and a refreshing approach to ancient language learning, it’s hard to beat. One satisfied reviewer noted in the comment section:
“Shalom, amazing work. I've only been able to read Hebrew my whole life, and now, 10 lessons in, I've improved on multiple levels: pronunciation, comprehension, and retention. Also, look at all the amazing people around the world that have learned as well. Very amazing. Thank you to everyone involved.”
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Best Biblical Hebrew App for Parsing Practice:
Ratings: 5 out of 5 based on App Store user reviews
In our exploration of the top Hebrew courses, we now enter the domain of apps. Since apps are all around us, I felt a little disappointed when I realized that there aren’t many strong contenders for the title of best Biblical Hebrew app. A few options do exist (e.g., Mango Languages), but most focus on Modern Hebrew, not the ancient biblical form.
That being said, I did find one particularly useful and well-designed app that stands out for students who want to practice parsing: ParseHebrew.
Developed by the same team (led by Danny Zacharias) that made the respected ParseGreek app, ParseHebrew is a focused tool that quizzes users on over 12,000 forms directly taken from the Hebrew Bible. It covers verbs, nouns, adjectives, and pronouns, and is designed for both beginning and advanced learners.
What makes this app especially appealing is its compatibility with a wide range of popular and respected introductory grammar resources, including works by Futato, Hackett, Pratico, and Van Pelt, and many others. This makes it a helpful supplement to nearly any course or textbook you’re already using.
The app has a clean, user-friendly interface, and its filtering options allow learners to tailor quizzes by grammatical category, textbook alignment, or word frequency. For $9.99 on Apple’s App Store, it’s a solid and affordable investment, especially for students looking to sharpen their parsing skills through repetition and active recall.
However, it’s important to note that the app is currently available only for iOS. As of this writing, there is no Android version, which is unfortunate given how useful it could be for a wider audience of learners.
In short, ParseHebrew is not a full Hebrew course. In other words, it doesn’t teach the language from the ground up, but it excels as a targeted companion tool. If you’re already taking a Biblical Hebrew course or working through grammar on your own, this app can be a highly effective way to reinforce what you’re learning in a mobile-friendly, on-the-go format.
One of the reviews noted all the strengths of ParseHebrew, noting:
“Just like ParseGreek, this app is absolutely wonderful. The interface is incredibly easy to use, it has multiple textbooks to choose from, and it runs really well. I wish I had had this for my first year of Hebrew. ParseGreek aided me so much in my first year of Greek, so I highly recommend both ParseGreek and ParseHebrew for first-year language students, as well as people like me who still struggle with Hebrew paradigms!”
Best Biblical Hebrew Course for Scholars:
Ratings: N/A.
When it comes to academic depth and linguistic rigor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Online Biblical Hebrew Program stands out as one of the strongest options available and a prime candidate for those seeking the best Hebrew course designed specifically for serious students of the Bible.
Administered through the university’s state-of-the-art virtual campus in partnership with eTeacher Group, this program allows adult learners of all backgrounds (age 18 and up) to immerse themselves in Biblical Hebrew under the guidance of expert instructors. It’s not open to regular Hebrew University students but instead caters to an international audience of adult learners.
The program is structured into five progressive levels — from Level A (complete beginner) to Level E (highly advanced) — providing a comprehensive learning path that begins with mastering the Hebrew alphabet and culminates in reading and interpreting advanced biblical poetry, prophecy, and wisdom literature.
Throughout the program, students engage directly with the Hebrew Bible while systematically developing their grammar, vocabulary, and understanding of diachronic features of the language. In the higher levels, the curriculum expands to include comparative and historical approaches to Biblical Hebrew, offering a well-rounded linguistic and philological experience.
One of the most appealing aspects of this course is its interactive virtual classroom. A live instructor leads each session in real-time using voice, webcam, and shared whiteboard technology. Students can speak, listen, ask questions, and even see their teacher and classmates.
Furthermore, according to the university, time slots are flexible; once a student signs up, the administrators work to place them in a class that matches their preferred schedule. However, they are instructed not to change schedules and teachers once the program begins because that could disrupt their learning progress.
Of course, this level of instruction comes at a cost. The program isn’t free, and specific pricing is not publicly listed. Students must request more information via a contact form. However, it's worth noting that these courses are fully accredited, and students have the option to earn academic credits from the Hebrew University itself.
In short, if you're looking for a serious scholarly program that offers structure, academic recognition, and expert instruction, this may well be the best Hebrew course for your goals. It’s not for the casual learner or someone on a tight budget, but for students of theology, biblical studies, or ancient languages, it’s a top-tier option.
Best Lowest-Priced Hebrew Course for Students:
Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 based on over 2,000 reviews on Udemy
For students seeking a low-cost yet effective entry point into Biblical Hebrew, Jeff Benner’s Learn to Read Biblical Hebrew on Udemy offers one of the most accessible options online. With a rating of 4.4 stars based on more than 2,000 reviews and over 12,000 enrolled students, this course has quickly become a go-to resource for budget-conscious learners.
The course consists of 57 short video lectures totaling just over three hours of instruction. Benner begins with the essentials, introducing the Hebrew alphabet and vowel system, along with key vocabulary that students are encouraged to review and memorize.
From there, the course builds toward practical skills: reading biblical texts with basic comprehension, identifying root words, and even conducting basic lexical analysis using dictionaries and tools. This practical focus makes it especially useful for students of biblical history, theology, and religious studies.
One of Benner’s central convictions is that every translation is, in essence, an interpretation. He emphasizes that understanding the Hebrew Bible through the original language removes the filter of modern doctrinal assumptions and allows the student to engage the text more authentically and directly. It’s a strong message that will resonate with students eager to move beyond surface readings of scripture.
The course isn’t free. People can currently purchase it at a discounted price of $11.99 (regular price $19.99). Considering the quality of content and the clarity of instruction, it represents excellent value. As one reviewer put it:
“Introduces material at a fast pace but includes enough strategic repetition for it to stick with you. Exactly what a course like this should do.”
Conclusion
The revival of interest in Biblical Hebrew reflects a broader movement toward engaging ancient texts in their original linguistic and cultural contexts.
Whether one's goal is to deepen theological understanding, enhance academic study, or simply connect more intimately with the Hebrew Bible, the tools and resources now available online have democratized access in unprecedented ways.
The courses featured in this article vary in structure, price, and pedagogical approach, but each offers a unique doorway into a language that has shaped millennia of religious thought and literary tradition.
Ultimately, the best Hebrew course is the one that aligns most closely with your learning style, academic goals, and available time. From the rigorous scholarly environment of the Hebrew University to the budget-friendly clarity of Jeff Benner’s Udemy lectures, there is truly something for everyone.
And if you're interested in how those very texts were transmitted, preserved, and altered across time, you may also want to explore Dr. Bart D. Ehrman’s new online course, The Scribal Corruption of Scripture: How the Bible Was Changed and How Readers May Never Know.
In just four eye-opening lectures, Dr. Ehrman unpacks how the New Testament was copied and modified (sometimes unintentionally, other times quite deliberately) by scribes over the centuries. It’s a compelling next step for anyone invested in the history, language, and integrity of the biblical tradition.
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