Hebrew Bible Insights

Nehemiah 9 is one of the clearest summaries of the big picture story of Scripture in the Old Testament. In this episode, Matthew walks through the prayer of Nehemiah 9 and shows how it retells the story of the Old Testament. He also reflects on how this prayer teaches us to confess sin, remember God’s faithfulness, and see our lives within the larger story of the Gospel. 

Chapters

0:00-8:54 Introduction

8:55-32:07 Nehemiah ...

What does Elijah’s ascension have to do with the ascension of Jesus? In this episode, Matthew (MA in Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) explores 2 Kings 2 alongside Luke 24 and Acts 1, tracing how these two stories illuminate one another and deepen our understanding of Christ, the Church, and the Holy Spirit.

Chapters
0:00-2:13 Intro
2:14-12:29 Ascension of Jesus
12:30-35:02 Ascension of Elijah
35:0...

Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

What do wisdom and the temple have to do with each other? In this episode, we explore one of the most fascinating overlaps in the story of Scripture. From creation as God’s cosmic temple to Solomon building the temple in wisdom, from Proverbs 8 to Exodus 40, we trace how God orders the world in wisdom and dwells with His people in sacred space. We also r...

Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

Psalm 149 might just change how you read the entire Book of Psalms. In this episode, Matthew (MA in Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) explores a powerful connection between the opening psalms and the closing chapters of the Psalter. Psalm 1 invites us into the way of righteousness, Psalm 2 depicts the rebellion of the nations against the Lord and His ...

Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

Daniel 4 is one of the most surprising and underrated chapters in the Bible. In this episode, Matthew (MA in Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) and Dr. Nathan French (PhD in Hebrew Bible and the ancient Near East) walk through this wild and deeply edifying story line by line, exploring Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, Daniel’s bold counsel, t...

The Book of Psalms is far more than ancient poetry—it’s the prayerbook of the Church and a vital guide for encountering Jesus. In this episode, we interview Chad Bird, author and scholar who specializes in teaching the Old Testament to Christians. We ask a variety of questions related to his newest book "Untamed Prayers." We explore why the Psalms are essential for Christians today. We discuss how the New Testament inte...

Read the Bible in Hebrew with Matthew: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

Psalm 1 is rich with meaning, and reading it in Hebrew brings out layers we often miss. In this episode, Matthew (MA in Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) walks through key Hebrew language insights that deepen our understanding of this foundational psalm. We explore the meaning of the word “happy” or “blessed,” the beau...

The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most fascinating and important archaeological discoveries for understanding the world of the Bible. In this episode, we sit down with Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, Dr. Andrew Perrin, to explore the rich and complex world of these ancient texts. From the famous Isaiah Scroll and the commentary on Habakkuk to Aramaic dream visions, scribal traditions, and the Pseudepigrapha, this conversation uncovers ...

What happens after Israel escapes Egypt? In part two of our exploration of “service” in Exodus, Matthew Delaney and Dr. Nathan French pick up where the story left off—moving from liberation to covenant, from slavery to worship. We trace the development of this theme through key moments in Exodus 15–40, including the image of God vs. the images of idols, the meaning of Sabbath, and the construction of the tab...

What does it really mean to “serve” in the book of Exodus? In this episode, Matthew Delaney and Dr. Nathan French explore how a single Hebrew word weaves through the early chapters of Exodus—from Israel’s oppression under Pharaoh to their calling to worship Yahweh. By tracing this vocabulary across key moments in Exodus 1–14, we uncover a powerful theme: the Exodus is not just about escaping slavery&md...

Dive into the diverse roles of biblical prophets with Dr. Todd Hibbard. In this episode, we discuss his book "Prophets and Prophecy," examining the phenomenological aspects of prophecy and its implications for economic and legal criticisms in ancient Israel and Judah. Dr. Hibbard also connects these insights to modern Christian perspectives and the teachings of Jesus, offering a transformative look at how these ancient messages inf...

Read 1 Enoch with us in the Hebrew Bible Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
In today's episode, we explore the significance of the Book of 1 Enoch and its impact on early Christian thought. Although most Christians today do not consider this book canonical, 1 Enoch offers valuable insights into Jewish eschatology and its influence on the New Testament. It is even quoted by Jude who says that Enoch prophesied....

Read 1 Enoch with us in the Hebrew Bible Book Club: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

In today’s episode, we tackle an important question: How should we evaluate biblical characters? Are they flawless heroes, irredeemable villains, or something more complex? We explore how to move beyond simplistic views by looking at the actual text and learning from the wisdom of St. John Chrysostom.

We also discuss ...

Join a Hebrew language cohort with Matthew Delaney: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights

In today’s episode, we chat with Bobby about his fascinating journey into the world of biblical languages and dive deep into his work on a Hebrew dictionary. What inspired him to create it? How do we understand Hebrew words beyond the Bible? And what’s the deal with Paleo Hebrew? We also get a behind-the-scenes look at the joy...

Enroll in the "What is Biblical Wisdom" Video Course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom

In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Alexander Kirk to explore his book, Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30. Who is Agur, and why does he stand out as an eccentric genius? What can we learn about wisdom literature from the history of its interpretation? And how do we approach the humor, structure, an...

Enroll in the "What is Biblical Wisdom" Video Course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom

We interview the authors of a new intermediate Hebrew grammar: “Going Deeper with Biblical Hebrew.” Dr. Chip Hardy and Dr. Matthew McAffee give insights and methods for how students can learn during the unique intermediate phase of the Hebrew language journey. They also give thoughts for professors and teacher...

In this episode Rabbi Eisen shares insights about the connections and differences between Torah and Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible. 

Rabbi Chaim Eisen is joining us from Israel! He has been teaching, editing, and publishing on the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Philosophy, and more for over 40 years. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between Torah and wisdom. 

To learn more and Rabbi Chaim ...

What is Biblical wisdom? Wisdom is such an important topic of life, and it is critical to think about this biblically. In this special episode, Dr. Nathan French asks Matthew Delaney (MA Biblical Literature and Semitic Languages) questions about the first ever Hebrew Bible Insights video course. Matthew shares why he created the course, the methodology behind the research, as well as a number of insights from studying wisdom in the...

Rabbi Chaim Eisen is joining us from Israel! He has been teaching, editing, and publishing on the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Medieval Jewish Philosophy, and more for over 40 years. In this episode, we talk about the third section of the Hebrew Bible called the “Ketuvim” or the “Writings.” The order of the books of the Hebrew Bible are very different from the order that many experience in Bibles in Christ...