Hebrew Bible Insights

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 interprets the Psalms, the connection between David and Jesus, and how to see Christ even in Psalms that aren’t quoted in the New Testament. We also talk about the beauty of reading the Psalms in Hebrew, the intentional structure of the book, and how the Church Fathers used the Psalms for formation and devotion. From wrestling with the language of enemies to learning how to pray through every season of life, this episode is a call to dive deeper into the Psalms and meet Jesus there.

Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including The Christ Key & Limping with God.

Untamed Prayers - 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms: https://a.co/d/eeZ9ilM
Chapters
0:00–1:08 Intro
1:09–3:29 Why Psalms is important
3:30–7:06 How the New Testament interprets Psalms
7:07–11:45 Thinking about David and Jesus
11:46–16:19 Seeing Jesus in Psalms even if the chapter isn’t quoted in the New Testament
16:20–22:31 Insights from Reading Psalms in Hebrew
22:32–31:14 Intentional ordering of Psalms
31:15–34:11 Psalms as the prayerbook of the Church
34:12–37:50 Church Fathers and Psalms
37:51–41:30 Prayerbook of the soldiers of Christ
41:31–45:38 Encountering Jesus in Psalms
45:39–53:04 Understanding “enemies” in Psalms
53:05–56:34 Admonishment to read the Psalms
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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 beautiful poetic style of the psalm, and how Hebrew parallelism and verb tense in verse 1 set the tone for the whole psalm. We also dive into what it really means to “meditate” on God’s law, why Torah is central to this psalm, and how Psalm 1 connects to Genesis, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and ultimately, to Jesus Christ. Whether you know Hebrew or not, this episode will help you appreciate the beauty and depth of Psalm 1 in a whole new way.
Chapters
0:00-2:00 Intro
2:01-3:45 Psalm 1 in Hebrew and English
3:46-17:50 Happiness Word Study
17:51-20:31 Beautiful style in Psalm 1
20:32-33:26 Parallelism and Tense in Psalm 1:1
33:27-40:28 What is “Meditate” and “Law”?
40:29-52:02 Why meditating on Torah is strongly emphasized
52:03-59:12 Parallels to Genesis, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel
59:13-1:04:09 Jesus and Psalm 1
Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
WHERE TO FIND US
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA
Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com

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 the diversity of writings found at Qumran. We also dive into the Enoch literature, the War Scroll, and how the theme of Messiah shows up in the scrolls. Along the way, we discuss the historical context of Scripture, the role of scribes, and the importance of curiosity when it comes to exploring these texts. Whether you’re new to the Dead Sea Scrolls or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers insights, resources, and plenty to reflect on.
Link to Dr. Andrew Perrin’s book “Lost Words and Forgotten Worlds: Rediscovering the Dead Sea Scrolls” https://a.co/d/essK7cm
Dr. Andrew Perrin’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrAndrewPerrin/featured
Dr. Andrew Perrin’s recommended Dead Sea Scroll Resources
Digital Images of Dead Sea Scrolls: https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/?locale=en_US
Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: https://a.co/d/44awjn8
The Dead Sea Scrolls: a New Translation: https://a.co/d/aJSzXnV
Chapters
0:00-2:09 Intro
2:10-10:21 Isaiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls
10:22-18:28 Commentary on Habakkuk in the Dead Sea Scrolls
18:29-24:10 Aramaic dream vision texts
24:11-30:02 Scribal and Sacred Languages
30:03-37:12 Pseudepigrapha
37:13-43:25 Enoch
43:26-49:38 The War Scroll and Ritual Purity
49:39-53:12 Historical context of Scripture
53:13-57:02 The influence of scribes
57:03-1:02:29 Theme of Messiah in Dead Sea Scrolls
1:02:30-1:10:36 Personal thoughts on searching and being curious
1:10:37- Resources for Dead Sea Scrolls
Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
WHERE TO FIND US
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA
Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com

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 tabernacle. Along the way, we reflect on the relationship between salvation and obedience and how God’s presence reshapes what it means to truly serve. This episode offers a deeper look at how the Exodus story calls God’s people to a new kind of life.

Listen to part 1 here: 

Biblical Wisdom Video Course: https://hebrewbibleinsights.teachable.com/p/biblicalwisdom
Chapters
0:00-7:57 Review of “service” in Exodus 1–14
7:58-14:42 Salvation, Covenant, and Works
14:43-32:53 Image of God vs images of gods
33:04-42:38 The service of Sabbath
42:39-48:22 Slavery, apologetics, and Bible study
48:23-1:05:12 Tabernacle and the presence of God
Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
WHERE TO FIND US
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA
Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com

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—it’s about being set free to worship. Along the way, we also explore fascinating connections with Genesis, the meaning of Passover, and how this theme shapes our understanding of purpose, identity, and calling today.
Chapters
0:00-2:58 Intro
2:59-6:53 Hebrew “service” in Exodus
6:54-10:05 Vocabulary Connections in Genesis
10:06-16:34 The Problem in Exodus: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 1–2
16:35-31:48 Purpose in Exodus: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 3–4
31:49-43:06 Pharaoh’s Response: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 5
43:07-48:25 That they may serve/worship me: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 7–10
48:26-1:03:41 Passover as Worship: Tracing “service” vocabulary from Exodus 12–13
1:03:42-1:07:37 Escaping Egypt: Tracing “service” vocabulary in Exodus 14
Join our Bible Study: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
WHERE TO FIND US
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hebrewbibleinsights
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLRSNQ7xVw7PjQ5FnqYmSDA
Website: ⁠https://www.hebrewbibleinsights.com