OLD TESTAMENT AND APOCRYPHAL ONOMASTICS (Biblical Names)
The Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature offers a specialized course titled Old Testament and Apocryphal Onomastics, designed for students who wish to explore the meaning, origin, and linguistic structure of biblical names in depth.
This course represents a continuation of advanced Hebrew studies and provides a focused introduction to onomastics, the study of names, within the context of the Old Testament and related apocryphal literature.
Course Structure
The course lasts three months and is held once a week, with each session lasting 90 minutes.
The program begins on December 6, 2026, which is three days after the completion of the Advanced Hebrew and Advanced Biblical Hebrew courses.
Course Concept
Biblical names are not arbitrary labels. In the Hebrew language, names carry meaning, structure, and often theological or cultural significance. This course examines names as linguistic, historical, and cultural units, revealing how meaning is embedded within them.
Students will learn how to analyze names through their Hebrew roots, grammatical forms, and semantic layers, as well as how these names function within biblical narratives.
Plan and Program
The course includes:
- introduction to onomastics as a linguistic discipline
- structure and formation of Hebrew names
- analysis of Hebrew roots within personal names
- theophoric names (names containing elements of the divine name)
- semantic and grammatical structure of biblical names
- comparison of names across different textual traditions
- names in the Old Testament: linguistic and contextual analysis
- names in apocryphal and related literature
- variations of names across manuscripts and translations
- interpretation of names within narrative and theological context
- connections with broader Semitic naming traditions
- identification of patterns and categories in biblical naming systems
The course gradually moves from general principles to detailed analysis of specific names, enabling students to understand how meaning is constructed and transmitted.
Course Requirements
This is an advanced and demanding course, intended for students with prior knowledge of Hebrew.
Participants are expected to dedicate 30–45 minutes of study at home between sessions.
All participants receive complete course literature in PDF format free of charge, including:
- lists of biblical names
- linguistic analyses
- root-based breakdowns
- comparative materials
Entry Requirements
Enrollment requires completion of:
- Advanced Hebrew
or - Advanced Biblical Hebrew
or equivalent knowledge, verified through a WhatsApp assessment call.
Instructor
The course is led by Prof. Željko Stanojević, Hebrew linguist, biblical philologist, and author of works on Hebrew language, biblical names, and Semitic linguistic structures.
His research includes the study of Hebrew roots, onomastics, and the relationship between Semitic and Slavic linguistic systems, as well as detailed analysis of names found in biblical and related texts.
Fees and Enrollment
Course fee:
- 400 EUR (full payment)
- 160 EUR per month (installments)
For additional information and enrollment, please contact:
This course provides a unique opportunity to understand biblical names not only as identifiers, but as carriers of meaning, language, and tradition within the Hebrew Bible and its wider textual world.