Ebook: Syriac grammar

Phillips G. Syriac grammar. London. 1866. 203 p.
The following "Elements of Syriac Grammar" are intended for the assistance of those Students in Hebrew, who are desirous of extending their studies to the Syriac language. This object may be easily accomplished in consequence of the close affinity which exists between the two languages, both in 'their structure as well as in the multitude of words which they possess in common. By bestowing therefore a small portion of time and labour on the study of Syriac, the Hebrew scholar will be sure to obtain a moderate knowledge of the subject. It is indeed so nearly allied to Hebrew, and especially to Chaldee, that after he has read the Chaldee parts of the Bible he may at once proceed to the reading of Syriac, Such being the case, it becomes important that the student
should avail himself of the assistance which the Syriac affords him for the better understanding of
Hebrew; not to mention that by it he will be brought to an acquaintance with numerous ecclesiastical documents belonging to the early and middle ages, which treat of the creed and practice of the Syrian branch of the church of Christ in those times. The Syriac, as a dialect of the Hebrew, must always be regarded as constituting a source of valuable information for the criticism of the Hebrew Bible. By an examination of a Hebrew word as it is used in this language, essential service has been rendered in elucidating many difficult and important passages of Holy Writ ; and it has been the constant practice of commentators to have recourse to Syriac, whenever
the Text of the Old Testament fails to establish satisfactorily the signification of a word. In such
case every person allows that a reference to Syriac is one of the legitimate means to be employed in
determining the sense of a passage; and although this language is inferior to Arabic in the extent and
variety of its literature, it is nevertheless superior as regards its much more intimate connection with the original language of the Bible.