Robert J.V. Hiebert, Ph.D.

Professor of Old Testament Studies TWS/ACTS;
Director of the John William Wevers
Institute for Septuagint Studies
email: robh@twu.ca

What Rob Enjoys about His Work:

Rob is passionate about studying biblical texts in their original languages and contexts, and about inspiring people to delve into the riches of Scripture, to reflect deeply on its meaning and the implications of its message, and to strive to live skillfully in conformity with the Creator’s design, which is the essence of the Hebrew concept of true wisdom.

Personal Information

Rob has been married to Karen since 1987. They have two children: Diana (age 19) and Julia (age 16). His hobbies include fishing, rock hounding, photography, and travel. His sensitive, artistic side is manifested in the pleasure he experiences when singing in the TWU Masterworks choir or writing short stories and poetry. He also enjoys reading, watching movies, following politics, and monitoring his wildly fluctuating investment portfolio. For exercise, he jogs and plays basketball. He used to play hockey. He is a Canucks and B.C. Lions fan.

Education:

University of Toronto (Ph.D., 1986); Septuagint Studies. Thesis Title: “A Textual Analysis of the So-Called Syrohexaplaric Psalter.”
University of Toronto (M.A., 1979); Septuagint Studies.
University of Toronto (B.A. Honours, 1978); Biblical Languages and Literature.
Institute for Holy Land Studies, Jerusalem (Junior Year Abroad Program, 1974-75); Hebrew, Biblical and Historical Studies.
Trinity Western College (Associate in Arts, 1973): Arts and Science.
Columbia Bible Institute (Biblical Studies Diploma, 1971).

Academic Positions:

2003-Present: Professor of Old Testament Studies, TWS/ACTS.
2005-Present: Director of the Septuagint Institute, TWU.
1998-2003: Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies, TWS/ACTS.
1997-1998: Research Associate, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto.
1987-1997: Lecturer in Old Testament, Ontario Theological Seminary.
1986-1997: Biblical Studies Professor, Ontario Bible College.

Scholarly Organizations:

1984-Present: International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies. Vice-President, 2012. Executive Committee Member, 1993-2008. Associate Treasurer, 1993-1996. Treasurer, 1997-2008.
1984-Present: Society of Biblical Literature.
1984-1988, 2002-Present: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies.
1997-Present: Institute for Biblical Research.
2012–: Editorial Advisory Board, Society of Biblical Literature Septuagint and Cognate Studies monograph series.
2006-Present: Joint-Editor-in-Chief, Society of Biblical Literature Commentary on the Septuagint.
2004-Present: Steering Committee, Society of Biblical Literature Program Unit: The Greek Bible.
2000-Present: Editorial Board, Society of Biblical Literature Commentary on the Septuagint.
2000-2007: Editorial Committee, New English Translation of the Septuagint.

Scholarly Research Grants:

2008-2011: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Standard Research Grant.
2009: SSHRC Internal Grant.
2008-2009: Faculty Fellowship: The Lilly Theological Research Grants Program of the Association of Theological Schools.
2008: SSHRC Aid to Research Workshops and Conferences in Canada Grant.
2008: Priscilla and Stanford Reid Trust Conference Grant (co-applicant: Dr. Larry Perkins).
2005-2008: SSHRC Standard Research Grant.
2007: German Research Visit Grant, Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen.
2005: German Research Visit Grant, Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen.
2004-2005: Visiting Skirball Fellowship, Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
2002: SSHRC Internal Grant.
2001: SSHRC Internal Grant.
2000: SSHRC Internal Grant.

Scholarly Publications:

In preparation:

Septuaginta: Vetus Testamentum Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis editum. Vol. 9.4: Maccabaeorum liber IV. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
Genesis. Society of Biblical Literature Commentary on the Septuagint. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert and Benjamin G. Wright. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature.

Books:

“Translation Is Required”: The Septuagint in Retrospect and Prospect. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert. Society of Biblical Literature Septuagint and Cognate Studies (SBLSCS) 56. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010.
The Old Greek Psalter: Studies in Honour of Albert Pietersma. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert (primary editor), Claude E. Cox, and Peter J. Gentry. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament: Supplement Series (JSOTSup) 332. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001.
The “Syrohexaplaric” Psalter. SBLSCS 27. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1989.

Articles/Book Chapters:

“What Does the Computer Have to Do with Textual Criticism? Innovative Technology for the Management and Analysis of Collation Data and the Grouping of Manuscripts.” With Nathaniel N. Dykstra. Die Göttinger Septuaginta: Ein editorisches Jahrhundertprojekt. Edited by Reinhard G. Kratz. Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Berlin: de Gruyter (forthcoming).
“Innovative Elements in the Vocabulary of the Septuagint Pentateuch.” Handbuch zur Septuaginta: LXX.H, vol. 5: Sprache. Edited by Eberhard Bons and Jan Joosten. Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus (in press).
“Textual and Translation Issues in Greek Genesis.” Genesis. Edited by Craig A. Evans, Joel N. Lohr, and David L. Petersen. Supplements to Vetus Testamentum (VTSup). Formation and Interpretation of Old Testament Literature (FIOTL). Leiden: Brill (in press).
“4 Maccabees.” Companion to the Septuagint. Edited by James K. Aitken. London: T & T Clark (in press).
“4. Makkabäerbuch.” Handbuch zur Septuaginta: LXX.H, vol. 1: Einleitung. Edited by Siegfried Kreuzer. Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus (in press).
“Designing a New Septuagint Commentary: SBLCS and WATER.” With Nathaniel N. Dykstra. XIV Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies, Helsinki, 2010. Edited by Melvin K. H. Peters. SBLSCS. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, (in press).
“Ruminations on Translating the Septuagint of Genesis in the Light of the NETS Project.” “Translation Is Required”: The Septuagint in Retrospect and Prospect. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert. SBLSCS 56. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010: pp. 71-86.
“Establishing the Textual History of Greek 4 Maccabees.” Die Septuaginta — Texte, Theologien, Einflüsse. Edited by Wolfgang Kraus and Martin Karrer. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament (WUNT) 252. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010: pp. 117-139.
“Septuagint Textual Criticism and the Computer: 4 Maccabees as a Test Case.” Primary author, with Nathaniel N. Dykstra. XIII Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies, Ljubljana, 2007. Edited by Melvin K. H. Peters. SBLSCS 55. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008: pp. 167-181.
“The Greek Pentateuch and 4 Maccabees.” Scripture in Transition: Essays on Septuagint, Hebrew Bible, and Dead Sea Scrolls in Honour of Raija Sollamo. Edited by Anssi Voitila and Jutta Jokiranta. Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism (JSJSup) 126. Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2008: pp. 239-254.
“4 Maccabees 18,6-19 — Original Text or Secondary Interpolation?” Die Septuaginta — Texte, Kontexte, Lebenswelten. Edited by Martin Karrer and Wolfgang Kraus. WUNT 219. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008: pp. 439-449.
“The Hermeneutics of Translation in the Septuagint of Genesis.” Septuagint Research: Issues and Challenges in the Study of the Greek Jewish Scriptures. Edited by Wolfgang Kraus and Glenn Wooden. SBLSCS 53. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2006: pp. 85-103.
“Preparing a Critical Edition of IV Maccabees: The Syriac Translation and Passio Sanctorum Machabaeorum as Witnesses to the Original Greek.” Interpreting Translation: Studies on the LXX and Ezekiel in Honour of Johan Lust. Edited by Florentino García Martínez and Marc Vervenne. Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum lovaniensium (BETL) 192. Leuven: Peeters, 2005: pp. 193-216.
“The Place of the Syriac Versions in the Textual History of the Psalter,” The Book of Psalms: Composition and Reception. Edited by Peter W. Flint and Patrick D. Miller. VTSup 99. FIOTL 4. Leiden: Brill, 2005: pp. 505-536.
“Lexicography and the Translation of a Translation: The NETS Version and the Septuagint of Genesis.” Bulletin of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies (BIOSCS) 37 (2004): 73-86.
“Syriac Biblical Textual History and the Greek Psalter.” The Old Greek Psalter: Studies in Honour of Albert Pietersma. Edited by Robert J. V. Hiebert (primary editor), Claude E. Cox and Peter J. Gentry. JSOTSup 332. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001: pp. 178-204.
“Translating a Translation: The Septuagint of Genesis and the New English Translation of the Septuagint Project.” X Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies: Oslo, 1998. Edited by Bernard Taylor. SBLSCS 51. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2001: pp. 263-284.
“Translation Technique in the Septuagint of Genesis and Its Implications for the NETS Version.” BIOSCS 33 (2000): 76-93.
“The ‘Syrohexaplaric’ Psalter: Its Text and Textual History.” Der Septuaginta-Psalter und seine Tochterübersetzungen. Edited by Anneli Aejmelaeus and Udo Quast. Mitteilungen des Septuaginta-Unternehmens (MSU) 24. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2000: pp. 123-146.
“Amos, Theology of.” “Create, Creation.” “Eve. See also Adam, Woman.” “Psalms, Theology of.” Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Edited by Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996.
“Deuteronomy 22:28-29 and Its Premishnaic Interpretations.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly (CBQ) 56 (1994): 203-220.

Book Reviews:

16 published reviews