Hebrea lingua hat keine vocales. Das ist ein signum, quod ista lingua sit per se muta, [21] sed Christus in novo testamento est vocalis. Wenn man den hat, so vorsteht man sie. Ideo [22] Iudei hanc linguam non intelligunt, quia non habent vocales, id est, non habent Christum (Luther, 7170. Fn 412b (83, 18); Hn Blatt B., http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:luther-us&rft_dat=xri:luther:ft:werke:Z600014559).
Quoted in Gerhard, Method: I have often advised you to learn Hebrew and so not to neglect it. For even if there were no other use for this language, it would still require learning out of thanksgiving. It is part of our religion and worship of God to teach and learn this language, which alone <54> teaches whatever is divine. For in it we hear God speaking; we hear the saints praying and accomplishing very great things, such that study spent in learning this language could rightly be called a “Mass,” so to speak, or divine service. Therefore I earnestly urge you not to neglect it, for the danger is that God may take offense at our thanklessness and take from us not only knowledge of this sacred language but also knowledge of Greek, Latin, and of all religion. Yes, how easy it is for Him to cause a people to become barbarous so that these languages perish. Yet besides the fact that this study is part of our divine service, it also holds great utility. For if there are to be theologians—as there must be, for we should not all study law or medicine—then they must be armed against the pope and the other horde of loathsome men who, once they have learned to sound out a single Hebrew word, immediately think they have mastered this sacred language. Hence, unless we hold on to [Hebrew], they will mock and abuse us like asses. However, if we will also arm ourselves by knowing this language, then we will be able to shut their impudent mouth. This is how the devil and his minions <55> must be resisted. Moreover, I think we are going to have as enemies of our religion the Spanish, French, Italians, and Turks as well. Knowledge of Hebrew will certainly be required there, for I know how much it has gained for me against my enemies, which is why I would not trade my knowledge of it, however small it may be, for endless piles of gold. So you also, who will one day teach religion, should direct your efforts to learn this language, too, unless you want to be regarded as an ignorant herd of field cattle that relies on books published in German to somehow teach the Sunday Gospels and the catechism. Rather, we need some leaders of doctrine; we must have contenders who will stand in battle array against people of other nations and languages, and who are teachers, judges, and masters in this language. (Psalm 45 (1532–34), WA 40/2:474)