About Shimon Bar-Efrat
Lived 1929 – 2010 (aged 81). Shimon Bar-Efrat was an Israeli educator, scientist, scholar of the Bible as literature and art historian.
Shimon Bar-Efrat (; 1929–2010) was an Israeli Old Testament scholar. He was Head of Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University Secondary School in Jerusalem, and is best known for his book, Narrative Art in the Bible, in which he "provides a catalogue of literary techniques and devices found in Old Testament narratives." Jeffrey Staley suggests that, along with Robert Alter, Adele Berlin, and Meir Sternberg, Bar-Efrat is a master of "leading the reader through the sudden twists and sharp turns, the steep ridges and dizzying drop-offs that make up the art of ancient Hebrew characterization."
Bar-Efrat had also written commentaries on 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel.
He died unexpectedly in 2010.
Works
n.b. other works have been written in Hebrew.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Shimon Bar-Efrat's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Shimon Bar-Efrat's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Shimon Bar-Efrat?
Israeli Old Testament scholar (1929-2010)
When was Shimon Bar-Efrat born?
Shimon Bar-Efrat was born on 21 January 1929 in Arnhem.
When did Shimon Bar-Efrat die?
Shimon Bar-Efrat died on 11 August 2010.
What was Shimon Bar-Efrat's occupation?
Shimon Bar-Efrat was an educator, scientist, scholar of the Bible as literature and art historian.
What nationality was Shimon Bar-Efrat?
Shimon Bar-Efrat was Israeli.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shimon Bar-Efrat. https://biography.guide/shimon-bar-efrat/
MLA: "Shimon Bar-Efrat." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shimon-bar-efrat/.
Chicago: "Shimon Bar-Efrat." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shimon-bar-efrat/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 04:57 UTC