Rephonic
Artwork for The Bible Bar
Abraham
Bar-Ilan University
Genesis
Jacob
Genesis 1
Ancient Near Eastern Creation Myths
Tower Of Babel
Isaac
Table Of the Nations
Genesis 4
Covenant
Genesis 3:16
Genesis 5
Genesis Flood Narrative
Fugitive Hero Pattern
Genesis 18
Genesis 27
Sabbath
Cosmogonies
Theogonies

The Bible Bar – The Podcast of the Bible Department of Bar-Ilan University. Hosted by Dr. Joshua Berman, The Bible Bar offers a guided journey through the Bible, one chapter at a time, in conversation with leading scholars from Bar-Ilan University and across the globe. Drawing on the full spectrum of biblical studies, the podcast translates cutting-edge research into thoughtful, engaging discussio... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Bible Bar

Latest Episodes

Guest: Dr. Suzie Park

Genesis 30 ends with one of the strangest episodes in the Jacob story. Jacob agrees that his wages from Laban will consist of the spotted, speckled, and dark-colored animals—and then proceeds to peel branches, place them before... more

Guest: Dr. Suzie Park. Genesis 29 tells us that Jacob loved Rachel—and that Leah was “hated.” But what does the Hebrew Bible actually mean when it speaks of love?

Dr. Suzie Park, author of Love in the Hebrew Bible (Westminster John Know, 2023), join... more

Guest: Dr. Zvi Shimon Why does Jacob receive his vision of a stairway reaching to heaven precisely as he is leaving Canaan and heading east toward Haran?

Dr. Zvi Shimon joins The Bible Bar to explore the striking connections between Jacob’s dream at... more

Guest: Dr. Shira Weiss. In Genesis 27, Jacob deceives his blind father, Isaac, and receives the blessing intended for Esau. But was Jacob actually lying? And does the distinction between lying and deliberately misleading someone change how we evaluat... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Biblical Mind
The Biblical MindCenter For Hebraic Thought
OnScript
OnScriptMatthew Bates, Matthew Lynch, Erin Heim, Dru Johnson, Amy Brown Hughes, & Chris Tilling
Israel Update
Israel UpdateTablet Studios

Recent Guests

Suzie Park
Associate Professor of Old Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, author of Love in the Hebrew Bible
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Episode: Gen 29: Love in the Hebrew Bible
Zvi Shimon
Bar-Ilan colleague
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 28: Bethel not Babel
Shira Weiss
Assistant Professor of Jewish Philosophy at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Episode: Gen 27: Was Jacob Lying?
Don Seeman
Professor of anthropology with a focus on biblical texts
Emory University
Episode: Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Raanan Eichler
Bar-Ilan University scholar offering a fresh reading of Rebecca's oracle
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 25 - Rebecca's Oracle: The Jacob and Esau Seesaw
Elie Assis
Bar-Ilan colleague
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 24: Why Does Abraham's Servant Choose Isaac's Wife?
Avraham Faust
Archaeologist
Bar-Ilan University
Episode: Gen 23: Why the Bible Cares So Much About a Burial Cave
Aaron Koller
Professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Episode: Gen 22 - The Unbinding of Isaac: Beyond Kierkegaard
Yael Landman
Assistant Professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Episode: Gen 21 : Hagar's Legal Victory

Host

Joshua Berman
Host of The Bible Bar, guiding scholarly discussions on biblical texts

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 60 ratings
  • Unique topics!

    Great conversations and unique topics. Keep it up. Loved your guest Michael LeFebvre - bought his book and enjoying that too. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oxaro Sharp
    Australia5 months ago
  • Interview technique could be improved

    This is a good show with good guests. Rabbi Berman is one of my favorite writers and thinkers. As some constructive criticism let me say that I think this show would improve a lot if Rabbi Berman would allow his guests to fully answer questions before he interrupts them and would improve as an interviewer if he made fewer sounds of affirmation while they were speaking. It can be very distracting. Ask your question and let the guest cook!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Benny B Boy 4 EVAH!
    United States5 months ago
  • Great content, need fewer interruptions

    The rich content is marred by Dr Berman’s frequent interjections while the guest speaker is trying to talk. Please wait for your guest to finish before interrupting or adding your “uh huh” and “wow”. So distracting!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    pearlgirl55
    United States5 months ago
  • Bisher sehr interessante Gespräche. Hoffentlich gibt es noch VIEL mehr davon. Schön wären Literaturhinweise in den Shownotes.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Sibillea
    6 months ago
  • Fun

    I love this new podcast. The host is inquisitive and open to ideas and seems like a person you’d love to have a conversation with at a bar! I learn new things from every episode and if anything, I with the episodes were a bit longer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Valchemist
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Interviews are praised for strong guest expertise, though some note host interruptions can distract.
Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of topics, from ethics to archaeology, and the rigor of scholarly discussion.
The content is consistently informative and thoughtful, with admiration for the host's inquisitive approach.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gen 29: Love in the Hebrew Bible
Q: What are some surprising connotations or uses of ahav in biblical contexts that might surprise modern listeners?
Park highlights how ahav can imply fidelity, obedience within a covenant, or even signal potential conflict and suffering in narratives, illustrating how love and power interact in complex ways in places like Genesis 29 and related passages.
Gen 29: Love in the Hebrew Bible
Q: Tell us about how the word ahav goes beyond a simple translation of 'love' and why translators struggle with it.
Suzie Park explains that ahav is context-dependent, often reflecting covenantal duty, loyalty, and social power rather than just an emotion, and that its meaning shifts across stories and genres in the Hebrew Bible.
Gen 28: Bethel not Babel
Q: Can you just lay out for us, what do you mean by the double reaction?
The two reactions are framed as Jacob waking, then reacting—first recognizing God's presence, then expressing awe at the place, which some scholars interpret as evidence of multiple sources, though others read it as a single chronological progression of awakening, awareness, and awe.
Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Q: Why focus on the window as a motif rather than only the people inside or outside?
Because the window functions as a focal point where kinship negotiations occur—between patrilineal houses, between husbands and wives, and within power structures—transforming a simple gaze into a commentary on lineage and social order.
Gen 26: Biblical Scenes at the Window
Q: What is the general approach you have as an anthropologist to small details in the biblical text, and why might they be harbingers of deeper meaning?
The approach is to follow details that deliberately point to structural and kinship concerns, showing that small moments like a window can illuminate patterns of loyalty, property, and divine blessing across generations. This yields a broader reading beyond the surface scene.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Bible Bar

What is The Bible Bar about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Scholarly discussions of biblical texts are explored through close readings, interdisciplinary methods, and historical context. Episodes center on Genesis narratives and related ancient Near Eastern perspectives, using literary, theological, archaeological, and anthropological angles to probe ethics, law, birth, land, and ritual. Guests are typically Bar-Ilan or allied scholars, and conversations emphasize rigorous analysis, multiple interpretations, and how ancient texts continue to shape contemporary understandings of identity, covenant, and culture. A notable strength is the breadth of expertise—from trauma theory to geography to ethics—paired with a host who guides with thoughtful questions and pushback, making complex passages accessib... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Bible Bar?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Bible Bar. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Bible Bar and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Bible Bar get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Bible Bar, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Bible Bar?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Bible Bar, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Bible Bar have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Bible Bar has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Bible Bar?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bible Bar:

1. The Biblical Mind
2. The Tikvah Podcast
3. OnScript
4. Israel Update
5. Orthodox Conundrum

How many episodes of The Bible Bar are there?

The Bible Bar launched 7 months ago and published 30 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Bible Bar?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Bible Bar?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Bible Bar from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Bible Bar?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Bible Bar. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Bible Bar?

Recent guests on The Bible Bar include:

1. Suzie Park
2. Zvi Shimon
3. Shira Weiss
4. Don Seeman
5. Raanan Eichler
6. Elie Assis
7. Avraham Faust
8. Aaron Koller

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days