He received his M.A. in Semitic languages and Greek and his D.Litt. in Semitic languages from Stellenbosch, and specializes in Hebrew language studies, Aramaic, Syriac and Coptic, textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and aspects of the cultures of the Ancient Near East. He is a member of the executive committee of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies.