After receiving a thorough education preparatory to become a rabbi, he entered the gymnasium of Würzburg in 1828, transferred to the University of Würzburg in 1830, and completed his studies at the University of Munich, where he obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1834.
To secure a wider field, Nordheimer emigrated to New York in 1835. He held the professorship of Hebrew and cognate languages at the University of the City of New York in 1836-1842, and received the appointment of instructor in sacred literature at Union Theological Seminary, where he remained from 1838 until 1842. He enjoyed the friendship of notable biblical scholars of his time, and many of his pupils later occupied posts of eminence.
