Eden Revisited: A Literary and Theological Reading of Genesis 18:12-13
This article analyzes the apparent misquotation and dramatic irony in Gen 18:12-13 and argues that the verses allude to the story of the Garden of Eden. Although interpreters often regard the punishment at the end of Genesis 3 as final and immutable, the biblical authors did not share this sense of...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Catholic University of America Press
[2016]
|
| In: |
The catholic biblical quarterly
Year: 2016, Volume: 78, Issue: 4, Pages: 611-631 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Genesis 18,12-13
/ Bible. Genesis 3,16
/ Birth
/ ʿeden
/ ʿednah
/ Hebrew language
/ Noun
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
birth announcement
B PUNISHMENT in the Bible B Reading B Allusion B Bible B Bible. Old Testament B Bible Reading B Eden B Leitwort B Childbirth |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
|
| Summary: | This article analyzes the apparent misquotation and dramatic irony in Gen 18:12-13 and argues that the verses allude to the story of the Garden of Eden. Although interpreters often regard the punishment at the end of Genesis 3 as final and immutable, the biblical authors did not share this sense of finality but instead revisited the story in later narratives and subtly moderated its concluding punishments. Genesis 18:12-13 is such an allusion, which echoes the woman's punishment in Gen 3:16 and also modifies it. The birth announcement to Sarah redefines childbirth under a rubric of God's wondrous deeds. The article concludes with some remarks on the way that attention to literary style can complement theological readings of the Hebrew Bible. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0008-7912 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The catholic biblical quarterly
|