Wounds and Healing, Dew and Lions: Hosea’s Development of Divine Metaphors
The study of Hos 5:8-6:6 has been concerned primarily with the passage’s historical context and apparent historical references. The metaphors of the pericope have received comparatively less attention. In this article, I analyze three metaphor domains (water, healing, and lions) in Hos 5:8-6:6, trac...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Catholic Biblical Association of America
2021
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In: |
The catholic biblical quarterly
Year: 2021, Volume: 83, Issue: 3, Pages: 407-424 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Hosea
/ Hosea 784 BC/725
/ Metaphor
/ Lion
/ Wound
/ Healing
/ Water
/ God
/ Jahwe
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IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
Further subjects: | B
preexilic prophets
B Hosea B Character B Repentance B Yhwh B Hermeneutics B Metaphor |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | The study of Hos 5:8-6:6 has been concerned primarily with the passage’s historical context and apparent historical references. The metaphors of the pericope have received comparatively less attention. In this article, I analyze three metaphor domains (water, healing, and lions) in Hos 5:8-6:6, tracing the development and reversal of those domains across the rest of the book, and noticing some consistent patterns in those developments and their rhetorical purpose. Finally, I draw three theological implications from the developing characterization of Yhwh that results: (1) Yhwh’s consistent character—as expressed, for example, in Exod 34:6-7—manifests in different ways at different times in response to different circumstances. (2) Yhwh does not circumvent failure, sin, and judgment in order to reach the ultimate divine purpose; rather restoration comes through judgment. (3) By appropriating metaphors and imagery from contemporary deities and nation-states, Hosea lays claim to Yhwh’s exclusive sovereignty over the people of Israel, as well as Yhwh’s absolute sufficiency to meet all of Israel’s needs and desires. |
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ISSN: | 2163-2529 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: The catholic biblical quarterly
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/cbq.2021.0082 |