Fire and the Body of Yahweh
Although the Hebrew Bible preserves a strong tradition of aniconism, many verses speak of or imply Yahweh's anthropoid form. For example, throughout the Bible Yahweh's theophanic fire is associated with anthropomorphic representations of him possessing a body and/or interacting physically...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2015
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2015, Volume: 40, Issue: 2, Pages: 139-161 |
| Further subjects: | B
Anger
B Tongue B Breath B Mouth B Fire B Anthropomorphism B Theophany |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | Although the Hebrew Bible preserves a strong tradition of aniconism, many verses speak of or imply Yahweh's anthropoid form. For example, throughout the Bible Yahweh's theophanic fire is associated with anthropomorphic representations of him possessing a body and/or interacting physically with humans. Israel's old poetry and prophetic literature portray divine fire as Yahweh's breath, mouth, and tongue. The Bible's narrative texts portray Yahweh using fire as a means to eat, transport, travel, speak, and see, similar to how humans use their mouths, arms, legs, and eyes. Therefore, while Yahweh's fire does not constitute the entirety of his self, like the human body, it is a means by which he interacts physically with the corporeal world. |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0309089215621240 |