The Aesthetics of Biblical Acrostics

One of the most formally fixed types among biblical poems is the acrostic. Among the acrostics of the Hebrew Bible, the predominant form has the headword of each line or couplet follow sequentially in alphabetical order. However, there are a couple of striking examples in which the acrostic form is...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: James, Elaine T. 1980- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2022
In: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2022, Volume: 46, Issue: 3, Pages: 319-338
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Altes Testament. Poetische Bücher / Bible. Psalmen 119 / Bible. Klagelieder 3 / Acrostic (Motif) / Poetics (Motif)
IxTheo Classification:HA Bible
HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Form
B Acrostic
B Psalm 119
B Lamentations
B Aesthetics
B Poetry
B Creativity
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:One of the most formally fixed types among biblical poems is the acrostic. Among the acrostics of the Hebrew Bible, the predominant form has the headword of each line or couplet follow sequentially in alphabetical order. However, there are a couple of striking examples in which the acrostic form is expanded, namely Lamentations 3 and Psalm 119. These expansions reveal different stances of individual poems with respect to the larger tradition. This essay explores the aesthetics of the acrostic as a poetic form and argues that cases in which the form is expanded offer insight into poetic experiment, whereby the tension between convention and innovation is on display. These examples suggest that forms themselves serve as sites of aesthetic exploration for ancient poets, exemplifying the intellectual potential of art, not merely as windows into “life setting” or statements of rhetorical content but also as dynamic, ultimately philosophical endeavors.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/03090892211040541