Was machte Onan mit seinem Sperma?: Zur Deutung von wešiḥ(h)et in Genesis 38,9
According to the traditional understanding of Genesis 38:9, whenever Onan would perform the duties of Levirate marriage with Tamar, he would let his sperm »be ruined.« The central verbal form reads: w e šiḥ(h)et . In the present contribution this translation is called into question. It will be argue...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2022
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| In: |
Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Year: 2022, Volume: 134, Issue: 3, Pages: 350-353 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Tamar Daughter of David
/ Sperm
/ Levirate marriage
/ Sexual intercourse
/ shḥt
/ Bible. Genesis 38,9
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament HD Early Judaism HH Archaeology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | According to the traditional understanding of Genesis 38:9, whenever Onan would perform the duties of Levirate marriage with Tamar, he would let his sperm »be ruined.« The central verbal form reads: w e šiḥ(h)et . In the present contribution this translation is called into question. It will be argued that w e šiḥ(h)et here is not to be derived from √ šḥt (1) »to ruin,« but from a different root, namely √ šḥt 2 »to let flow, to spurt« (corresponding to the Akkadian šaḫātu »to flow [away], to rinse, to wash«). The text would therefore simply state that Onan ejaculated his sperm onto the ground so as not to impregnate Tamar ( coitus interruptus ). Should this interpretation be correct, the far-reaching reception history of the text, including the prohibition of any form of »Onanism,« would have to be reassessed. |
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| ISSN: | 1613-0103 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1515/zaw-2022-3007 |