YHWH as a Woman in Labour: The Controlled Pregnant Female Body in Labour
In the Hebrew Bible, there are 14 similes of a woman in labour. Thirteen of these similes describe a crisis in which the uncontrollable pregnant female body is used to depict death, crisis, destruction, and even annihilation. However, when YHWH is like a woman in labour (Isa. 42:14), the pregnant bo...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2024
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| In: |
The journal of theological studies
Year: 2024, Volume: 75, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-12 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Jesaja 42,13-14
/ Jahwe
/ Woman
/ Body
/ Uterine contraction
/ Warrior
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament NBC Doctrine of God NBE Anthropology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In the Hebrew Bible, there are 14 similes of a woman in labour. Thirteen of these similes describe a crisis in which the uncontrollable pregnant female body is used to depict death, crisis, destruction, and even annihilation. However, when YHWH is like a woman in labour (Isa. 42:14), the pregnant body in labour is described as controlled, restrained, and, one could say, desirous. Rather than interpret this image in light of the simile of YHWH as a warrior in the preceding verse (Isa. 42:13), I argue that the image is purposefully in opposition. Rather than a display of warrior-like strength, YHWH as a woman in labour is calm and controlled. To support my argument, I look at the simile through the lens of the experience of the female body. Using examples of women in labour in ancient texts and current women’s narratives, I show how ancient writers draw upon the pregnant female bodily experience of being in labour to communicate YHWH’s complete control over humanity’s relationship with him. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-4607 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The journal of theological studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/jts/flad095 |