The Misleading Nature of "Love" and "Hate" in Biblical Translation
Scholars have long shown that the Hebrew roots אהב ('ahab) and שׂנא (śana') exhibit a range of active associations that extend beyond the default translations of "love" and "hate." Depending on the context and agent, אהב can connote loyalty, protection, favor, attractio...
| 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: |
Mohr Siebeck
2024
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| In: |
Hebrew bible and ancient Israel
Year: 2024, Volume: 13, Issue: 2, Pages: 309-332 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Genesis 29-30
/ Bible. Deuteronomium 21,15-17
/ Emotion
/ ʾhb (Hebrew)
/ śnʾ
/ Translation
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Biblical Translation
B History of Emotions B Biblical Law B Deuteronomy 21:15-17 B Genesis 29-30 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Scholars have long shown that the Hebrew roots אהב ('ahab) and שׂנא (śana') exhibit a range of active associations that extend beyond the default translations of "love" and "hate." Depending on the context and agent, אהב can connote loyalty, protection, favor, attraction, or the act of sexual intercourse itself. The antonym שׂנא is then frequently employed in legal contexts, where it triggers the dissolution of formal bonds. Nonetheless, lexemes deriving from אהב and שׂנא continue to be translated almost exclusively in emotional terms, even when the context demands otherwise. This tendency has resulted in the misinterpretation of a number of texts, including the Jacob/Rachel/Leah saga in Genesis 29-30 and the law featuring a man with two wives and two sons in Deut 21:15-17. This article demonstrates what is gained when we translate אהב and שׂנא in accordance with their semantic range, active nature, and specialized functions. |
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| ISSN: | 2192-2284 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Hebrew bible and ancient Israel
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1628/hebai-2024-0014 |