bĕ-rēʾšît, “With ‘Wisdom,’” in Genesis 1.1 (MT)

This essay argues that the vocalization of the very first word of Gen. 1.1 in the Masoretic Text (MT), bĕrēʾšȋt, which is often thought to be in error in some way, may instead be the result of exegetical activity. Specifically, in light of the well-attested tradition that links Wisdom with creation...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Strawn, Brent A. 1970- (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: 358-387
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Old Testament / Bible. Genesis 1,1 / Old Testament / Intertextuality / Wisdom literature / Wisdom / Bible. Wisdom 8 / Beginning (Motif) / Creation (Motif)
IxTheo Classification:HA Bible
HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Wisdom
B Versions
B Creation
B Masoretic Text
B Beginning
B history of interpretation
B Genesis 1.1
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This essay argues that the vocalization of the very first word of Gen. 1.1 in the Masoretic Text (MT), bĕrēʾšȋt, which is often thought to be in error in some way, may instead be the result of exegetical activity. Specifically, in light of the well-attested tradition that links Wisdom with creation both within the Bible and without, it is possible that bĕrēʾšȋt in MT Gen. 1.1 participates in the line of interpretation that ciphers Wisdom as “Beginning” (rēʾšȋt) in light of Prov. 8.22. If so, the MT of Gen. 1.1 is not a grammatical error to be corrected, but an exegetical cross-reference, referring readers to Wisdom’s role in creation as known, inter alia, in Proverbs 8.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/03090892211032244