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...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Sage
2022
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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)
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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) |
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. |
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ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/03090892211032244 |