ר×× is vital to the Hebrew Bibleâs understanding of God, the world, and humanity. However, the word defies easy categorisation or casual analysis, especially when referring to humans and their experiences.
Integrating insights from several sub-fields of Cognitive Linguistics with detailed exegesis, this book examines each anthropological use of ר×× in Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes, demonstrating how even complicated words in difficult passages can be fruitfully understood. As well as furthering the application of contemporary linguistics to ancient texts, this study sheds new light on the Hebrew Bibleâs understanding of humanity and their relationship to the world and to the divine.
Joel A. J. Atwood, Ph.D. (2021), Moore Theological College, works with CMS Australia as national director of the Gud Nius Yunivesiti Felosip, Vanuatu, and as adjunct lecturer at Talua Theological Training Institute. As well as his work on exegesis and cognitive linguistics, he has published articles and chapters on missiology, contact languages, biblical poetry, and is working on a commentary on the book of Isaiah.
Contents
Acknowledgements Conventions
âTypographical Conventions
âNomenclature
âSigla
List of Tables and Figures Abbreviations
âAncient Sources
âSecondary Sources
1 The Elusive ר×Ö¼×Ö·âIntroductions
â1ââChasing after ר×Ö¼×Ö·â
â2âPrevious Studies of ר×Ö¼×Ö· and the Human Person
2 The Recondite ר×Ö¼×Ö·âCognitive Linguistics and Ancient Languages
â1âLinguistics and Ancient Languages
â2âIntroducing Cognitive Linguistics
â3âMeaning âBeyondâ the Gloss: Cognitive Semantics
â4âMeaning âBeyondâ the Word: Construction Grammar
â5âMeaning âBeyondâ the Literal: Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Its Kin
â6âMeaning âBeyondâ the Obvious: Relevance Theory
â7âConclusion
â8ââWisdomâ Texts and ר×Ö¼×Ö·
â9âElucidating the Recondite ר×Ö¼×Ö·
3 The Protean ר×Ö¼×Ö·âProverbs
â1âOrientation to Proverbs
â2âAnalysis of Proverbs
â3âר×Ö¼×Ö· in Proverbs: Preliminary Observations
â4âSummary of Proverbs
4 The Liminal ר×Ö¼×Ö·âEcclesiastes
â1âOrientation to Ecclesiastes
â2âAnalysis of Ecclesiastes
â3âר×Ö¼×Ö· in Ecclesiastes: Preliminary Observations
â4âSummary of Ecclesiastes
5 The Exhausted ר×Ö¼×Ö·âJob
â1âOrientation to Job
â2âAnalysis of Job
â3âר×Ö¼×Ö· in Job: Preliminary Observations
â4âSummary of Job
6 The Path of the ר×Ö¼×Ö·âConclusions
â1âThe Elusive ר×Ö¼×Ö· Once More
â2âCharting Our Course: Cognitive Linguistics and ר×Ö¼×Ö·
â3âSketching Our âMapâ: An Outline of the Lexical and Conceptual Data of ר×Ö¼×Ö·
â4âThe Territory Ahead: Limits and Possibilities for Further Study of ר×Ö¼×Ö·
â5âThe End of the Road
Bibliography Index
This book will interest scholars, higher-level students, and researchers in the fields of Hebrew Bible studies (especially âwisdomâ texts), cognitive linguistics, and especially cognitive semantics of Classical Hebrew. It will also be highly relevant to those studying the anthropology and anthropological language of the Hebrew Bible.