“Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics
This article examines the various biblical terms for epidemics and their etymologies in order to define their meanings in their literary and theological contexts. It considers the possible divine or demonic background of the lexemes for epidemics, from the triad of Hebrew terms deber, qeteb and reš...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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Old Testament Society of South Africa
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Old Testament Essays |
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| Online Access: | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/576 |
| _version_ | 1797641869683851264 |
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| author | Jozef Jančovič |
| author_facet | Jozef Jančovič |
| author_sort | Jozef Jančovič |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This article examines the various biblical terms for epidemics and their etymologies in order to define their meanings in their literary and theological contexts. It considers the possible divine or demonic background of the lexemes for epidemics, from the triad of Hebrew terms deber, qeteb and rešep, which are used in some of the mythological passages of Bible. Major works on the subject proceed from the assumption that these terms were demons in the ancient Near East or that they were deities who became demonised by the authors of the Hebrew Bible. Close attention is paid to the linguistic and semantic aspects of the texts in their immediate contexts in order to determine the function of each term. The study shows a clear difference in meaning between the terms, although in some cases their semantic contents overlap. However, their function as God’s negative agents prevail regardless of their original meaning and this is a consistent phenomenon with other Hebrew concepts of mythological origins in the Bible.
https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2023/v36n2a13
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:51:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0dfdb12c6a2743899bc0b5547ff1e402 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-9919 2312-3621 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Old Testament Society of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Old Testament Essays |
| spelling | doaj.art-0dfdb12c6a2743899bc0b5547ff1e4022023-11-02T08:28:57ZafrOld Testament Society of South AfricaOld Testament Essays1010-99192312-36212023-11-01362“Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the EpidemicsJozef Jančovič0Comenius University in Bratislava This article examines the various biblical terms for epidemics and their etymologies in order to define their meanings in their literary and theological contexts. It considers the possible divine or demonic background of the lexemes for epidemics, from the triad of Hebrew terms deber, qeteb and rešep, which are used in some of the mythological passages of Bible. Major works on the subject proceed from the assumption that these terms were demons in the ancient Near East or that they were deities who became demonised by the authors of the Hebrew Bible. Close attention is paid to the linguistic and semantic aspects of the texts in their immediate contexts in order to determine the function of each term. The study shows a clear difference in meaning between the terms, although in some cases their semantic contents overlap. However, their function as God’s negative agents prevail regardless of their original meaning and this is a consistent phenomenon with other Hebrew concepts of mythological origins in the Bible. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2023/v36n2a13 https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/576COVID-19EpidemicHebrew BibleLexemesEtymologyExtra-biblical References |
| spellingShingle | Jozef Jančovič “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics Old Testament Essays COVID-19 Epidemic Hebrew Bible Lexemes Etymology Extra-biblical References |
| title | “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics |
| title_full | “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics |
| title_fullStr | “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics |
| title_short | “Before him went pestilence” (Hab 3:5): Biblical Lexis and Semantic Field of the Epidemics |
| title_sort | before him went pestilence hab 3 5 biblical lexis and semantic field of the epidemics |
| topic | COVID-19 Epidemic Hebrew Bible Lexemes Etymology Extra-biblical References |
| url | https://ote-journal.otwsa-otssa.org.za/index.php/journal/article/view/576 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jozefjancovic beforehimwentpestilencehab35biblicallexisandsemanticfieldoftheepidemics |