The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness

This article explores body and illness metaphors in the Psalms and Job. Specifically, it focuses on the various terms pertaining to the “innards” or “internal organs” of the human body. Although myriad terms for internal organs exist, the terms קֶרֶב and מֵעֶה are the particular focus of this articl...

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Main Author: Southwood, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Brill Academic Publishers 2020
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author Southwood, K
author_facet Southwood, K
author_sort Southwood, K
collection OXFORD
description This article explores body and illness metaphors in the Psalms and Job. Specifically, it focuses on the various terms pertaining to the “innards” or “internal organs” of the human body. Although myriad terms for internal organs exist, the terms קֶרֶב and מֵעֶה are the particular focus of this article. Interestingly, a link between discourse and digestion emerges in the metaphors from both Job and the Psalms. However, in Job a language for pain emerges which is disturbing and anthropomorphic, regularly depicting an attacking deity. In contrast, in the examples from the Psalms, tend to make a clearer distinction between the righteous and the wicked. In both cases, however, the body and metaphors connected to it are tightly bound up with what is social. The body is portrayed as an ever-interpreted entity and the actions and reactions of the community are all-important.
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spelling oxford-uuid:b7847d0c-70a6-46f9-8057-61563f2c43222022-03-27T04:49:12ZThe “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illnessJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:b7847d0c-70a6-46f9-8057-61563f2c4322EnglishSymplectic ElementsBrill Academic Publishers2020Southwood, KThis article explores body and illness metaphors in the Psalms and Job. Specifically, it focuses on the various terms pertaining to the “innards” or “internal organs” of the human body. Although myriad terms for internal organs exist, the terms קֶרֶב and מֵעֶה are the particular focus of this article. Interestingly, a link between discourse and digestion emerges in the metaphors from both Job and the Psalms. However, in Job a language for pain emerges which is disturbing and anthropomorphic, regularly depicting an attacking deity. In contrast, in the examples from the Psalms, tend to make a clearer distinction between the righteous and the wicked. In both cases, however, the body and metaphors connected to it are tightly bound up with what is social. The body is portrayed as an ever-interpreted entity and the actions and reactions of the community are all-important.
spellingShingle Southwood, K
The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title_full The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title_fullStr The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title_full_unstemmed The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title_short The “innards” in the Psalms and Job as metaphors for illness
title_sort innards in the psalms and job as metaphors for illness
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