Bridge over Troubled Waters: Psalm 147

This article discusses the meaning of Psalm 147 in light of its literary structure, which is created by the repetition of similar elements in an identical order in each of the three stanzas. While this structure contributes to the literary cohesion of the psalm, it also emphasizes the differences be...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Main Author: Schwartz, Sarah (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Sage [2018]
In: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Psalmen 147
B Poetics / Bible. Psalmen 147 / Literature studies / Exegesis / Liberation / Redemption (Motif) / Structural analysis / Text analysis
IxTheo Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
HA Bible
HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Nationalism
B Psalm 147
B Literary Analysis
B Universalism
B Redemption
B Second Temple Literature
B literary structure
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This article discusses the meaning of Psalm 147 in light of its literary structure, which is created by the repetition of similar elements in an identical order in each of the three stanzas. While this structure contributes to the literary cohesion of the psalm, it also emphasizes the differences between the stanzas, highlighting the divergent nature of the second stanza, and the nuanced thematic differences between the first and third stanzas. The literary analysis of each of the stanzas and the relationship between them leads to the conclusion that Psalm 147 expresses a balance between the conditional and the unconditional perceptions of redemption, and between nationalism and universalism. These perceptions are generally viewed as contradictory, and the balance suggested in Psalm 147 reflects a unique voice in Second Temple literature, as a conceptual bridge over troubled waters.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0309089216677673