Indecent Exposure: Social Shame, ʿerwâ and the Interpretation of Gen 9:20-27
This article contends that the conflict between Ham and Noah in Gen 9:20-27 centers on the use of a male head-of-household’s exposed pelvic region (ʿerwâ) to shame him and undermine his authority. The pericope draws on a well-attested taboo on the exposure of the pelvic region in socially inappropri...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2020]
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| In: |
Vetus Testamentum
Year: 2020, Volume: 70, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 674-695 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Ham Biblical character
/ Noah
/ Bible. Genesis 9,20-27
/ Bible. Samuel 2. 6,16
/ Bible. Samuel 2. 20,26
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament HD Early Judaism |
| Further subjects: | B
Violence
B Sexuality B Bibel Samuel 2., 10,4-5 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article contends that the conflict between Ham and Noah in Gen 9:20-27 centers on the use of a male head-of-household’s exposed pelvic region (ʿerwâ) to shame him and undermine his authority. The pericope draws on a well-attested taboo on the exposure of the pelvic region in socially inappropriate and unacceptable contexts. In particular, the story resembles other biblical examples in which men’s exposed pelvic regions are used to shame them (2 Sam 6:16, 20-26; 10:4-5). This element of the story helps explain several questions about the severity of Ham’s crime and the punishment inflicted on his son, Canaan. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5330 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Vetus Testamentum
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12341415 |