The influence of social status and identity in a struggle for matriarchal power: Genesis 16:1–15
The Genesis 16 narrative is a story about power afforded to individuals based on social status and identity. As such, modern readings of Gen 16 (and Gen 21) unsurprisingly informed the genesis of womanist theology. In her seminal text, Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk, D...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2022
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| In: |
Review and expositor
Year: 2022, Volume: 119, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 389-397 |
| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament NBE Anthropology NCC Social ethics NCD Political ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Slavery
B Genesis 16:1–15 B Surrogacy B Hagar B barrenness B Power |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The Genesis 16 narrative is a story about power afforded to individuals based on social status and identity. As such, modern readings of Gen 16 (and Gen 21) unsurprisingly informed the genesis of womanist theology. In her seminal text, Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God-Talk, Delores Williams offers a theological perspective centering the social and historical experiences of Black women in biblical and theological interpretation by examining Hagar’s story. This article takes a fresh look at Gen 16:1–15 by examining the influence of social status and identity in a struggle for matriarchal power between Hagar and Sarai. It does this by understanding the sociocultural context of the ancient Near East, as well as English translation choices that serve as barriers to interpretation for a modern audience. Modern Bible readers draw parallels between this text and modern struggles against oppressive power systems and are reminded of God’s sovereignty and action in favor of the oppressed. |
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| ISSN: | 2052-9449 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review and expositor
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/00346373231175828 |