Lament and Hope: The Function and Utilization of the Metaphors in Psalm 80
In previous studies of Psalms, “metaphors” have often been seen as just ‘poetic ornaments’ rather than as essential elements for conveying messages. However, this study delves into the roles and functions of metaphors within a Psalm to emphasize its dominant theological message. Psalm 80 uses three...
| 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: |
2024
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| In: |
The expository times
Year: 2024, Volume: 136, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-10 |
| Further subjects: | B
Planter metaphor
B metaphor analysis B Father metaphor B Shepherd metaphor B the Psalms of Asaph B Psalm 80 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In previous studies of Psalms, “metaphors” have often been seen as just ‘poetic ornaments’ rather than as essential elements for conveying messages. However, this study delves into the roles and functions of metaphors within a Psalm to emphasize its dominant theological message. Psalm 80 uses three metaphors—the shepherd, planter, and father—to express its message. These metaphors serve three main purposes. First, they intensify the Psalmist’s sense of lament by deviating from familiar expectations associated with these metaphors, such as ‘leading’, ‘caring for’, and ‘feeding’. Second, they highlight the paradox of lament and hope, as the shepherd and planter metaphors, used for lament, also convey hope for salvation and restoration. Third, the Psalmist intentionally uses these metaphors to articulate the development of Yahweh’s actions and his own self-awareness. An example of this intentional usage could be seen in the use of the father metaphor in 4th and 5th stanza. The functions and roles of these three-metaphors reveal the main theological message of Ps 80 by clarifying the identity of the speaker community as ‘son’. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5308 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The expository times
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/00145246241267838 |