The Distribution Of Divine Names In Jonah -- By: F. Derek Kidner

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 21:1 (NA 1970)
Article: The Distribution Of Divine Names In Jonah
Author: F. Derek Kidner


The Distribution Of Divine Names In Jonah

F. D. Kidner

In this book of 48 verses no other divine terms beside Yahweh and Elohim are found, with the exception of El, which occurs once at 4:2 (in a quotation from Ex. 34:6). A simple count gives 25 occurrences of Yahweh and 15 of Elohim; but the latter divide into 8 examples in which Elohim is used absolutely, and 7 in which it is qualified by grammatical relation with a person or sphere, or with the name Yahweh.

Apart from one instance (4:6), there is nothing unusual about the non-absolute occurrences of Elohim. Some refer to a god in the heathen sense (1:5, 6, 6), the rest to Yahweh as God of heaven (1:9) or as Jonah’s God (2:1 (MT 2), 6 (MT 7)). In 4:6, however, there is a rarity, the composite name Yahweh Elohim, which is a feature of Genesis 2 and 3, out found elsewhere only 8 times in all.

If some principles are discernible in these usages they could possibly throw a little light on the larger question of their distribution in the Pentateuch.

Perhaps three things emerge:

a. A preference for ‘Yahweh’ in an Israelite context and ‘Elohim’ elsewhere. Chapters 1:1-4:5 could be a textbook example of this rule, since the name Yahweh is in sole possession of the opening episodes, which concern the prophet’s adventures, occurring 19 times in the 30 verses 1:1-3:3, but is immediately replaced by ‘Elohim’ (used absolutely) in 3:5-10 (5 occurrences), where Nineveh repents of its ‘evil way’ and its ‘violence’ (3:8) in response to a divine but not specifically Yahwistic message, As soon as Jonah regains the limelight, the name Yahweh reappears, dominating 4:1-4.

b. Limits to this preference. The pattern breaks up at 4:6, where with ‘Yahweh Elohim’ the two terms stand together; after which ‘Elohim’ has dealings with Jonah (You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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