The Metaphoric Use Of Slave Terms In The Hebrew Bible -- By: Edward J. Bridge

Journal: Bulletin for Biblical Research
Volume: BBR 23:1 (NA 2013)
Article: The Metaphoric Use Of Slave Terms In The Hebrew Bible
Author: Edward J. Bridge


The Metaphoric Use Of Slave Terms In The Hebrew Bible

Edward J. Bridge

Macquarie University

An analysis of metaphoric uses of slavery terms in the Hebrew Bible reveals a culture of hierarchical relationships based on power and status. Associations from slavery that are evoked in these uses are possession (with the derived association, control), inferior status, work, debt/poverty, oppression, and propensity to run away. Of six major categories of metaphoric use (subjects and officials to the king, vassalship, personal servants, people in relation to God, deference), inferior status is the association that is evoked in all contexts.

Key Words: slavery, slave, metaphor, philology, deference, vassalship, officials, servants, status, servant leadership

Author’s note: I wish to thank Stephen Llewelyn and Ian Stewart for helpful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this article.

Introduction

This article seeks to fill a gap in the study of the use of slave terms in the Hebrew Bible. Despite many philological studies that delineate the various uses of slave terms, including metaphorical uses,1 little analysis has been undertaken on how slave terms work when they are used metaphorically. In particular, little study has been done on how the metaphorical uses relate to the literal and what, if any, associations with or connotations of slavery are evoked in such uses. “Metaphorical use” refers to the use of slave terms in contexts that do not refer to slaves.

Addressing how slave terms are used metaphorically will reveal an aspect of ancient Israelite culture as reflected in the Hebrew Bible: how ancient Israelites viewed themselves in relation to others and to God. It will also be shown that the use of slave terms in deference and in titles reflects a culture of hierarchical relationships based on power and status.

It is possible to argue that the metaphoric use of slave terms is conventional, to the point that ancient Israelites did not really think about the meaning of the terms. Metaphoric use of slave terms, especially in titles and in deference, long antedates the Hebrew Bible, being attested as early as 2090–2040 B.C. in seal inscriptions and in letters from Mesopotamia;2 being found in the Amarna letters, in Hittite, and in Ugaritic correspondence. It continued to occur throughout the ancient Near East and in the southern Levant during the biblical period and afterward.3 When used in deference, terms such as You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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