The Feminine Imagery Of God In The Hebrew Bible -- By: Joan P. Schaupp

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 14:4 (Fall 2000)
Article: The Feminine Imagery Of God In The Hebrew Bible
Author: Joan P. Schaupp


The Feminine Imagery Of God In The Hebrew Bible

The Language Incorporates The Feminine Principle Into The Very Essence Of God.

Joan P. Schaupp.

Joan P. Schaupp, a business executive in Wisconsin, experienced conversion as an adult. She is the author of two books, most recently Elohim: A Search for a Symbol of Human Fulfillment (Catholic Scholars Press, 1995). Copyright Joan P. Schaupp, 2000.

There are profound metaphors of God as feminine in the Hebrew Old Testament. On occasion this poetic imagery is allegorized literally as female; most often the feminine appears in the Hebrew Bible in metaphor and allegory, as in Deuteronomy 32:18b where God, here named Eloah, gives birth to Israel in groaning and travail as of a woman giving birth.1 In later Jewish writings in the midrashim, or stories, the Shekhinah, or Divine Presence, is depicted literally in female form.2

In the Hebrew Old Testament itself, the feminine imagery is most often allegorical and poetic. Yet the feminine is there in the language incorporating the feminine principle into the very essence of God.3

The foundation for thinking of God in feminine terms is in the prologue to Genesis, Genesis 1:1 to 2:4. Scholars call this poetic section the Elohistic account of Creation because of the divine name used predominantly throughout and consider it to be newer than the earlier Yahwist (another divine name) account of the creation of Adam and Eve in chapter 2. Many feel that in so much of the Bible, the inspired priestly poets, scribes, and prophets rearranged topics and verses.4

The Hebrew writers were also obviously familiar with the mythology of the surrounding Canaanite culture, much as we are thoroughly familiar with the worldly, secular culture that surrounds us. However, the Lord inspired these writers of Scripture to reinterpret what they found.5

For women, this introduction to Genesis has profound implications, which are being grasped as a growing number of scholars closely examine the original Hebrew text. Simply stated, God is described in both masculine and feminine imagery in the opening verses of Genesis. God (a masculine noun) creates by his Word, and life begins as the spirit (a feminine noun) of God hovers over the earth with he...

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