Durham E-Theses PSALM 63: A STUDY OF ITS IMAGERY AND THEOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PSALTER ZIEBA, ZBIGNIEW How to cite: ZIEBA, ZBIGNIEW (2010) PSALM 63: A STUDY OF ITS IMAGERY AND THEOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PSALTER , Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/577/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY AND RELIGION PSALM 63: A STUDY OF ITS IMAGERY AND THEOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PSALTER A Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities by Zbigniew Zieba. Supervisor: Dr. S.D.E. Weeks September 2010 2 ABSTRACT An Abstract of the Thesis for the degree of PhD, presented by Zbigniew Zieba, in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Durham. September 2010 ‘Psalm 63: A Study of Its Imagery and Theology in the Context of the Psalter’. This thesis presents an analysis of Psalm 63, its imagery and theology in the context of the Psalter. Psalm 63 is one of the most captivating poems in the Hebrew Bible. The longing for the presence of God is a dominant theme of this psalm, which the psalmist visualises by the extensive usage of figurative language. The study undertakes an analysis of the difficult and complex metaphors and images contained in the poetical language of Psalm 63. Part One addresses issues about the nature of poetry, its definition, elements, and the role which imagery played in the ancient Near East, biblical and modern poetry. It includes an analysis of the nature of metaphor. Part Two constitutes the central part of this study, as it focuses on the examination of the figurative language and theology in Psalm 63. The author analyses the imagery of the initial verse and shows the theological meaning of this verse in the context of the whole psalm. This is followed by an analysis of other metaphors and images found throughout the psalm, and is presented with associated theological interpretations. In Part Three, other biblical texts containing metaphorical language similar to that found in Psalm 63 are analysed. The role and significance of the imagery and theology of Psalm 63 in the context of the Psalter and other books of the Hebrew Bible, are addressed in Part Three. The main aim of the study is an attempt to address and provide a new and original contribution to the theology of Psalm 63 and to the development and understanding of imagery in Hebrew poetry. 3 DECLARATION The Copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published in any form, without the author’s prior written consent. All information derived from this thesis should be acknowledged appropriately. I confirm that the thesis conforms with the prescribed word length for the degree, for which I am submitting it for examination. I confirm that no part of the material offered has previously been submitted by me for a degree in this or in any other university. If material has been generated through joint work, my independent contribution has been clearly indicated. In all other cases material from the work of others has been acknowledged and quotations and paraphrases suitably indicated. Signature: Zbigniew Zieba Date: 29th September 2010 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT......................................................................................................................... 2 DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................. 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................12 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................14 PART ONE - A STUDY OF IMAGERY.................................................................. 25 CHAPTER 1 - THE IDEA OF BIBLICAL POETRY....................................................26 1. Identifying Biblical Poetry....................................................................................26 2. Metaphor in the Ancient Near East and Modern Literature ............................38 3. Conclusion...............................................................................................................50 CHAPTER 2 - AN ANALYSIS OF METAPHOR.........................................................55 1. Preliminary Observations......................................................................................55 2. A Definition of Metaphor......................................................................................57 3. The Typology of Metaphor. ..................................................................................70 4. Some Other Tropes of Figurative Language........................................................82 5. Conclusion...............................................................................................................84 PART TWO - AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN PSALM 63...... 88 INTRODUCTION - GENERAL OVERVIEW OF PSALM 63....................................89 1. Psalm 63 Within the Psalter. ................................................................................90 2. An Exposition of Psalm 63. ...................................................................................91 5 CHAPTER 3 - FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN VERSE 2 ...........................................93 1. Verse 2a. ..................................................................................................................93 1.1 Recognizing Figurative Language in Verse 2a........................................ 93 1.2. An Analysis of Verse 2a............................................................................ 94 1.2.1 A Concept of Covenant?.......................................................................94 1.2.2 Quest for God.........................................................................................97 2. Verse 2b. ................................................................................................................101 2.1. Identifying Figurative Language in Verse 2b....................................... 101 2.2. An Analysis of Verse 2b. ........................................................................ 107 3. Verse 2c. ................................................................................................................113 3.1 Identifying Figurative Language in Verse 2c........................................ 113 3.2 An Analysis of Verse 2c........................................................................... 114 4. Conclusion.............................................................................................................116 CHAPTER 4 - AN ANALYSIS OF IMAGERY IN VERSES 3-12.............................120 1. Identification of Images and Poetic Figures in Verses 3-12 and their Theological Interpretation.......................................................................................121 1.1 Verses 3-6.................................................................................................. 121 1.2 Verses 7-9.................................................................................................. 136 1.3 Verses 10-12..............................................................................................146 2. Conclusion.............................................................................................................153 PART THREE – IMAGERY AND DESIRE FOR GOD IN THE HEBREW BIBLE159 CHAPTER 5 - PARALLEL TEXTS IN THE PSALTER.............................................160 1. Parallel Biblical Texts in the Psalter ..................................................................160 1.1 Psalm 42:2-3..............................................................................................161 1.2 Psalm 84:3 ................................................................................................. 169 1.3 Psalm 143:6 ...............................................................................................176 2. Conclusion.............................................................................................................178 6 CHAPTER 6 – PARALLEL TEXTS OUTSIDE THE PSALTER ...............................184 1. Imagery of Water and the Desire for God in the Prophetic Books................184 1.1 Jer 2:13 , Isa 58:11 and Jer 31:12-14 .......................................................184 1.2 Isa 26:8-9 ................................................................................................... 191 2. Conclusion.............................................................................................................196