Characteristics of Hebrew
Narrative
Craig Ho, HKBU
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives
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Lecture objectives
To learn about 8 characteristics of
Hebrew narratives based on what we
have read in Genesis
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives
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1. Multiple authorship
Many Hebrew stories were first transmitted in oral
form and then written down later.
Some of them were modified by later authors by
means of insertions, supplementation, or
incorporation of parallel accounts
E.g. J parallel accounts (Gen 2-3 // Gen 1[P], Gen
18 // 17 [P], Gen 19 // 6-9 [P])
Two short episodes (Gen 38, 39) have been inserted
into the Joseph story (Gen 37-50).
The P flood story was supplemented by the Yahwist
(i.e. J).
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2. Contact with Ancient Near East
Biblical authors shared a similar literary with
other ANE countries.
E.g. Creation accounts in Psalms 74, 77, and
89. Flood stories in the Epic of Gilgamesh and
in Gen 6-9
Polytheistic background in Gen 1:26; 6:1-5
Psalm 82
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3. Respect of older traditions
When newer material was added by
subsequent authors / redactors, concern of
preserving existing traditions took priority at
the cost of not getting complete consistency
(e.g. Gen 6-9, 17-18).
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4. Emotions / feelings expressed in
actions
Biblical authors rarely describe emotions or
feelings of the characters of their stories.
Emotions and feelings are usually indirectly
reported through actions instead of using
adjectives, e.g. Jacob’s love in first sight of
Rachel (Gen 29) or Laban’s interest in wealth
(Gen 24)
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5. Repetition as thematic assertion
When something repeats in Hebrew literature, the
author is emphasizing what is being said or telling us
the main theme of the whole story. E.g. repetitions in
Gen 1 => God’s 6 working day => Sabbath
J’s repeated use of the motif of sexual sin (e.g. the
sons of God in Gen 6, Pharaoh in 12, Ham in 9,
Sodom and Gomorrah in 19, Isaac in the land of the
Philistines 26, Shechem’s rape of Dinah in 34, Judah
and Tamar in Gen 38, Joseph seduced by the wife of
Potiphar in Gen 39)
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6. Religious concern
The Bible is both scriptures and national
literature of the Jews.
The Jews tell their experience with God in their
literature.
Most stories point us directly or indirect to God
and help us to reflect on our own lives.
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7. Symbolic and allegorical
Not all the stories are to be taken literally.
The biblical authors might have been rather
sophisticated and were able to use
metaphorical languages.
E.g. When “the snake” is taken literally, one
would have problem – what kind of language
does it use when talking with Eve. “40 days”
(Gen 6-9) may also be symbolic.
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8. Revelation in traditions
Jews and Christians take the Bible seriously and
understand it to be God’s revelation.
Revelation is usually understood very
individualistically: God inspired biblical authors.
Rather we should also understand it as
corporally or collectively: anonymous authors
share their understanding of God and human
problems down the centuries.
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