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“I am God and Not Human” (Hos 11,9) : Can Divine Compassion Overcome our Anthropomorphisms?

Lindström, Fredrik LU (2015) In Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 29(1). p.135-151
Abstract
Hos 11,8-9 is characterized by its strong anthropomorphic language

and by its (illusory?) disassociation from it. A reference to Israel’s God as “not human” motivates the unexpected change of mind and compassion for God’s Israel. This article is based on a tradition-historical oriented typological reading of the expression “I am God and not human.” It suggests a new interpretation of this expression which throws a new light on the notoriously difficult conclusion of the passage: “I will not enter the city.” The exegetical discussion

normally focuses on what is going on in YHWH’s mind and heart,

but also on the alleged struggle between anger and love. The author’s interpretation points to the risk of transforming... (More)
Hos 11,8-9 is characterized by its strong anthropomorphic language

and by its (illusory?) disassociation from it. A reference to Israel’s God as “not human” motivates the unexpected change of mind and compassion for God’s Israel. This article is based on a tradition-historical oriented typological reading of the expression “I am God and not human.” It suggests a new interpretation of this expression which throws a new light on the notoriously difficult conclusion of the passage: “I will not enter the city.” The exegetical discussion

normally focuses on what is going on in YHWH’s mind and heart,

but also on the alleged struggle between anger and love. The author’s interpretation points to the risk of transforming the pain of God into an internal transaction, with which it is hard to sympathize and to feel involved.

K

For many of us, the dynamic notion of God found (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bible, Old Testament, God, Hosea, anthropomorphisms, divine repentance, holiness, compassion, Sodom
categories
Higher Education
in
Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament
volume
29
issue
1
pages
135 - 151
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • wos:000353387900011
  • scopus:84928740420
ISSN
0901-8328
DOI
10.1080/09018328.2015.1033177
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (015017000)
id
863d9613-3b7d-41e5-87d4-e8036aca9d77 (old id 5276571)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:30:42
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:11:31
@article{863d9613-3b7d-41e5-87d4-e8036aca9d77,
  abstract     = {{Hos 11,8-9 is characterized by its strong anthropomorphic language<br/><br>
and by its (illusory?) disassociation from it. A reference to Israel’s God as “not human” motivates the unexpected change of mind and compassion for God’s Israel. This article is based on a tradition-historical oriented typological reading of the expression “I am God and not human.” It suggests a new interpretation of this expression which throws a new light on the notoriously difficult conclusion of the passage: “I will not enter the city.” The exegetical discussion<br/><br>
normally focuses on what is going on in YHWH’s mind and heart,<br/><br>
but also on the alleged struggle between anger and love. The author’s interpretation points to the risk of transforming the pain of God into an internal transaction, with which it is hard to sympathize and to feel involved.<br/><br>
K<br/><br>
For many of us, the dynamic notion of God found}},
  author       = {{Lindström, Fredrik}},
  issn         = {{0901-8328}},
  keywords     = {{Bible; Old Testament; God; Hosea; anthropomorphisms; divine repentance; holiness; compassion; Sodom}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{135--151}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament}},
  title        = {{“I am God and Not Human” (Hos 11,9) : Can Divine Compassion Overcome our Anthropomorphisms?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09018328.2015.1033177}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09018328.2015.1033177}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}