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Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space

Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019.

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Other Authors: Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus)
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2019
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus)
author_browse Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus)
author_facet Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/72695 Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space Prinsloo, G.T.M. (Gert Thomas Marthinus) lodewyksutton@gmail.com Sutton, Lodewyk UCTD Humanities theses SDG-04 SDG-04: Quality education Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2019. Throughout time it has become clear that Psalm 139 is one of the psalms in the Book of Psalms that causes much debate in its interpretation. One of the key problems in examining Psalm 139 is its structure. Different elements can be used to divide the psalm into stanzas and strophes. Traditionally, Psalm 139 is divided into four strophes. These divisions are made as a result of the contents that support the themes of God’s omniscience (vv. 1-6), omnipresence (vv. 7-12), and omnificence (vv. 13-18). The immediate problem that arises from this division and interpretation is that verses 19-24 seem to be understood as a separate part and causes a debate on the unity of this psalm. This leaves the question as to whether the unity of this psalm could be better understood if scrutinised from another perspective? According to Brueggemann (2003:277), the famous theologian Gerhard von Rad has suggested that the Book of Psalms is a “response” to God’s interventions as Creator. These are interventions in human life (not excluding nature). It is, therefore, understandable that these “responses” by humankind in the Psalms are expressed in a number of ways. It is thus important to understand that the Psalms gives an insight not only into God, but also into humankind on a deep anthropological level. Psalm 139 must be understood not only on a divine (theological) level, but also on an anthropological level. It would appear that, in order to gain a better understanding of God in this Psalm, one must observe the nature and function of one’s own physical constitution. One must also understand that Psalm 139 not only expresses human emotions, but is also rich in its description of physical human body parts, making this psalm even more interesting on an anthropological level. To distinguish between these levels of divine, human, physical, real and imagined language, the psalm is studied in the context of “literary” space (narrative space or theory, social space and ancient Near Eastern spatial orientation) to help form a bodily perspective of Psalm 139. The notions discussed in this dissertation are derived from anthropological, architectural, social and theological discourses. They do not derive primarily from a theological discussion, yet they do have enormous theological implications and consequences in the interpretation and structure of Psalm 139. Ultimately, a new literary structure is presented for Psalm 139. Ancient Languages MA Unrestricted 2019-12-13T08:07:37Z 2019-12-13T08:07:37Z 2019/09/04 2019 Dissertation Sutton, L 2019, Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space, MA Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/72695> S2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/72695 © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Humanities theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title_full Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title_fullStr Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title_full_unstemmed Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title_short Reading Psalm 139 as a literary unit : a bodily Interpretation from the perspective of space
title_sort reading psalm 139 as a literary unit a bodily interpretation from the perspective of space
topic UCTD
Humanities theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/72695