Patterns of Sin in the Hebrew Bible: Metaphor, Culture, and the Making of a Religious Concept

Sin, often defined as a violation of divine will, remains a crucial idea in contemporary moral and religious discourse. However, the apparent familiarity of the concept obscures its origins within the history of Western religious thought. Joseph Lam examines a watershed moment in the development of sin as an idea-namely, within the language and culture of ancient Israel-by examining the primary metaphors used for sin in the Hebrew Bible. Drawing from contemporary theoretical insights coming out of linguistics and philosophy of language, this book identifies four patterns of metaphor that pervade the biblical texts: sin as burden, sin as an account, sin as path or direction, and sin as stain or impurity. In exploring the permutations of these metaphors and their development within the biblical corpus, Patterns of Sin in the Hebrew Bible offers a compelling account of how a religious and theological concept emerges out of the everyday thought-world of ancient Israel, while breaking new ground in its approach to metaphor in ancient texts. Far from being a timeless, stable concept, sin becomes intelligible only when situated in the matrix of ancient Israelite culture. In other words, sin is not as simple as it might seem.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1 Sin and Metaphor in the Hebrew Bible 2 The Burden of Sin 3 The Accounting of Sin 4 Sin as Path or Direction 5 Sin as Stain or Impurity 6 Conclusion Appendix: On Metaphor and Simile Bibliography

About the Author :
Joseph Lam is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago. His articles have appeared in Vetus Testamentum and the Journal of Ancient Near Eastern Religions.

Review :
"[T]his sophisticated treatment of the metaphors for sin in the HB represents a significant advance in the state of research. The judicious discussions of the linguistic evidence will serve as a valuable resource for future research on the conceptual background for ancient Israelite views of the moral order." --Yitzhaq Feder, Journal of Religion "This volume represents a significant contribution to studies on biblical metaphor and on the concept of sin in the Hebrew Bible and in ancient Israelite religion. Lam's study is focused and well substantiated; it addresses and responds to relevant issues and questions Lam provides a foundation for further exploration of these trends and patterns, of ways in which less-pervasive metaphors function within the texts and corpora, and of ways in which these metaphors are applied or reinterpreted in later religious communities."--Lesley DiFransico, Catholic Biblical Quarterly "Because much of the book deals with the technicalities of metaphorical language, it will best serve linguists and translators. Nonetheless, this analysis permits Lam to draw a number of interpretive conclusions that will interest a wider readership."--Mark E. Biddle, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology "The book is wide-ranging and contains a wealth of insight and analysis. It is well written and presented, and although it will be most accessible to readers familiar with Hebrew, others will be able to follow the argument. Hebrew texts and other primary sources are given in transliteration with English translation...In summary, this is a significant contribution which will repay careful study by anyone with interests in the concept of sin or metaphor theory in the Hebrew Bible."--Themelios "This is a much needed volume that sorts out the immense variety of Biblical data regarding the presentation of sin in the Hebrew Bible. His judicious application of recent work on both metaphor and semantics provides new insights into various texts that have long puzzled readers. It will become the point of departure for those working on such metaphors in the First Temple period." --Gary Anderson, author of Sin: A History "Patterns of Sin in the Hebrew Bible is a clear, theoretically informed, and illuminating examination of the Hebrew Bible's metaphors for sin. A comprehensive account of sin's appearances has long been wanting and here it is, finally. All students of the Bible will benefit from Lam's careful attention to the workings of the biblical metaphors, and will come away with a richer and more profound understanding of how biblical sin is construed." --Jacqueline Lapsley, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary "Lam is to be commended for this coherent and concise treatment of a complicated topic. His attention to the text itself is appreciated...[T]his is an excellent book, portraying clearly and carefully both the landscape of the Hebrew Bible on this topic as well as helpful approaches to elucidating its meaning."--Reading Religion