Abstract:
Conspicuous in the Old Testament (OT) is the literary genre of blessing that is often construed
in poetic forms. They are of various types and were significant to their initial audience.
A careful analysis of their texts and contexts is indispensable for a correct understanding of
their message. Conversely, in our times, these texts and their contents are misinterpreted for
some subjective goals, which deviate greatly from what one can perceive as their original
meaning and intention. Misinterpretation and incorrect application of Biblical texts of blessings
thrive in a society like ours where ills are perpetrated under the guise of religion. The text of
Genesis 27:27–29, carefully inserted in the patriarchal narratives, contains a type of OT
blessings portraying parents’ wishful desires for their offspring; this is common to all human
cultures. It is chosen as a springboard for the study of other parental blessings in the OT.
Employing a literary analysis with particular attention to the functions of poetic devices in the
text, the study aimed at understanding the message contained therein and its relevance to our
contemporary society.
Description:
This research is part of the
research project ‘Sociocultural
Readings’, directed
by Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck,
Department of New
Testament Studies and
Related Literature, Faculty of
Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
