Van der Bergh, Ronald Henry2012-05-302012-05-302008Van der Bergh, R 2008, 'The distinction between story and discourse in the analysis of biblical narrative', Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 83-98.0259-0131http://hdl.handle.net/2263/19003This article is a revised version of a chapter of the author’s thesis submitted to the Ancient Languages Department of the University of Pretoria in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MA degree in Ancient Languages and Cultures. The study was supervised by Prof. G T M Prinsloo.The distinction between story and discourse has become all but canonical in narratology. This article investigates the viability of this approach with reference to the narratological analysis of biblical narratives. It is shown that the distinction is indeed necessary, although the traditional approach should be modified. Discourse, rather than story, should be the starting point of any narratological analysis. This leads to the concept of an “implied story, which can be used as an analytical tool in the analysis of narrative. Special attention is given to the application of this new approach to biblical narrative, with an example drawn from a comparison of Isa 36:1-22 and 2 Kgs 18:13-37.enStellenbosch University: Department of Ancient StudiesStory and discourseNarratological analysisBiblical narrativesNarration in the BibleBible -- Language, styleArticle