"Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3)
This paper analyses Isa 66:3 and presents a new interpretation of the expression ערף כלב “breaks a dog’s neck.” There are various proposals to explain this enigmatic expression. One points, for example, to a possible ritual in which dogs were to be sacrificed by breaking their necks. This ritual wa...
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The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Biblical Annals |
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| Online Access: | https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16140 |
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| author | Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak |
| author_facet | Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak |
| author_sort | Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak |
| collection | DOAJ |
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This paper analyses Isa 66:3 and presents a new interpretation of the expression ערף כלב “breaks a dog’s neck.” There are various proposals to explain this enigmatic expression. One points, for example, to a possible ritual in which dogs were to be sacrificed by breaking their necks. This ritual was supposed to have been practised in the ancient Levant, including the Israelites/Judahites. This explanation is called into question in this article. It is pointed out that the phrase can be understood as a metaphor for people who impinge on the dignity of others. The exegesis of biblical texts, the examples cited from ancient Near Eastern literature, and the analysis of archaeological material indicate that this expression may have a different meaning from that hitherto accepted.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88effe6891144ab7889aef1c353568bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2083-2222 2451-2168 |
| language | deu |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Biblical Annals |
| spelling | doaj-art-88effe6891144ab7889aef1c353568bf2025-01-31T08:34:24ZdeuThe John Paul II Catholic University of LublinThe Biblical Annals2083-22222451-21682025-01-0115110.31743/ba.16140"Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3)Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak0Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań This paper analyses Isa 66:3 and presents a new interpretation of the expression ערף כלב “breaks a dog’s neck.” There are various proposals to explain this enigmatic expression. One points, for example, to a possible ritual in which dogs were to be sacrificed by breaking their necks. This ritual was supposed to have been practised in the ancient Levant, including the Israelites/Judahites. This explanation is called into question in this article. It is pointed out that the phrase can be understood as a metaphor for people who impinge on the dignity of others. The exegesis of biblical texts, the examples cited from ancient Near Eastern literature, and the analysis of archaeological material indicate that this expression may have a different meaning from that hitherto accepted. https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16140Trito-Isaiahdogservantmetaphorritual |
| spellingShingle | Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) The Biblical Annals Trito-Isaiah dog servant metaphor ritual |
| title | "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) |
| title_full | "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) |
| title_fullStr | "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) |
| title_full_unstemmed | "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) |
| title_short | "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) |
| title_sort | breaking a dog s neck as a metaphor for oppressing the weak an exegetical historical analysis of the expression ערף כלב isa 66 3 |
| topic | Trito-Isaiah dog servant metaphor ritual |
| url | https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16140 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrzejłukaszjedrzejczak breakingadogsneckasametaphorforoppressingtheweakanexegeticalhistoricalanalysisoftheexpressionʻrpklbisa663 |