PEDOCOLBIBX47: The Bible Never Condemned Homosexuality: An Academic Reexamination, Part II
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In Simple Summary:"Ish asher yishkav et-zachar mishkevei ishah." By placing "Ish" alongside "Zachar," the phrase highlights that "Ish" would have been paired with "Ish," not "Zachar," if it were truly opposing homosexuality. This subtle distinction clarifies the intended meaning, which, in Greek (arsen), Latin (masculus), and German (knaben), correctly refers to a young boy rather than a man. The term only broadly indicates "male" when paired with respective classifiers such as "sexus" or "the male sex," and if not those, then a male slave (lesser being the diminutive) or male animal.AbstractThis paper explores the semantic evolution of the Latin term "masculus" and its Hebrew and Greek equivalents—"zachar" and "arsen" respectively—in biblical translations up to the 1545 Martin Luther Bible. Through a meticulous linguistic analysis of key biblical passages, the study argues that these terms originally denoted young males, including slaves and male animals, rather than adult men. This reinterpretation suggests that certain biblical prohibitions, commonly understood as condemning homosexual relationships, may have been specifically addressing pedophilic acts. By comparing translations from the 1545 and 1912 Luther Bibles alongside other contemporaneous versions, the research highlights how semantic shifts over time have potentially altered the theological and moral directives within the scriptures. The findings underscore the importance of historical linguistic context in biblical interpretation and advocate for a reevaluation of traditional understandings of biblical condemnations related to sexuality.IntroductionBiblical exegesis has long grappled with the interpretation of terms that carry significant theological and moral weight. Among these, the Latin term "masculus" and its equivalents in Hebrew ("zachar") and Greek ("arsen") have been pivotal in discussions surrounding biblical prohibitions on sexual relationships. Traditionally, passages such as Leviticus 18:22 have been interpreted as condemning homosexual acts between consenting adults. However, this paper posits that a closer examination of the original linguistic context suggests that these terms primarily referred to young males or male animals, thereby indicating that the biblical condemnations may have been specifically targeting pedophilic acts rather than homosexuality per se.The study employs a historical-linguistic approach, analyzing the semantic range of "masculus," "zachar," and "arsen" across various biblical translations, including the Latin Vulgate, Hebrew Masoretic Text, Greek Septuagint, and German Luther Bibles (1545 and 1912 editions). By conducting a verse-by-verse comparison and examining non-biblical Latin texts, Roman law, classical literature, and early Christian writings, the research traces the evolution of these terms from their specific to more generalized meanings. Additionally, the study incorporated contextual analyses of key biblical passages to elucidate the implications of translation choices on theological interpretations.
Source: Figshare
Author: Lehti, Andrew
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6920859229
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: