Polysemy and נפש as Throat in Leviticus 17
14Aα
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21408386 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Garrett Haddock (0009-0008-1966-6722, University of Notre Dame Theology 130 Malloy Hall Notre Dame USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 138 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 233-242 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0044-2526 • E-ISSN: 1613-0103 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1515/zaw-2026-2008 |
| OpenAlex | W7163531450 |
| Language | EN |
Given the contents of Lev 17, this portion of the Priestly Pentateuch has long functioned as a locus classicus for discussing the role of blood in Ancient Israelite religion. The identification of blood with life undergirds the prohibition of consuming blood at various points in the Priestly writings. While many studies articulate the close coordination of blood ( דם ) and life ( נפש ), this short article attempts to explain a difficulty in Lev 17:14aα, where the text unexpectantly locates the דם in the נפש , as an instance of the well-attested meaning of נפש as throat. Further, I argue that the polysemy evident in the use of נפש in Lev 17:10–16 strengthens the case for this interpretation
Locus (genetics) · Meaning (existential) · Polysemy · Torah · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Development, Ethics, and Society
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |