“Clawing at the Eyes of God”

This article analyzes the palimpsestuous interplay between the Book of Job and the cover-art of Slayer’s 2001 album, God Hates Us All . The album’s cover features digital manipulation of pages from the Book of Job, where certain biblical excerpts remain visible amidst a backdrop of blacked-out sections and overlaid with lyrics and annotations. This fusion lends Slayer’s lyrics a dual theological and exegetical dimension, encouraging listeners/readers to explore the texts in tandem. The study seeks to uncover any discernible patterns in the treatment of biblical passages, analyze how the resulting theodicy reveals a particular reading of the Book of Job, and elucidate the contemporary relevance and purpose of this act of reception and artistic creation. In doing so, the article contributes to the ongoing exploration of the Bible’s Nachleben , emphasizing that exegetes and theologians are neither the only nor the most important interpreters. There are other voices literally screaming to be heard

Biblical studies · Historical Jesus · Judaism · Lyrics · Palimpsest · Theodicy · Religion, Theology, History, Judaism, Christianity · Theater, Performance, and Music History · Violence, Religion, and Philosophy