Metaphor of the Divine As Planter of the People
Book Description
In this scholarly exploration, Jennifer Metten Pantoja unveils a profound spiritual metaphor that shaped ancient understanding of humanity's relationship with the divine. Through careful examination of Hebrew poetry and biblical texts, she reveals how the image of God as a divine gardener who plants and tends to people became a cornerstone of ancient spiritual thought.
The book traces this powerful metaphor from its earliest appearances through biblical history and into Second Temple literature, demonstrating how deeply connected ancient communities were to agricultural life and the rhythms of the earth. Pantoja pays special attention to the image of the divine as vintner, particularly as it appears in prophetic writings before the exile, showing how this metaphor conveyed complex theological truths about divine care, judgment, and restoration.
Drawing on modern cognitive linguistics alongside traditional biblical scholarship, the author illuminates how ancient peoples understood their place in the cosmic order through the lens of planting, growing, and harvesting. The study also incorporates archaeological evidence and material culture to provide a fuller picture of how these agricultural metaphors resonated in daily life.
For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality and nature, this work offers fresh insights into how ancient wisdom traditions understood the divine relationship with humanity through the timeless imagery of cultivation and growth.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 245 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Garten
- ✓ Explore Criticism, interpretation
- ✓ Explore Frühjudentum
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Bible
- ✓ Explore Agriculture in the Bible
- ✓ Explore Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., o. t. prophets
- ✓ Explore Metaphor in the Bible
