Friday, January 05, 2024

Robert Alter Discusses the Literary and Syntactical Features of Genesis 2

"Now, after the grand choreography of resonant parallel utterances of the cosmogony, the style changes sharply. Instead of the symmetry of parataxis, hypotaxis is initially prominent: the second account begins with elaborate syntactical subordination in a long complex sentence that uncoils all the way from the second part of [Genesis] verse 4 to the end of verse 7" (Robert Alter, Genesis, comments on Genesis 2:4).

Genesis 2:7 in Alter's work now calls God "YHWH Elohim" rather than Elohim simpliciter.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous1:14 AM

    Another note is the usage of words in genesis Ktizo an poieo and the usage of “good” and “perfect”
    Former not used of divine creation until ch 14 ( 2 chapt margins of error) latter is first used in chapter 6 - yet I’m pretty sure that’s what “good” means in 1 else deut 32:6 is a lie

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