Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Karl Randolph" <kwrandolph AT email.com>]

This is not a question of what are the attributes of God, 
but how are we to understand the language used when 
describing God?

In my understanding, the language talks about action. Even 
when listing "physical" attributes, they are not to be 
understood as saying that God has a physical body as we do, 
rather they are symbolically referring to God's actions. 
For example, when God led Israel out of Egypt "with an 
upraised arm" that is the action of warfare, the arm is 
raised to strike. When God is "tired", he is not physically 
tired, rather he has "had it up to here" with man's rebellion. 
And so forth.

In fact, throughout Tanakh, appearance is almost never 
mentioned outside of when it has bearing on actions.

Karl W. Randolph.

----- Original Message -----
From: "George F Somsel" <gfsomsel AT juno.com>

> 
> On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 05:41:28 -0700 (PDT) Gene Gardner
> 
> >> In light of the above comments, I would like to
> >> explore what the Hebrew text actually says in relation
> >> to this verse:
> 
> >> Genesis 32 JPS 1917
> 
> >> 31 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 'for
> >> I have seen God face to face, and my life is
> >> preserved.'
> 
> Do other texts say head
> > or feet in the Hebrew, or are they errant as well.
> > These are my questions, and they are based strictly on
> > the Hebrew text and what it says. Maybe the title of
> > the thread could be better, but my questions are based
> > solely on language, and not religion.
> __________________________________________________
> 
> Gene,
> 
> In this verse it states that Jacob named the crossing of the Jabbok
> "Peniel."  This is the compound of the word PfNeH which is a hypothetical
> form for the word which signifies the front or "face" with )"L signifying
> God resulting in "the face of God."  The etymological rationale given is
> that he has seen God PfNiM )eL_PfNiM, i.e. "face to face."  Thus, it
> really does say that God has a face or front.  It also speaks in other
> terms regarding God such as that He is angry, tired (for He rests), etc.
> Does this mean that this is the way God is or is it simply a metaphorical
> manner of speaking?  Probably the latter for we are limited by our
> experience and language so there is really no other way to speak of God.
> I would be hesitant to take any language which might describe God and
> understand it literally -- Does God have feet and walk? -- such would
> almost assuredly be to form an image of God which is prohibited (and very
> rightly so since it would lock our conception of God into a certain form
> which may be very incorrect).
> 
> george
> gfsomsel

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