The seven eyes of God

Jonathan Yogev

doi:10.1163/15685330-12341354

The seven eyes of God

Jonathan Yogev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The image of the stone with seven eyes in the book of Zechariah 3-4 is very puzzling, and has been interpreted in various ways. In this study I will suggest that the most logical interpretation of this image lies in the Babylonian kalû ritual and the well-known mythological Sibittu iconography that was familiar and accepted by the returning Babylonian exiles. This iconography was chosen for a specific reason, and then was given a new identity by the prophet, probably as part of a certain agenda.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	307-319
Number of pages	13
Journal	Vetus Testamentum
Volume	69
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-12341354
State	Published - 1 Jan 2019
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Akkadian
Iconography
Neo-Babylonian
Seven
Sibittu
Stars
Zechariah

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Language and Linguistics
History
Religious studies
Linguistics and Language
Literature and Literary Theory

Access to Document

10.1163/15685330-12341354

Cite this

@article{c3b635b997b74bc3a5a0ed776d3e59b4,

title = "The seven eyes of God",

abstract = "The image of the stone with seven eyes in the book of Zechariah 3-4 is very puzzling, and has been interpreted in various ways. In this study I will suggest that the most logical interpretation of this image lies in the Babylonian kal{\^u} ritual and the well-known mythological Sibittu iconography that was familiar and accepted by the returning Babylonian exiles. This iconography was chosen for a specific reason, and then was given a new identity by the prophet, probably as part of a certain agenda.",

keywords = "Akkadian, Iconography, Neo-Babylonian, Seven, Sibittu, Stars, Zechariah",

author = "Jonathan Yogev",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2019.",

year = "2019",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1163/15685330-12341354",

language = "English",

volume = "69",

pages = "307--319",

journal = "Vetus Testamentum",

issn = "0042-4935",

publisher = "Brill Academic Publishers",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The seven eyes of God

AU - Yogev, Jonathan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2019.

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - The image of the stone with seven eyes in the book of Zechariah 3-4 is very puzzling, and has been interpreted in various ways. In this study I will suggest that the most logical interpretation of this image lies in the Babylonian kalû ritual and the well-known mythological Sibittu iconography that was familiar and accepted by the returning Babylonian exiles. This iconography was chosen for a specific reason, and then was given a new identity by the prophet, probably as part of a certain agenda.

AB - The image of the stone with seven eyes in the book of Zechariah 3-4 is very puzzling, and has been interpreted in various ways. In this study I will suggest that the most logical interpretation of this image lies in the Babylonian kalû ritual and the well-known mythological Sibittu iconography that was familiar and accepted by the returning Babylonian exiles. This iconography was chosen for a specific reason, and then was given a new identity by the prophet, probably as part of a certain agenda.

KW - Akkadian

KW - Iconography

KW - Neo-Babylonian

KW - Seven

KW - Sibittu

KW - Stars

KW - Zechariah

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065399468&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1163/15685330-12341354

DO - 10.1163/15685330-12341354

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85065399468

SN - 0042-4935

VL - 69

SP - 307

EP - 319

JO - Vetus Testamentum

JF - Vetus Testamentum

IS - 2

ER -

The seven eyes of God

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this