Biblical research has been enriched in current many years by the insights of cognitive linguistics, a area that explores the connection between cognition (understanding) and language. Of specific curiosity to me is the subfield of metaphor principle since scripture is replete with metaphors. Hosea is arguably probably the most prolific person of metaphor among the many prophets, harnessing metaphor’s energy to make clear understanding and grant new perception (cognitive energy), describe and/or elicit emotion (emotional energy), and immediate change inside the reader (volitional energy).
Metaphors are highly effective however they’re additionally difficult. That’s due partly to how metaphors describe summary issues in concrete phrases. The reader/hearer of the metaphor then has to decode the metaphor to know to what it’s referring. At instances this can be a easy course of. At different instances it’s not so easy. That is particularly the case after we are studying biblical metaphors as these metaphors have been spoken centuries in the past in a tradition fairly totally different than our personal. These dynamics have been at play once I was discussing Hosea 7:11 with a category of seminarians.
Ephraim was like a dove;
Silly, with out coronary heart
To Egypt they cried out;
To Assyria they went.
What does it imply that Ephraim (that’s, Israel, the folks of God) is sort of a dove? Twenty-first century western readers should guard towards imposing our typical ideas of the metaphorical use of a dove. For instance, connotations of peace wouldn’t make sense on this textual content’s utilization of dove. The problem of the metaphor is additional compounded by Hosea utilizing “coronary heart.” Although we frequently make investments “coronary heart” with emotion, that was not the norm biblically. “Coronary heart” in biblical utilization could be in comparison with our use of “thoughts” in that dedication is concerned. We might say that you just make up your thoughts and decide to one thing. The biblical lexicon could be extra apt to say that you just make up your coronary heart and decide to one thing.
That begins to grant readability to the metaphor of the dove in Hosea 7:11. Ephraim was silly in order that they might not decide to Yahweh. As an alternative, they cried out to Egypt (to the southwest) and to Assyria they went (to the northeast). Egypt and Assyria have been rival powers in Hosea’s day to whom Ephraim would alternatively search for help amid mounting pressures. With whom will they solid their lot? Egypt? Assyria? That was silly! They have been performing as a dove, flying forwards and backwards quite than having coronary heart, committing themselves to face agency with Yahweh.
As soon as the metaphor is rightly understood, then it powerfully modifications how we expect (how silly that we search for deliverance from rival powers who lengthy to devour us), really feel (disgrace is mine for following in Ephraim’s steps with out coronary heart to stay dedicated to Christ), and act (quite than run forwards and backwards between the rival powers of cash and energy, I’ll discover my confidence in Christ).
The metaphor has one other shock up its sleeve. Whereas the metaphor should be rightly understood within the historic and cultural context by which it was first used, metaphor principle holds that people are hardwired to suppose by way of metaphors. Thus, some metaphors can bridge the cultures and centuries. That’s even the case with Hosea’s dove. A seminarian who’s a local of Haiti studies to me that in his homeland they communicate of how the dove’s information is in its coronary heart, not in its head. Whereas the usage of coronary heart right here just isn’t the identical as in Hosea 7:11, the purpose of connection between eighth century BC Israel and twenty first century Haiti is simple. The dove acts not on dedication however upon feeling. Certainly, the Haitians will say, “You might be jealous just like the dove.”
Although not similar, the view of the dove bears startling similarities that assist us to ponder anew not solely how historical Ephraim was like a dove but in addition how we’re like a dove. No, not that we’re peaceable, however that we’re silly and with out coronary heart. Too shortly we abandon dedication to Yahweh to chase after this feature and that possibility within the useless hope they are going to ship what they can not. And when the metaphor brings us to that readability, we communicate related phrases as Israel in Hosea 14:3 and listen to Yahweh’s reply in Hosea 14:4 (verses 4–5 within the Hebrew).
4Assyria can not save us.
We won’t trip on horses.
And we’ll now not say “our gods” to the works of our arms.
For by You the orphan is pitied.
5I’ll heal their apostasy.
I’ll freely love them
For My anger has turned from them.
