Texts in Conversation
Sirach echoes Psalm 8 by repeating its question of why God should notice frail humanity when set against the vastness of creation, the theme of humility becoming the frame for his own reflection on human weakness. By imitating the Psalms, Sirach ties his wisdom to the Israel’s tradition, giving his work the same weight and authority.
Share:
Psalm 8:4
Hebrew Bible
2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy. 3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 4 Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them? 5 You made them a little less than the heavenly beings. You crowned mankind with honor and majesty. 6 you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Sirach 18:8
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
6 It is not possible to diminish or increase them, nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord. 7 When human beings have finished, they are just beginning, and when they stop, they are still perplexed. 8 What are human beings, and of what use are they? What is good in them, and what is evil? 9 The number of days in their life is great if they reach one hundred years. 10 Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are a few years among the days of eternity.
Date: 195-175 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... The formula performs a consistent semantic function: “It poses a question in element a, then abases the noun or pronoun subject by an implied answer to the question. On the basis of the implied answer, the verb in element b is negated.” One could paraphrase, on the model of Psalm 8:4, which through Job, stands behind the 'Niedrigkeitsdoxologien': “What is a mortal that you should care for him? You should not, for he is insignificant.” This form is much better suited to the de-historicized and thoroughly anthropological nature of the Hodayot’s concerns. Perhaps we can call these statements in which the Doxologies of Lowliness take part the “anthropological interrogatives.” (Compare also 4Q301 4:3; 5:3; Sirach 18:8; 4 Ezra 8:34; 2 Baruch 48:14–17) ..."
Meyer, Nicholas A.
Adam’s Dust and Adam’s Glory in the Hodayot and the Letters of Paul: Rethinking Anthropogony and Theology
(p. 35) Brill, 2016
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.