Texts in Conversation
Psalm 16 treats the kidneys as the seat of thought and moral insight, reflecting an ancient Near Eastern view of the inner body. Ugaritic texts like the Legend of Kirta describe Prince Yassib guided by his inward parts, showing the same belief.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
KTU 1.16 VI:25
Cuneiform Texts from Ugarit
Ancient Near East
Yassib also sits in the palace, and his inward parts do instruct him: "Go to your father, Yassib. Go [to] your fa[ther] and speak, repeat to Kir[ta the Noble]: Lis[ten] and incline [(your) ear. For . . . . . . . . . ] . . . . and . . . . . [ ] You have let your hand fall into mischief. You used to judge the cause of the widow, to adjudicate the case of the wretched. Since you have become a brother of the bed of sickness, a companion of the bed of suffering, descend from the kingship—I will be king; in your authority I will sit."—
Psalm 16:7
Hebrew Bible
5 The Lord is the portion of my possession and my cup9; you make my future secure. 6 It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land. 7 I will praise the Lord who guides me; yes, during the night my kidneys instruct me15. 8 I set the Lord before me continually16; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Tags:
Search:
Notes and References
"... This reflects a moment of divine prompting, comparable to Psalm 16:7. Some, like Kutscher, suggest a more mythic reading, taking it as a reference to “his jinn or personal demon,” a supernatural agent of insight or agitation acting within him ..."
* 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.
User Comments
,