Metaphors of Crossing Water in Tanakh

Nermin Öztürk

Makale detayları

Metaphors of Crossing Water in Tanakh

Yazarlar:

Nermin Öztürk

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akif Vol.54 Issue 2, pp.213-233

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337145

pISSN:

2791-6065

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study aims to examine the metaphors of water in the Tanakh. The element of water, used as a profound metaphor in all sacred texts, mythology and literature, is one of the most essential forms of religious expression. There are various ways in which water is used in the Tanakh. The subject discussed in this study is that water is an obstacle that must be overcome or crossed, like a river or a sea. In this context the crossing water observed in certain stories in the Tanakh involving important figures such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Elisha and Elijah. Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that these water-crossing stories are intimately connected to the concept of the Holy Land or the Promised Land. It is possible to evaluate these motifs of crossing water in the Tanakh, especially these pivotal passages in the Israelites journey to reach the Holy Land, with both figurative and literal meanings. These water crossings, especially sea and river crossings, which seem insurmountable under ordinary conditions, brought destruction and death to the enemies. Conversely, according to the Tanakhs narrative, they brought salvation, freedom and life to those under divine protection. Considering that water represents the mind in the language of symbols due to its properties of being colorless, odorless, shapeless and adapting to the container it occupies, it can be said that the motifs of passing through water represent a hazardous threshold area that must be crossed to complete the transition or before reaching the Sacred.

 This study aims to examine the metaphors of water in the Tanakh. The element of water, used as a profound metaphor in all sacred texts, mythology and literature, is one of the most essential forms of religious expression. There are various ways in which water is used in the Tanakh. The subject discussed in this study is that water is an obstacle that must be overcome or crossed, like a river or a sea. In this context the crossing water observed in certain stories in the Tanakh involving important figures such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Elisha and Elijah. Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that these water-crossing stories are intimately connected to the concept of the Holy Land or the Promised Land. It is possible to evaluate these motifs of crossing water in the Tanakh, especially these pivotal passages in the Israelites journey to reach the Holy Land, with both figurative and literal meanings. These water crossings, especially sea and river crossings, which seem insurmountable under ordinary conditions, brought destruction and death to the enemies. Conversely, according to the Tanakhs narrative, they brought salvation, freedom and life to those under divine protection. Considering that water represents the mind in the language of symbols due to its properties of being colorless, odorless, shapeless and adapting to the container it occupies, it can be said that the motifs of passing through water represent a hazardous threshold area that must be crossed to complete the transition or before reaching the Sacred.

 This study aims to examine the metaphors of water in the Tanakh. The element of water, used as a profound metaphor in all sacred texts, mythology and literature, is one of the most essential forms of religious expression. There are various ways in which water is used in the Tanakh. The subject discussed in this study is that water is an obstacle that must be overcome or crossed, like a river or a sea. In this context the crossing water observed in certain stories in the Tanakh involving important figures such as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Elisha and Elijah. Upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that these water-crossing stories are intimately connected to the concept of the Holy Land or the Promised Land. It is possible to evaluate these motifs of crossing water in the Tanakh, especially these pivotal passages in the Israelites journey to reach the Holy Land, with both figurative and literal meanings. These water crossings, especially sea and river crossings, which seem insurmountable under ordinary conditions, brought destruction and death to the enemies. Conversely, according to the Tanakhs narrative, they brought salvation, freedom and life to those under divine protection. Considering that water represents the mind in the language of symbols due to its properties of being colorless, odorless, shapeless and adapting to the container it occupies, it can be said that the motifs of passing through water represent a hazardous threshold area that must be crossed to complete the transition or before reaching the Sacred.

 Bu çalışmanın amacı Tanahta geçen su metaforlarını tespit etmektir. Güçlü bir metafor olarak tüm kutsal metinlerde, mitolojide ve edebiyatta kullanılan su unsuru en temel dini ifade biçimlerinden birisidir. Tanahta suyun birçok kullanım şekli vardır. Bu çalışmada ele alınan konu ise, suyun bir nehir veya deniz gibi aşılması veya geçilmesi gereken bir engel olması itibarıyladır. Bu bağlamda Tanahta İbrahim, Yakup, Musa, Yeşu, Davut, İlyas ve Elişa gibi önemli şahsiyetlerin yer aldığı bazı hikâyelerde sudan geçme olayını görmek mümkündür. Dikkat edildiğinde görülecektir ki bu sudan geçme hikayeleri bir şekilde Kutsal Toprak veya Vaat Edilen Toprak kavramıyla yakından ilişkilidir. Tanahtaki bu sudan geçme motiflerini, özellikle İsrailoğullarının kutsal topraklara ulaşma serüvenindeki bu son derece önemli pasajları, hem mecazi hem de gerçek anlamlarıyla değerlendirmek mümkündür. Özellikle deniz ve nehir geçişleri gibi normal şartlarda imkânsız gibi görünen bu su geçişleri düşmanlara yıkım ve ölüm getirirken, Tanahtaki anlatıya göre ilahi koruma altındakilere kurtuluş, özgürlük ve hayat getirmiştir. Sembol dilinde suyun renksiz, kokusuz, şekilsiz ve içine konulduğu kabın şeklini alan özellikleri nedeniyle zihni temsil ettiği düşünüldüğünde, sudan geçme motiflerinin geçiş tamamlanmadan veya Kutsala ulaşmadan önce geçilmesi gereken tehlikeli bir eşik alanını temsil ettiğini söyleyebiliriz.

Makale detayları

Metaphors of Crossing Water in Tanakh

Yazarlar:

Nermin Öztürk

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akif Vol.54 Issue 2, pp.213-233

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337145

pISSN:

2791-6065

History of Religion

Judaism

Crossing the Water

Promised Land

MetaphorDinler Tarihi

Yahudilik

Sudan Geçme

Vadedilen Toprak

Metafor

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Nermin Öztürk

Yayıncı: Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar: Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi: Akif Vol.54 Issue 2, pp.213-233

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 12/2024

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001337145

pISSN: 2791-6065

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Nermin Öztürk

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Dini Araştırmalar (Diğer)

Dergi:

Akif Vol.54 Issue 2, pp.213-233

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

12/2024

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001337145

pISSN:

2791-6065