A re-reading of the concept of ר דה (Râdâh) in Genesis 1:26-28 in the post-apartheid context : an African liberationist approach
Mokwena, Barnard Olefile
This project considers a liberationist meaning of the concept of ר דה (rādāh) found in
the Priestly material of Genesis 1:1-2:4a. The study starts from a presupposition that
the South African history of biblical interpretation is problematic, and this remains a
challenge in the post-apartheid era. Secondly, there is a general paucity of exegesis
of African liberation hermeneutics on creation narratives. Lastly, the historical-critical
method, which dominates commentary on Genesis 1:26-28, is inadequate in
addressing issues of social justice.
In Genesis 1:26-28, רדה as an enigmatic and phenomenal concept that invites
investigation has undergone enormous scrutiny in past scholarship. In these verses,
no construct has been evaluated more fervently and attracted curiosity more than the
concept of ר דה , which traditionally translates as “dominion.” To date, it remains a
striking literary construct giving birth to lively disputes and discussions among scholars
across generations.
The study primarily fits within the ambit of Old Testament studies with a particular
perspective of African liberation hermeneutics. Thus, the study is based on the
presupposition that it is legitimate to read the Bible through “Other lenses” than the
traditional historical-critical lens. It demonstrates that there are other valid
hermeneutical approaches to reading the Old Testament based on the social realities
of contemporary Africa. The study acknowledges that Africa is far more a complex
continent with varying cultures, religious experiences and political history. The study
presents an exegetical case study by dealing with expanded understanding of ר דה that
includes caring for fellow human beings by way of social justice. This marks a major
inexorable shift of hermeneutical and epistemological power from the West to other
parts of the globe. The study also contributes to post-apartheid discourse on the
relevance of African liberation hermeneutics.
Includes bibliographical references
↧