@article{ART003168035},
author={Hyo Myong Lim},
title={The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice},
journal={Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies},
issn={1229-0521},
year={2024},
volume={30},
number={4},
pages={364-395}
TY - JOUR
AU - Hyo Myong Lim
TI - The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice
JO - Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
PY - 2024
VL - 30
IS - 4
PB - Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
SP - 364
EP - 395
SN - 1229-0521
AB - In recent ecological discourses, nature is often conceived as an agent—nature strikes back at humanity! The Hebrew Bible is no stranger to the agency of nature, or Earth (erets). My purpose in reading the two creation narratives and the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 1-4 is to uncover the agency of Earth and its relational dynamics with humanity. I primarily utilize ecological hermeneutics, feminist criticism, and narrative criticism as my reading tools. By examining the narratives from the perspective of Earth, I pay attention to how Earth is described, whether it is given voice, and how it is granted or deprived of agency.
In terms of the description of Earth, I analyze the Genesis texts in four loci: before creation, during creation, in Eden after creation, and outside Eden. Before creation, Earth is depicted as dormant, full of potential for life. During creation, Earth serves as a co-creator alongside Elohim. In Eden, it fully manifests its power. However, after the first humans disobey God, Earth restricts its power, granting it only when Adam (humanity) exerts hard labor upon it. Following Cain’s murder of Abel, Earth takes/drinks Abel’s blood and further restrains itself, refusing to grant any power to the murderer, Cain. The changes in the relationship between Earth and humanity observed in Genesis 1-4 show that Earth resists human sin and injustice, allowing itself to be wasted.
KW - Genesis 1-4;creation narrative;ecological hermeneutics;climate crisis;anthropocentrism
DO -
UR -
ER -
Hyo Myong Lim. (2024). The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 30(4), 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. 2024, "The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice", Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, vol.30, no.4 pp.364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim "The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 30.4 pp.364-395 (2024) : 364.
Hyo Myong Lim. The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice. 2024; 30(4), 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. "The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 30, no.4 (2024) : 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies, 30(4), 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice. Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies. 2024; 30(4) 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice. 2024; 30(4), 364-395.
Hyo Myong Lim. "The Earth Story in the Creation Narratives: Earth Allows Itself Wasted, Resisting Human Injustice" Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 30, no.4 (2024) : 364-395.
