Word event formula
In the exegesis of the Tanach or the Old Testament, a word event formula is a formulaic phrase that often occurs in prophetic texts.
text
The word event formula appears in two formulations: וַיְהִי דְבַר־יהוה אֵל wajəhî dəvar YHWH 'el - "then the YHWH word went out to ..."הָיָה דְבַר־יהוה אֵל hājāh dəvar YHWH 'el - "the YHWH word went to ...".
These two forms are found differently in the Tanach. The form hājāh dəvar JHWH 'el occurs 27 times, the second form, wajəhî dəvar JHWH' el, however, 83 times.
meaning
Both forms of the word event formula express that God's word is an event that follows a narrative process and at the same time breaks through it.
- The formula introduced with וַיְהִי wajəhî ( Imperfectum consecutivum; "and it went ...") includes the occurrence of a word of God in a chain of events that has already started
- on the other hand, the form of the word event formula beginning with הָיָה hājāh ( perfect ) places this message from YHWH at the beginning of a sequence of events.
The second form of the word event formula also often contains time information, for example in Zechariah 1,1 EU .
Concept history
The term “word event formula” first appears in Walther Zimmerli's commentary on the book Ezekiel (33.21 EU ): “With the data there is where a vision is not introduced or, as in 33.21, a short report of events follows Usually the formula of the word event (...) connected. "
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jutta Krispenz: word event formula / word reception formula. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (eds.): The scientific biblical dictionary on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff., Accessed on April 6, 2018.
- ↑ Walther Zimmerli: Ezekiel (= BK.AT XIII). Neukirchen-Vluyn 1969, p. 38