Gender Distinction in Israelite Personal Names
A Socioreligious Investigation
1st Edition
Published on 27. November 2025
168 pages
979-8-7651-5937-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book challenges the traditional view that no significant distinction exists between male and female names in the Hebrew Bible by comparing all female names from the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew inscriptions, and Elephantine documents with comparable male names.
It shows clear distinctions, unnoted or dismissed by previous studies, and analyzes more subtle differences as reflecting social and religious customs and values over time. Particular attention is given to the work of Rainer Albertz in Family and Household Religion in Ancient Israel and the Levant (co-authored with Rüdiger Schmitt), where he analyzes the personal names found in epigraphic sources as a complement to the biblical names and a primary source for reconstruction of "household religion" in ancient Israel. Two appendices treat (a) the distribution of female names in the Hebrew Bible, with attention to the implications of distinct literary sources for the biblical female and male names, and (b) detailed analysis of all theophoric female names, with comparison to male names from the same root.
It shows clear distinctions, unnoted or dismissed by previous studies, and analyzes more subtle differences as reflecting social and religious customs and values over time. Particular attention is given to the work of Rainer Albertz in Family and Household Religion in Ancient Israel and the Levant (co-authored with Rüdiger Schmitt), where he analyzes the personal names found in epigraphic sources as a complement to the biblical names and a primary source for reconstruction of "household religion" in ancient Israel. Two appendices treat (a) the distribution of female names in the Hebrew Bible, with attention to the implications of distinct literary sources for the biblical female and male names, and (b) detailed analysis of all theophoric female names, with comparison to male names from the same root.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
4 tables
ISBN-13
979-8-7651-5937-8 (9798765159378)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
02/2026
T&T Clark
€120.70
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Phyllis A. Bird is Professor Emerita of Old Testament Interpretation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA.
Content
Dedication
List of Abbreviations
1. History of Investigation
2. The Study Corpus
3. The Theophoric Names
4. Patterns of Gender Differentiation in Theophoric Names
Conclusions
Appendix A: Distribution of Israelite FNs in the Hebrew Bible by Literary Source
Appendix B: Theophoric Female Names, with Comparative Analysis
Bibliography
Index
List of Abbreviations
1. History of Investigation
2. The Study Corpus
3. The Theophoric Names
4. Patterns of Gender Differentiation in Theophoric Names
Conclusions
Appendix A: Distribution of Israelite FNs in the Hebrew Bible by Literary Source
Appendix B: Theophoric Female Names, with Comparative Analysis
Bibliography
Index
