 previous article in this issue | next article in this issue  |
Preview first page |
Document Details : Title: זנה as Fornication Subtitle: Challenging the Translation Tradition Author(s): NOLLAND, John , HENNING, Bruce Journal: Biblica Volume: 105 Issue: 2 Date: 2024 Pages: 204-222 DOI: 10.2143/BIB.105.2.3293541 Abstract : Though זנה is often primarily defined as prostitution, with the more general concept of fornication as an exception, this essay argues that the latter is the core meaning of זנה. Utilizing Ruhl’s 'monosemic bias', which prioritizes comprehension over accuracy in the search for meaning, the article examines first uses of זנה in which sex for financial gain is intended and then uses in which contextual features do not communicate this idea. Since examples of the latter category far outnumber examples of the former, זנה is better defined as fornication; the uses which do refer to prostitution are best explained as arising from modularity and compositionality. |
|
