Fish in the Ecotheological Reflection of the Hebrew Bible

Abstract

The millennial texts that form the Hebrew Bible bring with them a significant reflection on non-human beings, that is, abiotic beings, plants, and animals. Thus, an ecotheology is born that discovers nature as the word of God and sees the human being amid other creatures. Moreover, it indicates the urgency of respectful coexistence and the ethics of care and/or stewardship since all beings are residents of a common home. In the present study, the Hebrew Bible is visited in search of the thirty-four presences of the word commonly translated as "fish", knowing that there are no mentions of species of this aquatic animal. The aim is to bring together the elements that, present in different literary-historical contexts, establish an ecotheological reflection. Thus, the research proposed here is part of the green reading of biblical texts. Thirty years ago, at the time of the publication of the ecclesial document “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church”, this theme had not yet gained greater visibility. Today, however, it is urgent.