Human on human violence in the Psalter

Abstract

Violence takes many forms in the book of Psalms: descriptions of violence against the psalm singer(s), violence inflicted by the wicked upon others, violence enacted by God against the psalm singer(s), and violence enacted by God against the enemies of the psalm singer(s). This study mainly examines the first two categories: human on human violence. Focusing on Psalms 55, 139, and 109, the work explores three types of human on human violence (direct or immediate violence, textual or symbolic violence, and structural and cultural violence), including interpretations from feminist scholars and voices from South Africa. The concluding discussion attempts to answer questions of how people might understand these psalms and incorporate them into their own language of freedom and faith.