Abstract

An ancient Mesopotamian proverb states: "even the tallest man cannot reach heaven; even the broadest man cannot cover earth". This proverb, occurring in different contexts, periods and versions, expresses the limitedness of the human ability, physically as well as mentally. The proverb seems to stand at the background of several biblical passages, especially Deut 30:11–13; Amos 9:2–3; Job 11:8–9; Job 28:12–22; and Ps 139:8–10. This article seeks to re-examine the different manifestations of the proverb, and to trace the development of the topoi reflected in it, with a focus on their adaptation in the Hebrew Bible.

Highlights

  • Ancient Near Eastern thought, like many ancient and modern philosophies, was concerned with the problem of the limits of human ability

  • HISTORY OF RESEARCH The first scholar to recognize this proverb was Wilfred George Lambert, who pointed to its occurrence in the so called “Dialogue of Pessimism.”[1]. Lambert identified two Sumerian parallels, noting that the proverb is based upon a broader Mesopotamian conception, according to which greatness is expressed in terms of filling the whole cosmos, from underworld to heaven

  • The first reference to a biblical parallel appears in a short remark by Gerhard von Rad in his 1966 commentary on Deut 30:11–14.2 In 1968, Jean Nougayrol commented on another biblical example in Job 11:8.3 An additional Sumerian parallel was identified by William Hallo in his 1990 paper about proverbs quoted in epic.[4]

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Summary

The Journal of Hebrew Scriptures

Articles in JHS are being indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, RAMBI, and BiBIL. Their abstracts appear in Religious and Theological Abstracts. The journal is archived by Library and Archives Canada and is accessible for consultation and research at the Electronic Collection site maintained by Library and Archives Canada (for a direct link, click here). NILI SAMET, “THE TALLEST MAN CANNOT REACH HEAVEN;; THE BROADEST MAN CANNOT COVER EARTH” – RECONSIDERING THE PROVERB AND ITS BIBLICAL PARALLELS. JOURNAL OF HEBREW SCRIPTURES “THE TALLEST MAN CANNOT REACH HEAVEN;; THE BROADEST MAN CANNOT COVER EARTH.”. RECONSIDERING THE PROVERB AND ITS BIBLICAL PARALLELS JOURNAL OF HEBREW SCRIPTURES “THE TALLEST MAN CANNOT REACH HEAVEN;; THE BROADEST MAN CANNOT COVER EARTH.” RECONSIDERING THE PROVERB AND ITS BIBLICAL PARALLELS

INTRODUCTION
SUMERIAN EXAMPLES
AKKADIAN EXAMPLES
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
THE ADAPTATION OF THE TOPOS IN THE BIBLE
APOCRYPHAL EXAMPLES
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