Edward J. Bridge, «Self-Abasement as an Expression of Thanks in the Hebrew Bible», Vol. 92 (2011) 255-273
Self-abasement is commonly used in the Hebrew Bible to express thanks, especially in narrative texts. Using aspects of politeness theory, it is found that, by using self-abasement, a speaker accepts a loss of face and so avoids indebtedness to the hearer, but at the same time increases the hearer’s face by showing how gracious he was to favourably treat the speaker. It is a form of deference, a use of language that increases social distance between hearer and speaker. However, when self-abasement is also used to express thanks to God, avoidance of indebtedness is not in focus, rather God’s magnanimity. In prayer, self-abasement is also used to motivate God to grant the request.
268 EDWARD J. BRIDGE
expected that inferiors would flatter their superiors in the hope of
continued favour and advancement.
III. Self-abasement as an expression of thanks to God
When thanks is expressed to God, the situation is more com-
plicated. In contrast to the sole use of self-abasement to people, both
self-abasement and direct expressions of thanks are used. But the
two forms correlate to genre. Self-abasement is used primarily in
narrative (e.g. Genesis, Joshua – 2 Kings), and direct expressions of
thanks are mostly found in Psalms and the songs, rituals and admin-
istration of the temple found in 1-2 Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah 37.
In Psalms, expressions of thanks are frequently accompanied by
promises to do something, such as to go to the “house of the LORDâ€
and/or offer sacrifices. That is, obligation to God is expressed. This
is frequent; see, for example, Pss 5,8[7]; 16,7-8; 22,26[25]; 23,6;
27,6 ; 54,8[6]; 56,12; 61,9[8]; 66,13-15; 116,12-19.
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good (Ps 54,8[6])
So I will always sing praises to your name,
as I pay my vows day after day (Ps 61,9[8]; cf. Ps 22,26[25])
Such obligation to God is to be expected. Psalms are used in the
worship of God, a setting that presupposes a desire on the part of
worshippers to express loyalty to God and to perform whatever ob-
ligations such loyalty requires.
There is, however, a rare appearance of self-abasement in the
context of thanks in Ps 116, a thanksgiving psalm. The particular
expression is found in v. 16 : “the child of your serving girlâ€
(ÈtmaA–b ; “son of your slave womanâ€). But since Ps 116 clearly
expresses obligation to God (vv. 12-14, 17-19), and the exact phrase,
“ the child of your serving girlâ€, is also used in connection with
requests in Ps 86,16, a lament psalm, the question can be
E.g., hdy, “to praise / give thanksâ€; hdwt, “thanksgivingâ€; Èrb, “to blessâ€;
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see e.g. Pss 44,9[8]; 61,9[8]; 104,1; 105,1; 106,1; 107,1; 109,30; 111,1; 115,18;
134,1; 135,19-21; 136,1.26; 144,1; and 147,7. hdy is also found in Gen 49,8 and
2 Sam 22,5 (songs), and in Gen 29,35.
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