People don't ask for or grant forgiveness in the Bible—at least, not in the way modern people are familiar with. Scripture is less focused on whether someone feels sorry or magnanimous than on practical reconciliation and restoration. Repeatedly in biblical narratives, characters demonstrate this reconciliation with a kiss.
Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman discusses how forgiveness as we understand it is a modern notion and how the relevant biblical notion differs.
Show Notes:
- 0:26 The Hebrew Bible doesn't portray apology-and-forgiveness
- 4:38 Defining relationships
- 5:52 Forgiveness in Hebrew
- 7:48 The modern notion of forgiveness
- 10:35 Kissing
- 15:34 Torah and incarceration
- 19:40 We need to "get along"
- 21:05 The biblical authors on forgiveness
- 23:55 Reconciliation should be embraced
- 28:13 What does God think of us?
- 29:25 Postscript: The Prodigal Son
Show notes by Dominique LaCroix
Credits for the music TBM podcast: hebraicthought.org/credits.
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