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Deferential Speech

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Deferential Speech
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Old Testament Cultural Insights

Avram Shannon

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Contents

An Ancient Concept of Heredity
Angels
Authorship
Babylon
Beth-el
The Book of Leviticus
Camels
Categories of Animals
Cherubim
Child Sacrifice in the Old Testament
Circumcision
Deferential Speech
Esau and Edom
Firmament
Giants
Glory of the Lord
Gopher Wood
Hebrew
Hospitality
Introduction to Genesis
The Mark and Curse of Cain
Matzebot
Meaning of the Name Isaac
Melchizedek
Moab
Moses 1
Names and Covenants: Abraham and Sarah
Names of God
Polygamy
Pottage
Satan
Shekel
Shinar
Slavery
Sons of God
Soul
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Adam
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Eve
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Noah
Tree of Life
Tribe of Asher
Tribe of Benjamin
Tribe of Dan
Tribe of Gad
Tribe of Issachar
Tribe of Naphtali
Twelve Tribes of Israel
Urim and Thummim
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Contents

An Ancient Concept of Heredity
Angels
Authorship
Babylon
Beth-el
The Book of Leviticus
1 2 … 8 Next »

Avram Shannon, “Deferential Speech,” in Old Testament Cultural Insights, ed. Taylor Halverson (Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2022).

The world of the Old Testament was highly stratified with different levels of social class. The Bible records numerous instances when the ancient Israelites used deferential speech with those viewed as socially superior. This is especially seen in speech with Jehovah.

Rather than using special pronouns, Hebrew deferential speech is marked by expressions of extreme humility. (This kind of expression is found not just in the Bible but throughout the ancient Near East.) When pleading for the city of Sodom in Genesis 18:27, Abraham called himself “dust and ashes.”

Hebrew deferential speech is also marked by referring to oneself in the third person. Joseph’s brothers used this, speaking of themselves in the third person out of deference to Joseph’s position as second to Pharaoh. Thus they said, “Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not” (Genesis 42:13). After Joseph’s silver cup was found in Benjamin’s bag, Judah spoke using both markers of deferential speech: “Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant” (Genesis 44:18). This form of deferential speech can sound obsequious and excessive to modern ears, but it represents how people spoke in the ancient biblical world. 

Related Verses

Genesis 18:27
Genesis 19:2, 19
Genesis 33:5
Genesis 42:10–13
Genesis 44:18–30
Numbers 31:49
Numbers 32:1–5
Joshua 5:14
Joshua 9:7–11
1 Samuel 3:9–10
1 Samuel 17:32–34
1 Samuel 26:18–19
2 Samuel 7:19–29
Nehemiah 1:5–11
Moses 1:36
Abraham 2:12–13

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