What is the Human Heart? Some Ontological Metaphors in the New Testament

Eldar Veremchuk

doi:10.4312/an.56.1-2.39-51

Authors

Eldar Veremchuk Zaporizhzhia National University, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/an.56.1-2.39-51

Keywords:

conceptual metaphor theory, cross-domain mapping, elaboration of metaphor, extension of metaphor, source domain, target domain

Abstract

The article discusses ontological metaphors with the target domain HEART in the text of the New Testament. It aims at exploring cross-domain mappings through the analysis of metaphoric expressions, involving lexeme heart, obtained by the Bible corpus analysis employing the method of continuous sampling. The research is based on the principles of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and proves its tenet that abstract ideas are conceptualized on the basis of knowledge about basic concrete things. It is stated that the two superordinate mappings involve domains THING and PERSON. Each of these mappings has elaborations and metaphoric extensions, which unravel the heart’s non-ordinary and unexpected features, justifying a different viewpoint to its understanding. The obtained results can be useful for adapts of Christianityб theologists and literary scholars as they provide insight into conceiving one of the essential theological concepts – HEART, deeper than its literal reading, which contributes to a more profound understanding of the Biblical messages.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Cameron, O. G. (2002). Visceral Sensory Neuroscience: Interoception. New York: Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195136012.001.0001

Geeraerts, D. (1997). Diachronic prototype semantics: A contribution to historical lexicology. Oxford: Clarendon Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198236528.001.0001

Haddox, S. E. (2016). Masculinity Studies of the Hebrew Bible: The First Two Decades. CBR, 14, 176–206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1476993X15575496

Kövecses, Z. (2017). Conceptual metaphor theory. In the Routledge handbook of metaphor. In E. Semino, & Z. Demjén (Eds.), (pp. 13–27). Abingdon: Routledge.

Kövecses, Z. (1995). American friendship and the scope of metaphor. Cognitive Linguistics 6, 315–346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cogl.1995.6.4.315

Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Longman dictionary. Access mode: https://www.ldoceonline.com/, retrieved April 10, 2022.

Mccraty, R. & Atkinson, M. & Tomasino, D. & Bradley, R. T. (2009). The Coherent Heart Heart-Brain Interactions, Psychophysiological Coherence, and the Emergence of System-Wide Order. Integral Review, 5, 10–115.

Owiredu, C. (2021). Sin is a person: some ontological metaphors in the Bible. Acta Theologica, 41(1), 87–100. doi:10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i1.6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i1.6

Roberts, S. (2020). The Science of Heart Consciousness. Access mode: https://biyome.com.au/news/thescience-of-heart-consciousness/ retrieved April 9, 2022.

Sherwood, Y. (2018). The Bible and Feminism: Remapping the Field. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198722618.001.0001

Smit, P.B. (2017). Masculinity and the Bible: Survey, Models, and Perspectives. BrillResearch Perspectives in Biblical Interpretation, 2, 1–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/24057657-12340007

Smith, M. K. (1982). Metaphor and mind: Review of Metaphors we live by, by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson. American Speech, 57, 128–133. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/454446

Veremchuk, E. O. (2022). Ontological Metaphors for Moral Concepts in the Bible: Introduction. Acta Neophilologica, 55, 177–191. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/an.55.1-2.177-191

Zhang, P. (2017). The Role of Conscience and the Original Heart in Mencius’ Theory of the Original Goodness in Human Nature. In X. Yao (Eds.). Reconceptualizing Confucian Philosophy in the 21st Century (pp. 1–4). Singapore: Springer doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-4000-9_15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4000-9_15

Zimran, Y. (2018). The Notion of God Reflected in the Lion Imagery of the Book of Hosea.Vetus Testamentum, 68, 149–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-12341311