Exegesis
Critical interpretation of texts, from Bible to ancient cuneiform.
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, traditionally applied to Biblical works but extended in modern usage to philosophy, literature, and other genres. The term derives from the Greek ἐξήγησις, from ἐξηγεῖσθαι, 'to lead out.' One who practices exegesis is called an exegete. The opposite of exegesis is eisegesis, the drawing in of subjective interpretations unsupported by the text. While textual criticism investigates the history and origins of a text, exegesis may also examine the historical and cultural backgrounds of the author, text, and original audience, as well as classify literary genres and analyze grammatical and syntactical features.
One of the earliest known bodies of exegetical work comes from Mesopotamia in the first millennium BC, with over 860 manuscripts surviving, most dating from 700 to 100 BC. These commentaries, written on clay tablets in Akkadian cuneiform, often incorporate Sumerian words. They cover literary works like the Babylonian Epic of Creation, medical treatises, magical texts, dictionaries, and law collections such as the Code of Hammurabi, though the majority comment on divination treatises, particularly those predicting the future from celestial bodies or the appearance of a sacrificed sheep’s liver. These texts are important for revealing details of Mesopotamian language and culture otherwise lost, such as the pronunciation of the name Gilgamesh. They also illuminate how the literate elite understood major intellectual works and are considered the earliest examples of textual interpretation, possibly influencing later rabbinical exegesis. The study of these commentaries, begun in the mid-19th century with discoveries from the royal Assyrian libraries at Nineveh, remains an ongoing field of research.
In the ancient and medieval world, a large corpus of commentaries on Plato was produced, particularly by Neoplatonist philosophers during the Roman era, many of which survive. In the modern era, biblical exegesis is commonly published as a Bible commentary, a multi-volume set where each book of the Bible receives a volume or more, often with background sections followed by verse-by-verse analysis. Such commentaries may be written from a specific theological perspective, such as Catholic or Reformed, or from a secular historical-critical viewpoint.
- field
- Textual interpretation
- known_for
- Critical explanation of texts, especially Biblical and ancient works
- earliest_examples
- Mesopotamian commentaries (first millennium BC)
- related_terms
- Exegete, eisegesis, exegetical
Lore & Background
One of the earliest known examples of exegesis originates from Mesopotamia during the first millennium BC, represented by a corpus of over 860 manuscripts, the majority of which date between 700 and 100 BC. These commentaries examine a diverse range of texts, including literary works such as the Babylonian Epic of Creation, medical treatises, magical texts, ancient dictionaries, and law collections like the Code of Hammurabi. However, the largest portion of these commentaries focuses on divination treatises, specifically those that predict the future based on the movements of celestial bodies (Enūma Anu Enlil) or the appearance of a sacrificed sheep’s liver (Bārûtu). The commentaries are inscribed on clay tablets using cuneiform script and are written in the East Semitic language of Akkadian, though they frequently incorporate Sumerian words and phrases due to the influence of Sumerian lexical lists on cuneiform scholarship. These cuneiform commentaries are significant not only for revealing details about Mesopotamian languages and culture—such as the pronunciation of the name Gilgamesh from a medical text—but also for providing insight into the interpretive concerns of the literate elite. They represent the earliest known examples of textual interpretation and may have influenced later rabbinical exegesis. The study of these texts began in the mid-19th century with the discovery of the royal Assyrian libraries at Nineveh, which yielded approximately 454 such commentaries, and remains an ongoing field of research within Assyriology.
Reader's Guide
Exegesis is significant as the foundational method for understanding texts across cultures and eras. Mesopotamian commentaries provide unique insights into ancient languages and culture, such as the pronunciation of Gilgamesh's name, and reveal the concerns of the literate elite. In Christianity, exegesis has relied on various doctrines, including the four senses of Scripture, the historical-grammatical method, historical criticism, revealed exegesis, and rational exegesis. Catholic centers like the École Biblique and the Pontifical Biblical Institute have shaped Biblical exegesis, while Protestant traditions have been advanced at German universities and American divinity schools. The Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy also represents a tradition of exegesis. The study of cuneiform commentaries remains ongoing among Assyriologists.
Did You Know?
- The term exegesis comes from the Greek ἐξηγεῖσθαι, meaning 'to lead out.'
- The opposite of exegesis is eisegesis, which involves importing subjective interpretations into a text.
- Mesopotamian commentaries, dating to 700–100 BC, are among the earliest examples of textual interpretation.
- The pronunciation of the name Gilgamesh was discovered in a cuneiform commentary on a medical text.
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