The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology

Many take Exodus 19:3-6 to set out the uniqueness of Israel’s relationship with God (v. 5ab) and the particular role and responsibility Israel has in relation to the rest of the world (v. 6). This raises an important question. Was choosing Israel God’s main priority, or was his intention, from the s...

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Main Author: Robin Routledge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tyndale House, Cambridge 2024-09-01
Series:Tyndale Bulletin
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.53751/001c.117655
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author Robin Routledge
author_facet Robin Routledge
author_sort Robin Routledge
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description Many take Exodus 19:3-6 to set out the uniqueness of Israel’s relationship with God (v. 5ab) and the particular role and responsibility Israel has in relation to the rest of the world (v. 6). This raises an important question. Was choosing Israel God’s main priority, or was his intention, from the start, to redeem the whole world, with the choice of Israel part of that wider purpose? This article argues that the translation of the clause in verse 5c, introduced by the Hebrew particle כִּי (_ki_), is relevant to that discussion. In the context of the use of כִּי in the wider OT, it discusses the main interpretations of the כִּי clause in Exodus 19:5c – asseverative, causal, concessive, and explanatory. It concludes in favour of a causal understanding and points to the implications for an understanding of the mission theology of the OT.
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spelling doaj-art-b70fd5b77eca4006bcf283b0b560fa072024-12-18T10:10:17ZengTyndale House, CambridgeTyndale Bulletin0082-71182752-70422024-09-0175The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission TheologyRobin RoutledgeMany take Exodus 19:3-6 to set out the uniqueness of Israel’s relationship with God (v. 5ab) and the particular role and responsibility Israel has in relation to the rest of the world (v. 6). This raises an important question. Was choosing Israel God’s main priority, or was his intention, from the start, to redeem the whole world, with the choice of Israel part of that wider purpose? This article argues that the translation of the clause in verse 5c, introduced by the Hebrew particle כִּי (_ki_), is relevant to that discussion. In the context of the use of כִּי in the wider OT, it discusses the main interpretations of the כִּי clause in Exodus 19:5c – asseverative, causal, concessive, and explanatory. It concludes in favour of a causal understanding and points to the implications for an understanding of the mission theology of the OT.https://doi.org/10.53751/001c.117655
spellingShingle Robin Routledge
The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
Tyndale Bulletin
title The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
title_full The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
title_fullStr The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
title_full_unstemmed The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
title_short The כִּי Clause in Exodus 19:5c and its Significance for an OT Mission Theology
title_sort כִּי clause in exodus 19 5c and its significance for an ot mission theology
url https://doi.org/10.53751/001c.117655
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