The Hebrew Bible: A Journey Through History and Literature

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue titled “The Hebrew Bible: A Journey Through History and Literature”. The Hebrew Bible remains one of the most influential texts in human history, impacting religious thought, cultural narratives, and literary traditions across the centuries. This interdisciplinary field of study, spanning from archaeology to literary criticism, offers invaluable insights into the historical and literary depth of this ancient text. By exploring both its historical context and its literary forms, we aim to shed new light on the Hebrew Bible’s profound influence across time and cultures.

Aim of the Special Issue and Scope

This Special Issue aims to foster a nuanced exploration of the Hebrew Bible through its historical and literary dimensions. Our objective is to bring together scholars from various disciplines to offer fresh perspectives on how the Hebrew Bible functioned within its original cultural context and how it continues to shape literary, religious, and cultural discourse. This Special Issue fits within the scope of the journal by engaging in critical analysis, theological reflections, and historical inquiries, while also addressing the Bible’s literary forms, reception, and interpretation across different eras and traditions. By contributing to this Special Issue, authors will engage with the broader scholarly conversation surrounding the Hebrew Bible’s ongoing relevance.

Suggested Themes and Article Types for Submissions

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. We invite contributions from a range of disciplines including history, theology, literary studies, and archaeology. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Historical analysis of biblical narratives and their socio-political contexts;
• Literary exploration of biblical poetry, wisdom literature, and storytelling techniques;
• The Hebrew Bible’s relationship to other Near Eastern literature and traditions;
• Theological reflections on the Hebrew Bible’s portrayal of God, human nature, and covenant;
• Reception history of the Hebrew Bible in Jewish, Christian, and secular traditions;
• Comparative studies between biblical texts and other ancient writings;
• Archaeological insights and their implications for understanding biblical events;
• Interdisciplinary approaches linking biblical texts with cultural studies or philosophy.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarising their intended contribution by January 15, 2025. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor Ms. Violet Li ([email protected]) of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Pierfrancesco Cocco
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Hebrew Bible
• ancient history
• literary criticism
• biblical theology
• biblical narratives
• biblical archaeology
• biblical poetry
• cultural studies
• near eastern literature