“Shazer: An Etymological Proposal in Narrative Context”

Last updated on: July 12, 2019 at 12:19 pm by Dan Peterson

“Shazer: An Etymological Proposal in Narrative Context” 2019-07-12T12:19:07-06:00 Dan Peterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The main entrance to BYU-Hawaii, in Laie, where Professor Bowen teaches (BYU-Hawaii website)

I’m pleased to announced a new article from Matthew L. Bowen in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:

“Shazer: An Etymological Proposal in Narrative Context”

Abstract: In 1 Nephi 16:13–14, Nephi mentions the name Shazer as a toponym the Lehite clan bestowed on a site in western Arabia “four days” journey south-southeast of the valley of Laman. The Lehites used this site as a base camp for a major hunting expedition. A footnote to the first mention of the name Shazer in the 1981 and 2013 Latter-day Saint editions of the Book of Mormon has virtually enshrined “twisting, intertwining” as the presumed meaning of this toponym. However, the structure of Nephi’s text in 1 Nephi 16:12–13 suggests that the name Shazer serves as the bracketing for a chiastic description of the Lehites’ hunting expedition from the site. This chiasm recommends hunting as a possible starting point for seeking a more precise etymology for Shazer, one related to food supply. Consequently, I briefly argue for Shazer as a Semitic word (possibly also a loanword from an Old Arabic dialect) and a close cognate with both Hismaic šaṣar (“young gazelle,” plural šaṣr*) and Arabic* šaṣara (a type of “gazelle”).

Incidentally, Professor Bowen will be speaking (“Laman and Nephi as Key-Words: An Etymological, Narratological, and Rhetorical Approach to Understanding Lamanites and Nephites as Religious, Political, and Cultural Descriptors”) at the 7-9 August 2019 FairMormon conference in Provo, Utah. You should be there to hear him. Or, at least, you should listen to his presentation via live streaming.

***

And, just in case anybody out there is even faintly interested:

In the Fall, I’m scheduled to teach a course on the Qur’an in English (MESA 320 [TTh 9:30-10:45 AM), “Introduction to the Humanities of Islam” (IHUM 242 [TTh 12:05-1:20 PM]), and “Introduction to the Religion of Islam” (MESA [Middle East Studies Arabic] 250; TTh 4:00-5:15 PM).

I’m also listed as available for directing individual students who enroll in Arabic 490R (Independent Readings), although nobody is enrolled in it thus far.

I want to put in a plug for these courses, as I think that they’re relevant to a wide range of careers that students might be working toward. Anybody today who wants to go into international fields, or to work for the FBI, or to seek political office, would be well served by having at least a nodding acquaintance with Islam and the Qur’an. Moreover, many BYU graduates will eventually work in companies alongside Muslim employees, and will live in neighborhoods alongside Muslim families. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they may well be called to work in interfaith activities or on interfaith committees.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 11, 2019

A sewer leak and the first-century world of Jesus

Next Post

July 12, 2019 Hugh Nibley and the Heartland

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 March 2014 August 2013 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Where was Jesus born?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jerusalem Capernaum Nazareth Bethlehem