The biblical story of Hagar and Sarah is interpreted in a variety of ways depending on the biases and viewpoints of the interpreter. Biblical interpretations will vary based on what the interpreters are essentially interpreting for in the passage, which could be factors such as feminism, race, and social/economic status among others. Pertaining to the story of Hagar and Sarah, feminist interpreters say Hagar and Sarah are symbols of exploitation of women throughout the ages. Feminist/female interpretations of the biblical story of Hagar and Sarah allows for the reclamation of the women’s side and story of Genesis 16: 1-16 & 21:1-21.
A main point of the feminist interpretation of the story of Hagar and Sarah is the exploitation of one women …show more content…
Sarah, a Hebrew woman and Hagar, an Egyptian woman showcase the ethnic and racial divides that permeated ancient societies along with modern day society. African American women have appropriated Hagar to transform Hagar from a victim to a survivor. Williams states that the “Hagar-centered survival tradition of African American biblical appropriation passes along a God involved in the daily survival and quality-of-life struggle of black American women”(Williams 177). African American women have redeemed Hagar from her exploitation and instead have used her as a symbol for the struggles of the African American women’s experience. To be a black woman is to be a “daughter of Hagar” and according to feminist, African American biblical interpretation of Hagar and Sarah’s story, there is pride in being that daughter and in being a black …show more content…
In my previous readings of these biblical passages, as well as interpretations of them, the focus was always on the sons of Hagar and Sarah. More specifically, the biblical notion that only one son has worth. The feminist interpretation offers a chance to look at the characters in this story that do not have any worth – the women. I strongly agree with Weems declaration that at some point in time, every women is Hagar’s daughters and that in order to forge coalitions across racial and economic divides it will take “a willingness to respect the genuine differences in one another and to see them as the strength of our coalition, not the bane of our existence”(Weems 18). Knowledge about exploited women and the perpetuation of a patriarchal society that follows that exploitation is one of the main lessons I have gained from these readings.
Another point that interested me about biblical interpretation is the amount that it changes throughout time. While reading, I recalled Dr. Wendy Cotter’s talk and her heavy emphasis on mores. I find that biblical stories and the interpretations that come from them are most likely heavily connected to the mores of a person and the society that the person is living in. This is easily seen in the African American appropriation of Hagar. The mores of African American women for centuries has been strength and survival, so it is logical that
A main point of the feminist interpretation of the story of Hagar and Sarah is the exploitation of one women …show more content…
Sarah, a Hebrew woman and Hagar, an Egyptian woman showcase the ethnic and racial divides that permeated ancient societies along with modern day society. African American women have appropriated Hagar to transform Hagar from a victim to a survivor. Williams states that the “Hagar-centered survival tradition of African American biblical appropriation passes along a God involved in the daily survival and quality-of-life struggle of black American women”(Williams 177). African American women have redeemed Hagar from her exploitation and instead have used her as a symbol for the struggles of the African American women’s experience. To be a black woman is to be a “daughter of Hagar” and according to feminist, African American biblical interpretation of Hagar and Sarah’s story, there is pride in being that daughter and in being a black …show more content…
In my previous readings of these biblical passages, as well as interpretations of them, the focus was always on the sons of Hagar and Sarah. More specifically, the biblical notion that only one son has worth. The feminist interpretation offers a chance to look at the characters in this story that do not have any worth – the women. I strongly agree with Weems declaration that at some point in time, every women is Hagar’s daughters and that in order to forge coalitions across racial and economic divides it will take “a willingness to respect the genuine differences in one another and to see them as the strength of our coalition, not the bane of our existence”(Weems 18). Knowledge about exploited women and the perpetuation of a patriarchal society that follows that exploitation is one of the main lessons I have gained from these readings.
Another point that interested me about biblical interpretation is the amount that it changes throughout time. While reading, I recalled Dr. Wendy Cotter’s talk and her heavy emphasis on mores. I find that biblical stories and the interpretations that come from them are most likely heavily connected to the mores of a person and the society that the person is living in. This is easily seen in the African American appropriation of Hagar. The mores of African American women for centuries has been strength and survival, so it is logical that