The Virgin Mother Sarah: The Characterization of the Matriarch in Genesis Rabbah

Abstract This article analyzes the portrayal of the matriarch Sarah in the fifth-century Palestinian rabbinic midrash Genesis Rabbah. The midrash not only dedicates a large number of derashot to the matriarch, but it repeatedly depicts her as a model of personal and religious excellence. In order to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the study of Judaism
Main Author: Schwartz, Rami (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2021
In: Journal for the study of Judaism
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Midrash / Sara, Genesis / Virgin birth / Matriarchy / Rabbi / Origenes 185-254 / Christianity
RelBib Classification:BH Judaism
HD Early Judaism
Further subjects:B Origen of Alexandria
B Sarah
B cult of the Virgin
B Genesis Rabbah
B Mothers
B matriarchs
B Virgin Mary
B Midrash
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Summary:Abstract This article analyzes the portrayal of the matriarch Sarah in the fifth-century Palestinian rabbinic midrash Genesis Rabbah. The midrash not only dedicates a large number of derashot to the matriarch, but it repeatedly depicts her as a model of personal and religious excellence. In order to understand this development, I turn my attention to the portrayal of Sarah in the works of Origen of Alexandria. Continuing New Testament themes, Origen presents her as the spiritual mother of Christianity and a prefiguration of Jesus’ mother Mary. Various textual and thematic parallels help demonstrate that the rabbis were both aware of this rhetoric and responded to it. Based on this, I conclude that the rabbis used their portrayal of Sarah to combat the Christian appropriation of the matriarch on the one hand, and to establish her as a Jewish alternative to the Virgin Mary on the other.
ISSN:1570-0631
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of Judaism
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700631-BJA10026