Fear, Trembling, and Wonder: Psalms of Awe

This thesis proposes a new category for interpreting the Book of Psalms: 'Psalms of Awe.' Building on existing form criticism, it argues that awe is a distinct religious experience not fully captured by current categories. The author contends that awe in the Psalms is expressed through the combination of three Hebrew roots: ירא (fear/reverence), פחד (fear/dread), and פלא (wonder). By analyzing several psalms, the thesis shows how each term captures a different dimension of awe. Framing awe as a definable religious experience within the Psalms' historical and literary context, the work offers a new interpretive lens for reading them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This thesis proposes an expansion of genre form criticism within the Book of Psalms to include an additional category: Psalms of Awe. Building on scholarship that emphasizes the Psalms as expressions of religious experience, it draws from philosophical, theological, and critical scholarship to define the experience of awe as a distinct religious experience not fully captured by form critical scholarship. The thesis argues that awe is reflected in the Psalms through the combination of three key Hebrew roots: ירא (fear/reverence), פחד (fear/dread), and פלא (wonder). This is done by analyzing several psalms to explicate how each term captures a different dimension of awe. By framing awe as a legitimate and definable religious experience and showing its capture within the Psalms' historical and literary context, this thesis offers a new lens for their interpretation.