To See or Not To See. The Polysemy of the Word עין in the Isaac Narratives (Gen 17-35)

Abstract

This article discusses the polysemy of the word עיןin the Isaac narratives (Gen 17-35). The word's given ambivalent nature is exploited on every level. It fits the major themes in the Isaac story as well as the small nuances in individual sentences. As such it illustrates the potential power of polysemy and its multiple, so to say polysemous, role in biblical narrative.