In the third volume of his epic exploration of the use of the Evil Eye motif in ancient texts, John H. Elliott turns his attention to biblical writings. A repeated theme in the Old Testament, which contains around twenty explicit references, mentions of the Evil Eye also appear in the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as in the writings of Philo and Josephus. Evil Eye belief and practice continued into the early Jesus movement, appearing not only in the Gospels but in Paul's letter to the Galatians. The Evil Eye in the ancient world acted in a number of ways - physiological, psychological, economic, social and moral - and the place it occupied was not easily usurped. Beware the Evil Eye is a fascinating analysis of one of the most prevalent superstitions in the ancient world and its cultural influence.

About the Author
John H. Elliott is Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of Conflict, Community, and Honor (2007).

Reviews
"This volume on the Bible takes central place in Elliott's masterful 4-volume study of the Evil Eye. With full command of the biblical material as well as the history of research, Elliott's exemplary investigation shows how belief in the Evil Eye illuminates the culture and perceptions of the world shared with the Greco-Roman context. But Elliott also highlights the distinctive character of Jesus' Evil Eye sayings with focus on generosity and sharing of resources." Halvor Moxnes, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, University of Oslo "Elliott's richly illustrated analysis of the Evil Eye in the Bible and related texts provides background and detailed interpretation of key texts. Often obscured by sanitized translations or misrecognition, Elliott finds the trope pervasive in the Bible though consistently linked to an ethics of generosity and solidarity versus envy, rather than to the fear of demons as elsewhere. A fascinating and convincing read, this is an essential reference work for biblical scholars and Bible translators." Jonathan A. Draper, Fellow and Emeritus Professor of New Testament, School of Religion, Philosophy & Classics, the University of KwaZulu-Natal; author (with Richard A. Horsley) of Whoever Hears You Hears Me: Prophets, Performance, and Tradition in Q "Few phenomena so sharply differentiate the world of the Bible from the cultures of North America and northern Europe as belief in the Evil Eye that was prevalent everywhere. In this, the third volume of his long-awaited and magisterial treatment of the subject, John Elliott, in a project without scholarly precedent, illuminates the many Old and New Testament texts where Evil Eye belief appears. This book is destined to become a classic of biblical scholarship." Philip Esler, Portland Professor in New Testament Studies, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham "Without a doubt, this is the definitive work on the Evil Eye. Amazingly, a topic so small in scope manages to inform us on a wide range of cultural and theological concerns, while simultaneously providing an incisive commentary on the many biblical texts it illuminates." Norman K. Gottwald, author of Social Justice and the Hebrew Bible "This delightful volume is full of insights and source materials. Readers are indebted to Elliott for crafting a careful and insightful analysis on evil eye's presence and use in the bible and related sources." Timothy Hein, The Expository Times, Volume 129, Number 11, August 2018.



Book Information
ISBN 9780227176672
Author John H Elliott
Format Paperback
Page Count 378
Imprint James Clarke & Co Ltd
Publisher James Clarke & Co Ltd
Weight(grams) 553g