Esta dissertação destaca os métodos de interpretação usados pelos sábios amoraítas para interpretar a Torá e definir a lei religiosa judaica. Este trabalho visa a entender como o texto da Torá serve como base para discussões legais por parte dos sábios e, por consequência, entender que abordagens tais sábios usavam para explicar e esclarecer os significados obscuros do texto bíblico. Para tanto, procedeu-se a um estudo sobre o desenvolvimento da Torá Oral no judaísmo rabínico e a uma análise crítica das obras clássicas da Torá Oral, a saber, a Mishná e o Talmud, sempre tendo como pano de fundo o texto da Torá Escrita. A pesquisa mostra como a aplicação dos métodos hermenêuticos por parte dos sábios amoraítas é, até certo ponto, altamente subjetiva e como isso ajudou a definir a lei religiosa judaica que é seguida até hoje por judeus ortodoxos. / This dissertation highlights the methods of interpretation used by the Amoraitic Sages to interpret the Torah and establish the Jewish religious law. This work aims to understand how the text of the Torah serves as a basis for legal discussions undertaken by the Sages and therefore tries to understand the approaches that such Sages used to explain and clarify the obscure meanings of the biblical text. In order to achieve that, we have proceeded to a study of the development of the Oral Torah in rabbinic Judaism and a critical analysis of classic works of the Oral Torah, namely the Mishnah and Talmud, besides the text of the Written Torah as a background. The research shows how the application of hermeneutical methods by the Amoraitic Sages is, to some extent, highly subjective and how it helped to define Jewish religious law that is followed even today by Orthodox Jews.

Esta dissertação destaca os métodos de interpretação usados pelos sábios amoraítas para interpretar a Torá e definir a lei religiosa judaica. Este trabalho visa a entender como o texto da Torá serve como base para discussões legais por parte dos sábios e, por consequência, entender que abordagens tais sábios usavam para explicar e esclarecer os significados obscuros do texto bíblico. Para tanto, procedeu-se a um estudo sobre o desenvolvimento da Torá Oral no judaísmo rabínico e a uma análise crítica das obras clássicas da Torá Oral, a saber, a Mishná e o Talmud, sempre tendo como pano de fundo o texto da Torá Escrita. A pesquisa mostra como a aplicação dos métodos hermenêuticos por parte dos sábios amoraítas é, até certo ponto, altamente subjetiva e como isso ajudou a definir a lei religiosa judaica que é seguida até hoje por judeus ortodoxos. / This dissertation highlights the methods of interpretation used by the Amoraitic Sages to interpret the Torah and establish the Jewish religious law. This work aims to understand how the text of the Torah serves as a basis for legal discussions undertaken by the Sages and therefore tries to understand the approaches that such Sages used to explain and clarify the obscure meanings of the biblical text. In order to achieve that, we have proceeded to a study of the development of the Oral Torah in rabbinic Judaism and a critical analysis of classic works of the Oral Torah, namely the Mishnah and Talmud, besides the text of the Written Torah as a background. The research shows how the application of hermeneutical methods by the Amoraitic Sages is, to some extent, highly subjective and how it helped to define Jewish religious law that is followed even today by Orthodox Jews.

This dissertation deals with two exegetical traditions, that of the early Jewish and the patristic schools. The research work for this project urges the need to analyze both Jewish and Patristic literature in which specific types of hermeneutics are found. The title of the thesis (“compared study of patristic and Jewish exegesis”) indicates the goal and the scope of this study. These two different hermeneutical approaches from a specific period of time will be compared with each other illustrated by their interpretation of the book of Ruth. The thesis discusses how the process of interpretation was affected by the interpreters’ society in which they lived. This work in turn shows the relationship between the cultural variants of the exegetes and the biblical interpretation. Both methodologies represented by Jewish and patristic exegesis were applicable and social relevant. They maintained the interest of community and fulfilled the need of their generation. Referring to early Jewish exegesis, the interpretations upheld the position of Ruth as a heir of the Davidic dynasty. They advocated the importance of Boaz’s and Ruth’s virtue as a good illustration of morality in Judaism. Early Christian exegetes were also interested in the basic values of the social community. They maintained the important social value of marriage as an example of the emphasis on virtue. They also paid much emphasis on teaching morality. Concerning the doctrine and value of Judaism, the sage upheld the principle of monotheism and the legitimacy of Davidic dynasty. In turn, patristic fathers urged for the introduction of the gospel through the salvation of Jesus Christ in the process of interpretation. From our investigation, we can formulate the thesis that both early Jewish and Christian exegetes did not explain the text for its inherent meaning, but rather used the text for their own purposes. Normally, the main task and mission of an exegete should be to find the meaning inherent in the text. We clearly indicated that both exegetical schools of interpreters did not find meaning in the text of the book of Ruth, but rather read in some agendas and issues into the text from outside, from the exegetes themselves and their surrounding backgrounds. They tend to meet the requirement of the social and political expectations of their reader community. Interpretation was used as a tool for this purpose. They conducted an application rather than explanation. This thesis can be explained by the fact that the meaning of a text depends on the value and pre-set agenda of the exegete who interprets it. Both the text and its interpreters are part of a specific historical, political, social and cultural environment, which imposed influence on them. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Old Testament Studies / unrestricted