James Harding is Associate Professor of Hebrew/Old Testament Studies. He teaches biblical texts in Hebrew (and Aramaic), as well as papers on the prophetical literature, Second Temple Judaism, biblical approaches to human suffering and the justice of God, and the book of Job. His main research interests include the book of Job and how the biblical texts became Scripture for early Jewish and Christian communities.
I am happy to consider supervising Masters or Doctoral projects on any aspect of the study of the Hebrew Bible.
Completed research students
Clare Knowles, Interpreting Isaiah from Isaiah: Intratextual Translation in Old Greek Isaiah (PhD, 2022)
Rebecca Burgess, A Christian Reading of Psalm 119: An Exploration of Torah as God’s Self-Revelation using a Trinitarian Hermeneutic (PhD, 2017)
Kirsten Dawson Violence in the Book of Job (PhD, 2013)
Deane Galbraith Manufacturing Judean Myth: The Spy Narrative in Numbers 13-14 as Rewritten Tradition (PhD, 2013)
Miriam Bier “Perhaps there is Hope”: Reading Lamentations as a Polyphony of Pain, Penitence, and Protest (PhD, 2012)
Philip Church Wilderness Tabernacle and Eschatological Temple: A Study in Temple Symbolism in Hebrews in the Light of Attitudes to the Temple in the Literature of Middle Judaism (PhD, 2012)
Gillian Townsley The Straight Mind in Corinth: Queer Readings across 1 Cor 11.2-16 (PhD, 2011)
Don Moffat Ezra's Social Drama: The Mixed Marriage Controversy in Ezra 9 and 10 as Social Conflict (PhD 2010)
Publications
Harding, J. E. (2024). The wisdom of the ostrich (Job 39.13-18). In R. J. Myles, C. Blyth & E. Colgan (Eds.), Habitats of the basileia: Essays in honour of Elaine M. Wainwright. (pp. 112-123). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. (2022, December). What makes the book of Job ambiguous? Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Biblical Studies (ANZABS) Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2021). Palestine during the Iron Age. In K. J. Dell (Ed.), The Biblical world. (2nd ed.) (pp. 452-479). London, UK: Routledge.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. (2021). [Review of the book Friendship and virtue ethics in the book of Job]. Horizons in Biblical Theology, 43(2), 239-243. doi: 10.1163/18712207-12341437
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (2020). The threat of male rape in the Hebrew Bible. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR). Retrieved from https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/congresses_pastmeetings.aspx
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. E. (2020). Reading Job between Lamentations and Deutero-Isaiah. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR). Retrieved from https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/congresses_pastmeetings.aspx
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. (2020, February). An appreciation of Robert Alter's The Hebrew Bible: A translation with commentary [Book Review]. St. Mary Magdalen School of Theology: Thinking Faithfully. Retrieved from https://www.theschooloftheology.org/posts/books/robert-alters-hebrew-bible
Other Research Output
Harding, J. E. (2020). [Review of the book Metaphor competition in the book of Job]. Horizons in Biblical Theology, 42, 231-235. doi: 10.1163/18712207-12341415
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. (2020). Job the (im)pious: Theological exegesis and ambiguity. In J. de Jong & C. Saysell (Eds.), Holding forth the word of life: Essays in honor of Tim Meadowcraft. (pp. 17-30). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2019). A response to Judith McKinlay. Bible & Critical Theory, 15(1), 16-22.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2019, June). Towards a scriptural theology of tradition. Verbal presentation at the Trajectories in the Interpretation of Scripture Models, Issues and Prospects Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2019). [Review of the book Allusive Soundplay in the Hebrew Bible]. Journal of Semitic Studies, 64(1), 285-287. doi: 10.1093/jss/fgy036
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (2018). The tragedy of Saul between theodicy and antitheodicy. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR). Retrieved from https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/congresses_pastmeetings.aspx
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. (2018). Ideological perspectives on theodicy and antitheodicy in the tragedy of Saul. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR). Retrieved from https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/congresses_pastmeetings.aspx
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. E. (2018). Scripture on the road to Emmaus. Pacific Journal of Baptist Research, 13(2), 25-41.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (2018). [Review of the book Political trauma and healing: Biblical ethics for a postcolonial world]. Religious Studies Review, 44(1), 116. doi: 10.1111/rsr.13361
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (2018). Homophobia and rape culture in the narratives of early Israel. In C. Blyth, E. Colgan & K. B. Edwards (Eds.), Rape culture, gender violence, & religion: Biblical perspectives. (pp. 159-178). Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-70669-6
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2017). [Review of the book The ancient near east in the nineteenth century: Appreciations and appropriations: III. Fantasy and alternative histories]. Review of Biblical Literature. Retrieved from https://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11131&CodePage=4898,11131
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (2017). Lamech: Literature. In C. Helmer, S. L. McKenzie, T. Römer, J. Schröter, B. D. Walfish & E. Ziolkowski (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its reception (Vol. 15). (pp. 677-679). Berlin, Germany: de Gruyter. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2017). Amitié entre hommes et homosexualité: Historique de la réception de l'episode biblique de David et Jonathan. In R. Bethmont & M. Gross (Eds.), Homosexualité et traditions monothéistes: Vers la fin d'un antagonisme? (pp. 175-195). Genève: Labor et Fides.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2017). Josiah (King of Judah): III. Christianity-IV. Literature. In C. Helmer, S. L. McKenzie, T. Römer, J. Schröter, B. D. Walfish & E. Ziolkowski (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its reception (Vol. 14). (pp. 797-804). Berlin, Germany: de Gruyter. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. (2016). [Review of the book Power and responsibility in biblical interpretation: Reading the book of Job with Edward Said]. Bible & Critical Theory, 12(2), 143-149. doi: 10.2104%2Fbct.v12i2.665
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. (2016). Homophobia and masculine domination in Judges 19-21. Bible & Critical Theory, 12(2), 41-74. doi: 10.2104%2Fbct.v12i2.662
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2016, November). Daniel 11:37 and the invention of the homosexual antichrist. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Antonio, USA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2016, November). Biblia piibli, paipera: The Bible in translation. Reed Gallery Exhibition, Dunedin Public Library, New Zealand. [Public Seminar].
Other Research Output
Harding, J. (2016, June). The Jewish setting of Luke 24:44-49 (and Acts 16:11-15). Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (NZATS) Combined Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2016). Ben Sira on friendship: Notes on intertextuality and method. In J. Jarick (Ed.), Perspectives on Israelite wisdom: Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament seminar. (pp. 439-462). London, UK: Bloomsbury.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2015, November). Masculine domination and the anthropology of biblical commentary: The case of Philo of Alexandria. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), Atlanta, USA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2015). Scriptualization, the production of the Biblical Israel, and the gay Antichrist: A response to The Babylon Complex. Bible & Critical Theory, 11(2), 76-95. doi: 10.2104%2Fbct.v11i2.628
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2015, September). Homophobia and masculine domination in Judges 19-21. Verbal presentation at the Radicalism, Violence, and Religious Texts Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2015). What is reception history, and what happens to you if you do it? In E. England & W. J. Lyons (Eds.), Reception history and Biblical Studies. (pp. 31-44). London: Bloomsbury.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E., & Dawes, G. W. (2015). Body. In S. E. Balentine (Ed.), Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and theology (Vol. 1). (pp. 86-92). Oxford University Press. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2014, November). The multiple origins of scriptural commentary. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Diego, USA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Kinane, K., Durbin, S., Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2013). Relegere, 3(2). [Journal Editors].
Other - Edited Journal
Durbin, S., Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2013). Relegere, 3(1). [Journal Editors].
Other - Edited Journal
Harding, J. E. (2013). The love of David and Jonathan: Ideology, text, reception. Sheffield, UK: Equinox, 450p.
Authored Book - Research
Harding, J. (2013). Opposite sex marriage a biblical ideal? The case of David and Jonathan. In A. H. Cadwallader (Ed.), Pieces of ease and grace: Biblical essays on sexuality and welcome. (pp. 35-52). Adelaide, Australia: ATF Theology.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2013). History, hermeneutics, and theodicy in light of Israel's tradition of protest. In J. B. Green & T. Meadowcroft (Eds.), Ears that hear: Explorations in theological interpretation of the Bible. (pp. 223-252). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2013). The silent goddess and the gendering of divine speech in Jeremiah 44. In C. M. Maier & C. J. Sharp (Eds.), Prophecy and power: Jeremiah in feminist and postcolonial perspective. (pp. 208-223). London: Bloomsbury.
Chapter in Book - Research
Durbin, S., Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2012). Relegere, 2(1). [Journal Editors].
Other - Edited Journal
Sax, B. E., Gabriele, M., Durbin, S., Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2012). Relegere, 2(2). [Journal Editors].
Other - Edited Journal
Harding, J. E. (2012). Divine knowledge in the book of Job and 4QInstruction. In D. Burns & J. W. Rogerson (Eds.), Far from minimal: Celebrating the work and influence of Philip R. Davies. (pp. 173-192). London: T & T Clark.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. E. (2012). David and Jonathan, Story of. In D. C. Allison, C. Helmer, S. Choon-Leong, H. Spieckermann, B. D. Walfish & E. Ziolkowski (Eds.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its reception (Vol. 6). (pp. 256-270). Berlin, Germany: De Gruyter. [Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Entry].
Chapter in Book - Research
Repphun, E., Galbraith, D., Sweetman, W., & Harding, J. (2011). Beyond Christianity, the Bible, and the text: Urgent tasks and new orientations for reception history [Editorial]. Relegere, 1(1), 1-11.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2011). Relegere, 1(2). [Journal Editor].
Other - Edited Journal
Harding, J. (Ed.). (2011). The Bible & Critical Theory, 7(2) [Book reviews]. [Journal Section Editor].
Other - Edited Journal
Harding, J. E., Repphun, E., & Sweetman, W. (Eds.). (2011). Relegere, 1(1). [Journal Editor].
Other - Edited Journal
Boer, R., Harding, J., Runions, E., Kotsko, A., Rivera, M., & Pyper, H. (2011, November). Book review: Antonio Negri, the labour of Job: The biblical text as a parable of human labour. Panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Francisco, USA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2011, November). The silent goddess and the gendering of divine speech in Jeremiah 44. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), San Francisco, CA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2011, August). History, hermeneutics, and theodicy in light of Israel's countertestimony. Verbal presentation at the Colloquium on Theological Interpretation, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2011, November). Traduttore, traditore? The ambiguities of Job and the integrity of God-talk. Verbal presentation at the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2010, December). Theological hermeneutics/engendering false prophecy: A response to Walter Moberly on Jeremiah. Verbal presentation at the Deception and the Bible Interdisciplinary Colloquium, Bristol, UK.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2010). The Book of Job as metaprophecy. Studies in Religion, 39(4), 523-547. doi: 10.1177/0008429810380187
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2009, December). Reading/writing David and Jonathan with John Addington Symonds. Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa-New Zealand Association of Biblical Studies (ANZABS) Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2009). The Johannine apocalypse and the risk of knowledge. In W. J. Lyons & J. Økland (Eds.), The way the world ends? The apocalypse of John in culture and ideology. (pp. 123-150). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Harding, J. (2009, July). Ideology, intertextuality, and the David and Jonathan narratives. Verbal presentation at the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar, Newcastle, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2009). [Review of the book The Bible and epistemology: Biblical soundings on the knowledge of God]. Colloquium, 41(1), 94-99.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. (2008). Canonical consciousness and the supposed Nachwirkung of Job 38:7. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_ProgramBook.aspx?MeetingId=13
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. (2008). Prophetic intertextuality and divine speech in the Book of Job. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_ProgramBook.aspx?MeetingId=12
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Harding, J. (2007, June). Rapture me! Why a historical critic has nothing to say to a dispensational premillennialist. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association for the Study of Religions Conference, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2007). [Review of the book Seeking out the wisdom of the ancients: Essays offered to honor Michael V. Fox on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday]. Journal of Jewish Studies, LVIII(1), 154-157.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Harding, J. (2006). The mystery of what shall be: Interpreting 1Q/4QMysteries in the context of Qumran. In S. Faigan (Ed.), Proceedings of the Australasian Jewish Studies Forum held at Mandelbaum House: Anafim. (pp. 1-23). University of Sydney, Australia: Mandelbaum. [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Harding, J. (2006, June). The risk of knowledge: Echoes of the Book of Revelation in Eco's The Name of the Rose. Verbal presentation at the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2006, September). The risk of knowledge: Echoes of the Book of Revelation in Eco's The Name of the Rose. Verbal presentation at the Book of Revelation and Effective History Colloquium, Bristol, UK.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2006, August-September). Noah in the New Testament in light of recent research on the Enoch tradition. Verbal presentation at the 25th Annual Conference of the British New Testament Society & Second Temple Judaism Seminar, Sheffield, UK.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2006). [Review of the books Enochic Judaism: Three defining paradigm exemplars and The Enoch-Metatron tradition]. Journal of Biblical Literature, 125(3), 587-592.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Harding, J. E. (2006). [Review of the book Enoch and Qumran origins: New light on a forgotten connection]. Journal of Biblical Literature, 125(3), 593-599.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Harding, J. (2006). Confronting Ahab: Faith, politics, and the voice of the prophets. Stimulus, 14(3), 19-24.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Harding, J. (2006). Caribbean biblical hermeneutics after the Empire. Pacifica, 19(1), 16-36.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2006). In the name of love: Resisting reader and abusive redeemer in Deutero-Isaiah. Bible & Critical Theory, 2(2), 14.1-14.15.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. (2005, November). In the name of love: Resisting reader and abusive redeemer in Deutero-Isaiah. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) & American Academy of Religion (AAR), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2005, November). In the name of love: Resisting reader and abusive redeemer in Deutero-Isaiah. Verbal presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Biblical Studies, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2005, July). Unveiling the abusive redeemer in Deutero-Isaiah. Verbal presentation at the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar, Nedlands, Western Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2005, June). Job and 4QInstruction: Two approaches to epistemology within Israel's wisdom tradition. Verbal presentation at the International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Singapore.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2005). A spirit of deception in Job 4:15? Interpretive indeterminacy and Eliphaz's vision. Biblical Interpretation, 13(2), 137-166.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (2004). Reading scripture after the Empire. Anglican Taonga, 17, 12-15.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Harding, J. (2004, February). The mystery of what shall be: Interpreting 1Q/4Q mysteries in the context of Qumran. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Jewish Studies Forum, Sydney.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. (2004, June). Caribbean hermeneutics in a 'postcolonial' world: A self-critical response. Verbal presentation at the Bible and Critical Theory Seminar, Melbourne.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2004). Paul and first-century Judaism: Contributions from the Qumran scrolls. Theoforum, 35(2), 141-172.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (2003, March). Reflections on the Bible and Mission for the contemporary Caribbean. Verbal presentation at the Conference on Christian Mission in the 21st Century Caribbean, Green Hill, St Michael, Barbados.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2003, November). A spirit of deception in Job 4:15? Verbal presentation at the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Biblical Studies Sixth Annual Meeting, Ponsonby, Auckland.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Harding, J. E. (2002). Review of paradise interpreted: Representations of biblical paradise in Judaism and Christianity: Themes in biblical narrative. Dead Sea Discoveries, 9, 417-423.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (2002). Review of Dead Sea Scrolls: The Untold Story by K. Hanson. Dead Sea Discoveries, 9, 408-411.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E., & Davies, P. R. (2002). Review of Qumran Cave 4 XXIV: Sapiential Texts, Part 2. Discoveries in the Judaean Desert 34, by J. Strugnell, D.J. Harrington, and T. Elgvin. Dead Sea Discoveries, 9, 127-132.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (2001). Understanding in all things: The revelation and transmission of revealed wisdom in the Qumran Scrolls and the New Testament (PhD). University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. Retrieved from https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/3420/1/247188.pdf
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Harding, J. E. (2001). Problem-based learning in biblical studies: Reflections from classroom experience. Teaching Theology & Religion, 4, 89-97.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (2000). [Review of the book Eschatology and Messianism in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature]. Journal of Semitic Studies, 45. [Book Review].
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1999). The wordplay between the roots ksl and skl in the literature of the Yahad. Revue de Qumran, 19, 69-82.
Journal - Research Article
Harding, J. E. (1999). [Review of the book Holy Scripture in the Qumran Commentaries and Pauline Letters]. Journal of Jewish Studies, 50. [Book Review].
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1998). [Review of the book Cosmology and eschatology in early Jewish and Christian apocalypticism]. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 69, 122-123.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1998). [Review of the book Urgent advice and probing questions]. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 77, 126.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1998). [Review of the book A cumulative index of the grammar and syntax of biblical Hebrew]. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 77, 121-122.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1998). [Review of the book The didache in modern research]. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 69, 125-126.
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1998). [Review of the book Wisdom Texts from Qumran. The Literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls]. Dead Sea Discoveries, 5. [Book Review].
Journal - Research Other
Harding, J. E. (1997). Qumran and the New Testament: A critique of research and a new approach (Masters). University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England.
Awarded Masters Degree
Associate Professor