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Metaphor, illness, and identity in Psalms 88 and 102

This article argues that the Hebrew Bible is an important resource for adding insights into illness language and narratives by making a case for the use of medical humanities in biblical studies. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this article utilises existing research concerned with illness experiences and identity as a heuristic tool for addressing the study of illness in the Hebrew Bible. However, as well as providing a useful heuristic lens, this article argues that ancient texts can also bring a richness to present day perspectives and analysis of illness accounts within medical humanities. A key contribution of this article is the demonstration that ancient religious texts such as Psalms 88 and 102 share many of the themes, concerns, and motifs which resonate in modern day research concerning illness experiences. We will initially examine modern illness experience research and then turn to evaluate Psalms 88 and 102 from this perspective.