“Remember!”

Abstract

By discussing some text-critical findings, this article poses the question of how the concept of emotivity can inform our understanding of the transmission processes which shaped Lam 1. An introduction establishes the theoretical and methodological basis for a comparative analysis of the Masoretic text, the Qumran manuscript of 4QLam, and Targum Lamentations. In various ways, the textual witnesses intensify and emotionalize Lam 1. Moreover, they focus on specific emotion words and make their meaning explicit for readers and listeners. Finally, the textual witnesses use different means to allow recipients to identify with the emotional descriptions.