Marvin A. Sweeney
Professor of Hebrew Bible
Dr. Sweeney specializes in the Prophetic Literature of the Hebrew Bible (Latter Prophets), the Narrative Literature of the Hebrew Bible (Pentateuch and Former Prophets), the Apocalyptic and Visionary Literature of Ancient Judaism (Writings of the Hebrew Bible; Qumran; Heikhalot Literature). He is especially interested in the literary forms of biblical and Jewish literature, the interplay between religion and politics in ancient and modern worlds, post-Shoah (Holocaust) theology, the History of Judaism and Jewish Thought. He teaches courses in the Hebrew Bible, Prophetic, Narrative, and Apocalyptic literature; Biblical Theology, post-Shoah readings of the Bible, Jewish Mysticism, and the History of Judaism and Jewish Thought.
Dr. Sweeney has also served as Professor Tanak with the Academy for Jewish Religion California; Underwood Professor of Divinity with Yonsei University; Visiting Professor of Hebrew Bible at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles, and, Dorot Research Professor at W. F. Albright Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.
His publications include: 1-2 Samuel (New Cambridge Bible Commentary, 2023); Visions of the Holy (Society of biblical Literature, 2023); Jewish Mysticism from Ancient Times through Today (Eerdmans, 2020); The Pentateuch (Core Biblical Studies; Abingdon, 2017); Isaiah 40-66 (Forms of the Old Testament Literature, Eerdmans, 2016); Reading Prophetic Book (Forschungen zum Alten Testament; Mohr Siebeck, 2014; and Reading Ezekiel (Reading the Old Testament; Smyth and Helwys, 2013)
Dr. Sweeney also serves as Senior Editor for Hebrew Bible, Critical Contextual Commentary, at Cascade Wipf and Stock Press, and the Founding Editor of the Review of Biblical Literature for the Society of Biblical Literature.
Contact
Email: msweeney@cst.edu
Research interests
Professor Sweeney teaches courses in the Hebrew Bible, especially Prophetic, Narrative, and Apocalyptic literature; Biblical Theology, especially post-Shoah readings of the Bible, Jewish Mysticism, and the History of Judaism and Jewish Thought.
Education
Post-doctoral Studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1988-1990
PhD in Religion: Hebrew Bible, Claremont Graduate University, 1983
MA in Religion: Hebrew Bible, Claremont Graduate University, 1981
Non-Degree Student, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1975-76
A.B. in Political Science and Religious Studies with Distinction, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1975
Post-doctoral Study, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Experience
Professor Tanak, Academy for Jewish Religion California, 2000-2019
Underwood Professor of Divinity, Yonsei University, 2011
Visiting Professor of Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles, 1995-2004
Dorot Research Professor, W. F. Albright Institute, Jerusalem, Israel, 1993-94
Associate and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Miami, 1983-1994
Publications
Jewish Mysticism from Ancient Times through Today (Eerdmans, 2020)
The Pentateuch (Core Biblical Studies; Abingdon, 2017)
Isaiah 40-66 (Forms of the Old Testament Literature, Eerdmans, 2016)
Reading Prophetic Book (Forschungen zum Alten Testament; Mohr Siebeck, 2014
Reading Ezekiel (Reading the Old Testament; Smyth and Helwys, 2013)
Appointments
Senior Editor for Hebrew Bible, Critical Contextual Commentary, Wipf and Stock Press, 2019-present
President, National Association of Professors of Hebrew, 2017-2019
Co-Editor, Forms of the Old Testament Literature, Eerdmans, 1995-2019
Founding Editor, Review of Biblical Literature, Society of Biblical Literature, 1998-2006
Awards and Distinctions
Visiting Scholar, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan, 2015
Lilly Theological Research Grant, 1997-98
Yad ha-Nadiv Barechah Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1989-90
