Includes bibliographical references (p. [267]-337) and indexes.

Hermeneutical reflections. The hermeneutical spectrum -- Iconography within the hermeneutical spectrum -- Theory for a method of iconographic exegesis. Why images? -- Key to the chapter -- Framework : history, theory and archaeology -- Preliminary remarks on images -- Culture -- Searching for images -- Researching images -- Relationship of the exegetical and hermeneutical task -- Iconography of metaphors. Some mainlines of metaphor theory -- Metaphor theory and iconography -- Application of the iconographic method of exegesis to Third Isaiah. About part III -- Third Isaiah -- Yehud in the Persian period -- Excursus : pictorial archaeological material -- Isaiah 56: 1-8. Isaiah 56: 1-8, the focus on yad -- Translation -- The meaning of yad in Isaiah 56: 5 -- Towards the exegesis -- Pictorial material for Isaiah 56: 5 -- Evolution of Isaiah 56: 5 -- Evaluation and conclusion -- Isaiah 60: 1-7. Translation -- Light in Isaiah 60:1-7 -- Pictorial material for Isaiah 60: 1-7 -- Rosette -- BMC Palestine XIX 29 -- Thematically related studies -- The sun -- Exegesis of Isaiah 60: 1-7 -- Isaiah 63: (1) 3-6. Translation -- Wine press treading in Isaiah 63 -- Viticulture as context -- Pictorial material for Isaiah 63: 3-6 -- Exegesis of Isaiah 63: 3-6 -- Conclusion to Part III -- Recapitulation and conclusion. Toward a historical method for iconographic exegesis -- Basis for the method -- Case studies.

Although scholars employ pictorial material in biblical exegesis, the question of how images from the Ancient Near East can contribute to a better understanding of the Bible has been left unanswered. This is the first monograph to outline a historical method for iconographic exegesis. The methodological study includes both responses to important theoretical questions such as "What is an image?" and "What is culture?" and an interdisciplinary exploration of issues of history, art history, archaeology and cultural anthropology.