Leviathan · Chapter
XXXIV: Of the Signification of Spirit, Angel, and Inspiration in the Books of Holy Scripture explained
Hobbes examines the biblical meanings of 'body,' 'spirit,' 'angel,' and 'inspiration,' arguing that 'incorporeal substance' is a contradiction and that scriptural references to spirits and angels often denote material or metaphorical phenom
What happens
Hobbes examines the biblical meanings of 'body,' 'spirit,' 'angel,' and 'inspiration,' arguing that 'incorporeal substance' is a contradiction and that scriptural references to spirits and angels often denote material or metaphorical phenomena, not immaterial entities.
Themes in this chapter
Religion and Civil Authority
Hobbes interprets scriptural terms to undermine ecclesiastical claims of supernatural authority, grounding interpretation in materialist philosophy.
Human Nature and Passions
Discusses how 'spirit' metaphorically denotes dispositions and passions, linking scriptural language to human psychology.
Characters to notice
- Moses
Referenced in Exodus regarding the spirit of wisdom for making Aaron's garments.
- Aaron
Mentioned in context of being consecrated with garments made by those filled with the spirit of wisdom.
- Saul
Cited as an example where the 'Spirit of God' came upon him, interpreted as extraordinary zeal rather than a ghost.
- Jephtha
Listed among judges where the 'Spirit of God' is understood as extraordinary courage.
- Samuel
Referenced in the context of Saul among the prophets.
- Micaiah
Mentioned in the dispute with Zedekiah about the Spirit of the Lord.
Key passages
“The word 'body,' in the most general acceptation, signifieth that which filleth or occupieth some certain room, or imagined place; and dependeth not on the imagination, but is a real part of that we call the 'universe.'”
Body is defined as that which occupies space and is a real part of the universe, independent of imagination.
Hobbes establishes a materialist definition of body as the foundation for his analysis.
“substance incorporeal are words, which when they are joined together, destroy one another, as if a man should say an 'incorporeal body.'”
The phrase 'incorporeal substance' is self-contradictory, like saying 'incorporeal body.'
Hobbes argues that the concept of an immaterial substance is logically incoherent.
“For the nature of God is incomprehensible; that is to say, we understand nothing of 'what He is,' but only 'that He is'; and therefore the attributes we give Him are not to tell one another 'what He is,' nor to signify our opinion of His nature, but our desire to honour Him with such names as we conceive most honourable amongst ourselves.”
God's nature is beyond human understanding; we only know that He exists, and our names for Him express honor, not knowledge of His essence.
Hobbes limits theological language to expressions of reverence, avoiding claims of precise knowledge.