Exegesis

Exegesis (from the Greek ἐξήγησις [ekˈseːgesis], from ἐξηγέομαι [ekseːˈgeomai], 'explain'; lit. 'extract, interpret objectively') is the critical and complete interpretation of a text, purely scientific or investigative, although in some cases it can also be philosophical or religious, such as the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the i>Talmud, Midrash, Quran, etc. An exegete is an individual who practices this discipline, and the adjectival form is exegetic.

The word exegesis means "to extract meaning from a given text". Exegesis is often contrasted with eisegesis, which means "inserting personal interpretations into a given text". In general, exegesis presupposes an attempt to view the text objectively, while eisegesis involves a more subjective view.

Traditional exegesis requires the following:

• numerical analysis of variables, quantification and modeling.
• meaningful word analysis in the text, in the framework of translation;
• review of the general historical and cultural context;
• confirmation of the limits of a passage; and finally,
• review of the context within the text.

Jewish and Christian exegesis

Exegesis in other religions and in other texts

Although the most widespread use of the term "exegesis" It is for the interpretation of Judeo-Christian sacred texts, there is also the analysis of texts from other religions, such as those of Islam (see tafsir), and even non-religious books.

On the right

In the legal field, exegesis is one of the methods of legal hermeneutics that had its peak with the Napoleonic Code.

Basically, exegesis aims to limit the action of the judge, since after the French revolution it is considered that all men are equal. The judge in the monarchy was an important instrument of power; therefore he was able to interpret the rules to his liking. Since the French revolution, and through the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, it is considered that the law is the emanation of the general will (Rousseau's concept). Given the equality of individuals, the judge should not interpret the law as this would give more importance to the particular will of the judge over the general will.

Finally, exegesis consists of making a direct paraphrase of the text; it is taking almost verbatim what the law says without being able to get out of it.

Exegesis and conceptualism were part of the legal formalism of the early 19th century.

This method arrived in Latin America through the Chilean Civil Code created by the Venezuelan-Chilean Andrés Bello (inspired by the Napoleonic Code, in the treatises of the jurists Domat and Pothier, and in the classical Roman tradition), which later became a source of inspiration for other countries, including Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.