Abstract

This article examines two of the several passages by Jerome concerning the “dignityµ ("dignitas") bestowed on human souls upon creation, with the aim of assessing the degree to which Jerome’s way of dealing with his Greek exegetical predecessors is reflected in his understanding of human dignity. Jerome’s exegesis of Isaiah 51:12–13 and Ecclesiastes 3:18–21 will be compared to the interpretation of the same biblical verses offered by Eusebius of Caesarea and Didymus the Blind, respectively. This comparison will shed light on the theological motivations of Jerome’s discourse on human dignity.