David Penchansky

David Penchansky is a professor in the field of Hebrew Bible. In his writing, he applies the methodology of literary criticism to the Old Testament, particularly its Wisdom Literature (the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Ben Sira and the Wisdom of Solomon). Both Marxism and Deconstruction have influenced his approach.The central point in Penchansky’s writing is that texts produce meaning through dissonance and conflict, and that sacred texts in particular are a site of such conflict. He is currently a full professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. His most recent research concerns the interpretation of the Qur’an. He is active in the International Qur’anic Studies Association, and participated in their conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2015.