Sitz im Leben

English

Etymology

Borrowed from German Sitz im Leben.

Noun

Sitz im Leben (uncountable)

1. sociological setting

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from German Sitz im Leben.

Noun

Sitz im Leben m (uncountable)

1. (theology) sociological context/setting

French

Etymology

Borrowed from German Sitz im Leben.

Noun

Sitz im Leben m (uncountable)

1. (theology) Sitz im Leben, sociological setting

German

Etymology

Coined by Hermann Gunkel in 1930. Literally, “seat in life”.

Noun

Sitz im Leben m (strong, genitive Sitzes im Leben, no plural)

1. (idiomatic) sociological setting

Usage notes

• Though sometimes rendered by phrases like "life setting", "situation in life" etc. the German term Sitz im Leben is better translated by "sociological setting" or left untranslated. As a technical term, it refers to the social setting of a text, particularly in the Bible. It is primarily used today in academic contexts, especially theology and biblical studies.