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Comparing the Themes in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible

The themes are primary and mostly universal concepts explored in every literary work.

The epic of Gilgamesh, which is considered one of the ancient literary works of Mesopotamia

contains similar themes as the Hebrew Bible. The commonly shared ideas, although depicted in

different ways, are death and involvement of gods. This is illustrated clearly in the Epic’s flood

narrative, as well as the biblical story of Noah’s ark (Gen 6). The Epic of Gilgamesh also

contains the tale of Gilgamesh having a plant of immortality, whose possession is thwarted by a

serpent. In the Hebrew Bible, there is also the involvement of a snake who tempts Adam and Eve

to eat from the tree of life and death (Dolansky n.p). Gilgamesh is also taught that the greatest

response to death is only by living by embracing those things that indeed make us human, which

is also evident in the Hebrew Bible (Eccl 9). Therefore, there are many similarities in the themes

depicted in these two literary materials. This typology compares the themes as portrayed in the

books.

According to the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible, death is inevitable. The

greatest lessons the Gilgamesh learns is that death is inseparable and inevitable with and for

mankind. It is also evident that only gods can live forever, and this is revealed when Enkidu

warns Gilgamesh away from their quarrels with Humbaba (Sanders 9). In the Hebrew Bible, the

story of Job quite relates to this situation; Job recognizes that days of a man born of a woman are
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just but a few and soon he will die. However, the difference on the theme of death comes on how

characters respond to death. While the Mesopotamian theology gives hopeful vision for death-it

gives just a little consolation. The dead have to remain day forever. The Hebrew Bible, on the

other hand gives quite comfort for life after death. For instance, Job in the Bible sounds hopeful

and strong even at the point of death. He seems to be sure of where he will go after his day on

earth are over. This is unlike Gilgamesh who tries his luck Utnapishtim to somewhat delay his

death. At the core however, is the believe that even though people die, humanity thrives on.

The other theme that is common in the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew Bible is the

relationship of God(s) with men. Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu realize that gods are vicious

for the living beings. Gods exist under their own will and sometimes act emotionally and

irrationally like children. Accord to the Epic, absolute obedience is essential to gods, and they

expect piety and flattery at most times. They also think that Gods can be helpful, but offending

them can result in adverse implications. Also, a character’s piety to God is not an assurance for

security. Therefore, the view of the Epic of Gilgamesh is different from the Judeo-Christian God

as depicted in the Hebrew Bible (Lorey n.p). In the Hebrew Bible, God is both a party to a

covenant and stern but loving to his people. The covenant between God and men promises them

that they will receive worldly or heavenly rewards if they obey him but will be punished by

death if they sin.

The Hebrew Bible does not just present God who is powerful, but the one who can

morally upright and people should strive to be like him. The differences between the Hebrew

Bible and the Epic of Gilgamesh is noteworthy since they share some common elements. Both

literary works are written in almost similar language: Hebrew is close to Akkadian, the

Babylonian language used by the author in the late versions of the Gilgamesh. Other common
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stories in both the Hebrew Bible and the Gilgamesh include the motifs and stories such as the

serpent who comes as the enemy who causes humankind to turn mortal. In both stories,

disobedience attracts grievous consequences while obedience assures good life.

The involvement of God is also revealed in the floods in both the Bible and The Epic of

Gilgamesh (Lorey n.p). However, there are quite differences in how the stories are presented in

these stories. In the Bible, Noah only invites his family and the beasts on board, while

Utnapishtim welcome on board other people like the skilled laborers and a pilot. While Noah’s

ark landed on Mt. Ararat, Utnapishtim settled on Mt. Nisir. In the Epic’s narrative, the water

only came from the rains; however, the water in Noah’s flood came from underneath and the

rains. Noah released a dove twice to determine the level of the water after the storm; but

Utnapishtim released three different birds- a dove, swallow, and a raven. It is arguable that these

stories map on each other, other than they make different for them to appear unique.

Overall, while there are similarities on the themes in the Hebrew Bible and the Epic of

Gilgamesh, they are presented in different forms and words to make the stories appear different.

Some of the difference noted is on the Gods’ involvement with human affairs by rewarding piety

and punishing disobedience and the inevitability of death.

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Works Cited

Dolansky, Shawna. Gilgamesh and the Bible. n.d. Web. 2 2 2018.

<https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/places/related-articles/gilgamesh-and-the-bible>.

Lorey, Frank. "The Flood of Noah and the Flood of Gilgamesh." Institute for Creation Research

(1997). Article.

Sanders, N.K. The Epic of Gilgamesh. London: Penguin Books, 1949. Print.