About
James W. Watts is Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Traditions in Syracuse University's Department of Religion. His scholarly work focuses on biblical interpretation, ritual studies, and the social function of sacred texts, with particular expertise in the Pentateuch and Leviticus.
Dr. Watts earned his Ph.D. from Yale University in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies and his M.Div. from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in New Testament Studies.
His research explores how ancient Israelites understood ritual practices described in biblical texts, particularly temple sacrifices in Leviticus, and how these evolved into scriptural traditions. Watts examines the rhetorical strategies used in biblical texts to convey religious meaning and authority, challenging readers to transcend communal biases to understand ancient contexts.
Watts has authored several influential books including Understanding the Pentateuch as a Scripture (2017), Leviticus 1-10 (2013), and Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus: From Sacrifice to Scripture (2007). His publications consistently address how biblical texts functioned as authoritative scripture in ancient contexts and continue to shape religious practice today.
His scholarly approach emphasizes understanding what biblical texts meant to ancient Israelites while considering their ongoing significance for contemporary interpretation and religious communities.
