Humans and Non-humans as נפש ח;ה and Ntu-beings: Ecological Appraisal of Gen 2:7 and 19 in Dialogue with African-Bantu Indigenous Cosmology

The Hebrew text of Gen 2:7, 19 describes both humans and animals as nephesh hayya' (living being). However, a large number contemporary influential Bible translations render this expression differently for animals. It is translated living being (v.7), but thing/creature (v.19). This however not justified by any clue in the text, which views non-humans adamah-beings hayyah. Likewise, African-Bantu cosmology depicts ntu-beings (muntu: human being; kintu: non-human hantu: place time; kuntu: means or approach).The root ntu word kuntu implies that way muntu (human being) interacts with other beings (kintu, hantu) must be informed vision nature "thing" being. In addition to elements socio-historical approaches indigenous cosmology, study makes uses hermeneutics suspicion Earth principle mutual custodianship retrieve ecological wisdom 2 African context.