IGWEBUIKE: African Journal of Arts and Humanities

This paper presents a comprehensive theological and philosophical exploration of the emergence, sustenance, and ontological significance of land from a Pentateuchal perspective. It establishes that within the Torah, land is not merely an inert geological asset or an economic commodity; it is the foundational "basis of gravity"—the central axis—for human socio-political organization and religio-cultural systems. Utilizing a tripartite triangular model, this study illustrates the dynamic, covenantal relationship between God the Creator, Humanity created in the Imago Dei, and the Land as a responsive participant in divine cosmic order. Furthermore, this paper explores how land defines Judaism, utilizing the Jewish philosophical concept of Reala (objective reality embedded in divine teleology) to understand the land of Israel as a literal, historical, and metaphysical space. To provide an intercultural dialogue and contextual alignment, this Pentateuchal framework is juxtaposed with the traditional Igbo worldview of Omenani (cultural tradition and cosmic order) and the concept of Ikpu-alu (land purification), showing how biblical principles purify, elevate, and fulfill indigenous understandings of land and morality. Aim/Objective: This study examines land as the foundational basis of Igbo philosophy of Omenani (Omenani ), portraying it as God’s (Chukwu Okike’s) sacred creation and earthly altar. It explores the theological centrality of land in regulating morality, ethics, cosmic order, and communal identity in traditional Igbo society, while conducting a comparative analysis of parallels with Jewish theological concepts of land (Eretz Israel/Reala) to highlight shared understandings of divine ownership, stewardship, moral defilement, and covenantal relationship. Method: The research draws on extensive Igbo scholarly sources, oral testimonies from elders, etymological analysis of Omenani, and key traditional concepts such as Nsọ Anị, Ani Obu, and Ikpu-alu. It employs a comparative theological approach, juxtaposing Igbo cosmology with biblical texts (e.g., Genesis, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, 1 Kings) and Jewish philosophical notions of Reala to identify structural and conceptual resonances. Findings: Land is etymologically and structurally inseparable from Omenani, serving as the sacred sanctuary of divine-human fellowship, a dynamic moral agent responsive to human conduct, and an inalienable ancestral heritage. Profound parallels exist between Igbo and Jewish societies: both view land as ultimately belonging to God, defiled by major sins (murder, idolatry, etc.), requiring ritual purging to restore cosmic harmony, and functioning as the arena for covenantal blessings or curses. These similarities stem from shared creational monotheism, stewardship theology, and moral-cosmic order.

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