Prof. Konrad Schmid

ACADEMIC HOST
Prof. Oded Lipschits
Dean, Faculty of Humanities

IAS Distinguished Scholar
Fall Semester 2026/2027

Education

• Studies in Theology, University of Zurich, Greifswald, and Munich, 1985–1990
• Dr. theol (summa cum laude), University of Zurich, 1995
• Habilitation, University of Zurich, 1998

Professional Experience

• Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism, University of Zurich, 2002–present
• Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of Zurich, 2008–2010
• Assistant Professor, University of Zurich, 1997–1999
• Assistant, University of Zurich, 1991–1997
• Professor (Associate) of Hebrew Bible, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, 1999–2002

Visiting and Special Appointments

• Heinz Heinen Fellow, Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, University of Bonn, 2025
• Chuen King Biblical Lectureship, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2024
• Ethel M. Wood Lecture, King’s College London, 2023
• Lady Davis Visiting Professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2022
• Speaker’s Lecture, University of Oxford, 2022
• Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Institute for Advanced Study), 2020–2021
• Member, Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton; Visiting Scholar, Princeton Theological Seminary, 2017
• Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Convener of Research Group “Convergence and Divergence in Pentateuchal Studies,” 2012–2013
• Member in Residence, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton (NJ), 2006–2007

Awards and Fellowships

• ERC Advanced Grant 833222: How God Became a Lawgiver. The Place of the Torah in Ancient Near Eastern Legal History, 2020–2025
• Humboldt Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2019
• Member, Swiss National Research Council, 2017–2025
• President, Academic Society of Theology (WGTh), 2016–2024
• Tyrwhitt Lecture, Cambridge, 2016
• Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 2012–2013
• EURIAS Fellowship Programme Selection Committee Member, 2013–2016

Editorial Boards

• Abhandlungen zur Theologie des Alten und Neuen Testaments (AThANT, TVZ, Zürich, 2003–)
• Archaeology and Bible (ArchBib, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, 2018–)
• Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (EBR, de Gruyter, Berlin/Boston, 2014–)
• Evangelische Theologie (EvT, Gütersloher Verlagshaus, (2013–)
• Forschungen zum Alten Testament (FAT, Mohr Siebeck, (2013–)
• Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel (HeBAI, Mohr Siebeck, (2012–)
• Journal of Biblical Literature (JBL, SBL, 2012–2020)
• Journal of Hebrew Scriptures (JHS, 2000–2015)
• Oxford Biblical Commentary (OBC, Oxford University Press, (2020–)

Research Interests

• Development and composition of the Hebrew Bible and Pentateuch
• Early Judaism and textual traditions
• Comparative studies of biblical law in the Ancient Near Eastern context
• Interaction of legal, theological, and cultural ideas across Israel, Europe, and North America
• The Torah as a lawgiving text in historical perspective
• Cross-cultural scholarly dialogue in biblical studies