the last five words of Rev 18:13 read, ... KAI SWMATWN KAI YUCAI
ANQRWPOWN.
I find it particularly interesting that all translations checked so far,
except the NIV, render this combination of words in Rev. 18:13 by
something like, "and slaves and human lives" (NASV), "slaves and other
humans" (CEV), "slaves and souls of men" (KJV), etc. The NIV has "and
bodies and souls of men."
Now, I can understand why SWMATWN in this context might be taken as
"slaves," but two other considerations tend to suade me towards the NIV
rendering. First, there is no other NT precedent for taking SWMA as
"slave." Second, the conjunction with YUCAI seems to suggest that
SWMATWN should be taken in contrasting or complementary parallel with
YUCAI, denoting both the spiritual and physical aspects of man. Of
course, YUCAI can denote the whole person, as well as just the spiritual
part of man, but in the next occurrence of YUCAI in the book (20:4) it
does seem to be set in contrast to the bodies of those who had been
beheaded, EIDON ... TAS YUCAI TWN PEPELEKISMENWN.
Thoughts?
Paul Dixon