In a message dated 97-11-01 17:15:21 EST, you write:
>
> Both the Hebrew NT of Delitzsch the NT in modern Hebrew use a participle
of
> yashab, and both can be translated as "sitting". The root yashab is
stative
> while KAQIZW may be either fientic or stative. Both a Hebrew perfect and a
> Greek aorist often have an ingressive meaning with stative verbs. KAQIZW
is
> intransitive, and this together with the use of aorist may stress the
> entrance into the state. Thus the verse can be translated "The scribes and
> the Pharisees have taken their seat in the chair of Moses". Hebrew perfect
> and Greek aorist can also include the beginning of and a part of the
> continuing state. This could give the translation: "The scribes and
> Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses.", but I think the first translation is
> to be preferred.
>
> Stative verbs illustrate well that the designation "completed" should
> neither be applied to Hebrew perfect nor to Greek aorist, because what is
> completED must from some point of view be past. The designation "complete"
> is also problematic because an ingressive use of yashab/KAQIZW never is
> complete, and a constative use may or may not be complete. My suggestion
is
> therefore that the perfective aspect be defined as a view from some
> distance with the beginning and a great part or all (+ end) of the
> event/state included, but the details are not fucussed upon; and the
> imperfective aspect as a closeup view of a small part of the event/state
> where beginning or end may or may not be included, and the detailed are
> clearly seen. So both an ingressive and constative use of KAQIZW would
view
> the scribes and Pharisees from some distance having given themselves the
> same authority as God gave Moses.
>
Apparently we have two systems here:
Ingressive aorist: The scribes and pharisees have begun and are sitting (but
the end is not in view) on the seat of Moses. Ie: they are in the process of
assuming the authority of Moses. Or, they are on the seat of Moses and not
getting off any time soon. They are in the process of assuming authority,
but have not necessarily completed the process.
Perfective aspect of the aorist: The scribes pharisees sat on the seat of
Moses. They have assumed Moses' authority, and it is a done deal. In other
words, they assumed Moses' authority, with no focus on the process (simple
description).
Does this illustrate the differences?
Cindy Westfall
PhD Student Roehampton