From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Fri Dec 19 1997 - 13:56:00 EST
At 10:05 AM -0600 12/19/97, Arlie D. Rauch wrote:
>Does the term NHSTEUW (fast), such as in Matt. 4:2, itself imply anything
>regarding the degree of abstinence? There doesn't seem to be any place in
>the NT which specifies the degree of abstinence, unless the term itself
>demands it.
I just noticed this in my latest batch of incoming BG posts; by now someone
else may have responded. Offhand I can't see anything in the verb itself
indicating degree of abstinence. It may be dangerous to read etymology into
the verb, but it does derive from the same negative particle as that in
NHPIOS (lit. "not speaking, not talking") and the root *EDH- seen in ESQIW,
"eat"--and so means "to go without eating," "to fast." Presumably one would
take water, but I don't know that the verb implies anything etymologically
other than avoidance of solid food.
For what it's worth.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics/Washington University
One Brookings Drive/St. Louis, MO, USA 63130/(314) 935-4018
Home: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, MO 63130/(314) 726-5649
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cconrad@yancey.main.nc.us
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
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