From: Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Date: Mon Dec 22 1997 - 12:33:12 EST
On Sat 20 Dec 97 (08:36:23), jonathan@texcel.no wrote:
> Matt 4:3 EI hUIOS EI TOU QEOU
>
> I am still struggling with the omission of the article. To me, it seems
> that this same clause could be translated "if you are a son" in a
> different context, e.g. if it occurred in a passage that discusses our
> status as children of God. Is it true that the only reason this is
> "the" son is that Satan seems to be talking about one definite son of
> God, one who would be empowered to change stones into bread, etc.? Or
> is there something else that should tip me off?
Dear Jonathan,
Well, yes, there is. I've always been of the opinion that Classical Hebrew
should be mandatory for theological students who are studying NT Greek.
It is axiomatic that the Gospels were translated out of Aramaic/Hebrew
originals (/pace/ Papias).
The Greek genitive is the nearest available equivalent to the Hebrew
(Aramaic) "construct relationship". If we translate EI hUIOS EI TOU QEOU
back into Hebrew we get `iM BeN-Ha'eLoHiYM 'aTTaH. /BeN-Ha'eLoHiYM/ is a
unit, and is definite; it contains the definite article Ha embedded after
the maqqeph (hyphen). This is precisely where we find it in the Greek
translation hUIOS... TOU QEOU. There cannot be an "extra" definite article
with hUOIS, because there cannot be an extra definite article with BeN-,
as it is a noun in the Construct State, *followed by* the Definite Article.
With all due respect to the learned Graecists who have responded to this
thread, it seems that we need look no further than this for the answer to
your query. The English versions are right to translate "If you are THE
SON OF GOD". It would be right wooden to translate "A son of THE God".
A very happy Christmas to you all.
-- Revd Ben Crick, BA CF <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk> 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK) http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:38:40 EDT