On Isaiah 9, LXX

Edward Hobbs (EHOBBS@wellesley.edu)
Sun, 30 Mar 1997 18:45:34 -0500 (EST)

From: LUCY::EHOBBS "Edward Hobbs" 30-MAR-1997 18:44:46.36
To: IN%"ttd3@columbia.edu"
CC: EHOBBS
Subj: RE: Isaiah 9:1 (LXX)

Dear Timothy, and colleagues of B-Greek:

Logging in on this Easter evening after 6, I find a question about
LXX which Carl has not already answered! So I'll tackle it.
---------------------------
You asked:

I have a question translating Isaiah 9:1-2. The translations of
these two verses I came up with is:

The people who are walking in darkness, Look! a great light! Those
dwelling in the region (xwra) and in the shadow of death, a light will shine
up them. Most (to pleiston) of the people, who were lead (kathgages) into
your happiness, they will be made glad before you as being made glad with
milk (amhtw?), (kai on tropon) taking up weapons (skula).

My first question is how would anyone translate ("kai on tropon" in
this sentence?

Is the word 'amhtw' in this sentence mean 'with milk'? I could not
find anything better in LSJ.

Finally is 'kathgages' a 2nd, aorist participle from katagw? It
seems so. any replies will be appreciated.

Thanks
Peace and Love,
Timothy T. Dickens
Smyrna, GA
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REPLY:

First off, the opening NPs are Vocatives, which look just like nominatives.
So you have:

"You people walking in drakness: Behold a great light!
You who are dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, a light will
shine upon you!"
[CORAi and SKIAi are probably appositive to each other.
which translates better as "region OF THE shadow".]
"The greater part of the people which you brought down in your joy, even
they shall be joyful before you, as those who rejoice in the harvest, and as
those dividing the spoils."

--hON TROPON means "as"; it is in LSJM.
--AMHTOS is "harvest"; see LSJM.
--KATHGAGES is plain garden variety 2s, 1 aorist, of KATAGW.

The biggest difficulty is that the LXX translator(s) didn't really grasp
the Hebrew, and produced a kind of drivel.

Edward Hobbs
Wellesley