John 12:7

Mr. Gary S. Dykes yhwh3in1 at lightspeed.net
Mon Dec 6 15:28:07 EST 1999


As Conrad points out two connotations exist for "keep", and his suggestion 
seems probable. The verb "keep" exists as an aorist form or as a perfect 
tense form here, both variants are well supported. If Conrad's notion of a 
type of observance is correct, then the perfect tense would seem best to 
me. But if she is pouring it all out then and there, then the aorist form 
seems best, and it would favor the semantic meaning of "kept" (she kept it 
for this occasion, and it was all poured out).

The perfect (if original here) would favor her retaining some of the 
ointment, and using it later (or donating it later) for the proper Jewish 
burial ritual. The verbal context with AFES (let her alone) perhaps has 
some impact here upon the words of Jesus, -- as the action of the aorist 
imperative (AFES) MAY need to occur before the act of her keeping can 
become a reality, if the perfect is considered. On the basis of this 
relationship of the two tenses the aorist and the perfect, I opt for the 
perfect tense, and would also propose a translation which retains her 
"retaining" of some of the ointment for later (final) purposes. Thus, the 
true impact of the perfect tense would be resolved.

But keep in mind, that I think the aorist form of "keep" would also be the 
more difficult reading here, and would be subject to change to the easier 
(grammatically) perfect. The differences between the two verb forms are not 
due to phonetic (aural) errors, they are intentional. So Wieland, does this 
move your gray matter around? Still I opt for the perfect tense as the 
inspired original form.

Mr. Gary S. Dykes  email -- yhwh3in1 at lightspeed.net
Swanson's Errata-- http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/yhwh3in1/



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