Mark 7:4

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Tue May 2 12:45:24 EDT 2000


At 12:33 PM -0500 5/2/00, Marty Livingston wrote:
>The word baptizo is used to refer to their tradition of washing tables.
>>From a Greek language standpoint, would this infer they immersed or dipped
>their tables?

I don't think this refers to washing tables, but to washing THEMSELVES
(middle 3d pl. aorist BAPTISWNTAI). Presumably those described feel
themselves sufficiently soiled from trading in the Agora that they scrub
themselves; I don't think there's any clear notion here of dunking,
dousing, or just rinsing, but I'd guess it involves a liberal application
of water. But presumably this is primarily hands and arms, given the
opening of the chapter, verse 2 hOTI KOINAIS CERSIN, TOUT' ESTIN ANIPTOIS,
ESQIOUSIN TOUS ARTOUS ...

-- 

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 at artsci.wustl.edu 



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