Genesis 1.2 epefereto

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Tue May 2 21:25:48 EDT 2000


In a message dated 5/2/2000 5:28:57 PM Central Standard Time, 
sunuiprachu at cs.com writes:

<< I am puzzled by epefereto of Genesis 1.2.  Middle Liddell has "to bring, 
 lay, put upon," as well as "to attack."  I feel that epiforew and epifora 
 must indicate the direction in which to expand epiferw:  Lampe renders 
 epifora as "impact, attack," but allows a gentler "divine visitation," 
 whereas epiforew parallels epiferw in meaning "to put upon," but departs in 
 indicating "to make pregnant."  Does anyone have anything more solid? >>

There are certain other ideas conveyed by the word EPIFERW -- such as to 
impend or to hover over.  Cf. Heroditus 1.209.4

[4]  EMEU QEOI KHDONTAI KAI MOI PANTA PRODEIKNUOUSI TA EPIFEROMENA. HDH WN EN 
THi PAROIXOMENHi NUKTI hEUDWN EIDON TWN SWN PAIDWN TON PRESBUTATON EXONTA EPI 
TWN WMWN PTERUGAS KAI TOUTEWN THi MEN THN ASIHN THi DE THN EURWPHN 
EPISKIAZEIN.

[4] The gods care for me and show me beforehand all that is coming. Now then, 
I have seen in a dream in the past night your eldest son with wings on his 
shoulders, overshadowing Asia with the one and Europe with the other.

[tr. A. D. Godley]

May the gods care for me and foreshow to me the impending things [the things 
hovering over]. . .

EPEFERETO translates the Hebrew M:RaXeFeT.  This is a piel participle of 
RfXaP which is used for a bird's hovering -- cf. Deut. 32.11.

gfsomsel



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