Is 7:14 and PARQENOS

Steve Puluka spuluka at hotmail.com
Tue Apr 10 05:21:32 EDT 2001


----- Original Message -----
From: <RHutchin at aol.com>
> Roger Hutchinson
> Citing Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23 has--
> ........
> Regarding the use of PARQENOS in Matthew to translate the Hebrew word
almah
> in Isaiah 7:14, which of the following would be true--
>
> 1.  PARQENOS is a poor choice for the translator to use to translate almah
> since it does not accurately convey the meaning of almah in Isaiah 7:14;
if
> so, what is the better Greek word (or term) that the translator might have
> used;
>
> 2.  PARQENOS is the best choice available for the translator to use since
> there is no unique word in the Greek that corresponds to almah, and
PARTHENOS
> bests conveys the essential meaning of almah as used in Isaiah 7:14; or
>
> 3.  We do not know one way or the other, so the translation can be viewed
as
> good or bad depending on one's exegetical inclinations.

None of the above.  Matthew is not translating  the Hebrew, but citing an
existing Greek translation known as the Septuagint.  A translation made by
Jews for Jewish use during the preceeding centuries.  This became the
version of scripture used by the Christian Church and rejected by the Rabbis
during the early Christian period.  This is still the authoritative version
of scripture for Orthodox Christian assemblies today.

Full details can be found in  Jellico, The Septuagint in Modern Study.  A
good on-line introduction to topic can be found at:

http://arts-sciences.cua.edu/ecs/jdk/LXX/

My own home page contains material on the Old Testament.  The introductory
chapter of the Old Testament lesson contains the general background on this
issue.

http://www.geocities.com/spuluka/ot/notes/otnotes.htm

Steve Puluka
Cantor Holy Ghost Church
Carpatho-Rusyn Tradition


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