Matthew 19:9

Ben Crick ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Thu Nov 15 13:29:16 EST 2001


 On Wed 14 Nov 2001 (22:17:13), justinrogers35 at hotmail.com wrote in an HTML
 attachment:

> Dear fellow Greek students, I am a bit perplexed about an issue I came across > recently.  In Matthew 19:9, MH is used rather 
> than EAV MH.  Many English translations use "except" in this verse.  This is > not a proper translation of MH.  Is this 
> something that can be justified?  I also find it interesting that in Mark's 
> parallel account of this passage, the "except clause" is 
> left out entirely (Mk. 10:11-12).  Jesus also mentions that his intent is to
> restore the principals from Creation.  The "except 
> clause" wasn't in God's original plan.  In addition, Romans 7:2-3, a passage
> that obviously permits remarriage on the grounds 
> of a spouse's death, is very clear.  What is the significance of the unclear > language in Matthew19:9?

 Dear Justin,

 You'll find a whole lot about this in the Archives. But briefly, regardless
 of which doctrinal position you wish to espouse, you need to compare Matthew
 5:31-32.   hOS AN APOLUSHi THN GUNAIKA AUTOU, DOTW AUTHh *APOSTASION*.
 EGW DE LEGW hUMIN hOTI PAS hO APOLUWN THN GUNAIKA AUTOU *PAREKTOS LOGOU
 PORNEIAS* POIEI AUTHN MOICEUQHNAI, KAI hOS EAN APOLELUMEMHN GAMHSHi MOICATAI.

 The APOSTASION is that mentioned in Deuteronomy 24:1, SeFeR K:RiYThuTh or
 BIBLION APOSTASIOU (verse 3 in LXX). The LOGOU PORNEIAS is the phrase
 `eRWaTh DaBaR in the same verse, ASCHMON PRAGMA in LXX. The Hebrew phrase
 means roughly "the nudity word", a neat euphemism for sexual infidelity,
 and corresponding precisely with LOGOU PORNEIAS.

 Compare MH EPI PORNEIAi (Matthew 19:9) with PAREKTOS LOGOU PORNEIAS (Matthew
 5:32). Jerome puts /nisi ob fornicationem/ for MH EPI PORNEIAi. So that is
 where the King James and many other English versions get "except..." from.

 See also Bruce Metzger's note in his /A Textual Commentary on the Greek New
 Testament/, 2nd edition, UBS, 1994, p 38.

 ERRWSQE
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick at argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm






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