Use of the conjunction KAI

Mark DelCogliano cassian at dellepro.com
Mon Apr 8 16:54:14 EDT 2002


Dear Bill,


> I have a question concerning the use of the conjunction KAI [in the LXX]

Such a usage of KAI, which as you noted literally translates the underlying
Hebrew, is a stylistic device called parataxis. This means that the writer
chooses to employ co-ordination of clauses rather than subordination of
clauses, e.g. KAI rather than, say, hINA or hWS. The semantic weight of the
paratactic connective is usually clear from the context, as you have indeed
inferred.

See F.C. Conybeare and St. George Stock, *A Grammar of Septuagint Greek*
paragraph 40 for further refinement.

Mark DelCogliano




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