hOTAN + subjunctive vs. hOtE + future indicative

Rob's SoftHome united_by_truth at softhome.net
Wed Apr 24 15:43:42 EDT 2002


In going over my daughter's translation assignment from Dr. Powers' book, I
noticed hOTAN + aorist subjunctive. In my mind I attach some degree of
uncertainty with the subjunctive and wondered if the speaker was expressing
some slight degree of doubt. In looking at several instances of this
construction, I do find some where absolute future prediction is not the
case (Mat. 5:11 for example), but it seems that many if not most indicate no
uncertainly. hOTAN + indicative seems much less common (Titus 3.12). hOTE +
indicative future also seems much less common (Luke 17.22).

Is there any difference in certainly between the above mentioned
constructions?
Luke 23.42 ...MNHSQHTI MOU ... hOTAN ELQHiS EN THi BASILEIAi SOU
Luke 17.22 ...ELEUSONTAI hHMEPAI hOTE EPIQUMHSETE MIAN TWN hHMERWN TOU hUIOU
TOU ANQRWPOU IDEIN
Titus 3.12  hOTAN PEMYW ARTEMAN PROS SE H TUCIKON  (PEMYW could also be a
subjunctive, could it not?)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Rob Matlack	     united_by_truth at softhome.net
Minneapolis, KS
"I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ
alone for salvation"--R. E. Lee
"It is not our task to secure the triumph of truth, but merely to fight on
its behalf."--Blaise Pascal
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