Future Passives categorized (correction)

Clwinbery at aol.com Clwinbery at aol.com
Fri Dec 13 13:30:03 EST 2002


The numbers vary greatly depending upon how you have to search for them and 
the program used. I got and installed the latest version of Accordance while 
in Toronto. It tags the forms in the N-A27 corrected. When I search for Verb, 
Aorist or Future passive indicative, I get 1162 forms that are tagged that 
way by Accordance. They do allow for any of these being middle. The breakdown 
is 296 Futures and 866 Aorist. This includes all those that have the theta as 
well as those that do not have the theta.

Carl's point that no one can explain all these as passives is correct. Surely 
most are judgment calls. One that I have often puzzled over is Mt. 2:10 
IDONTES DE TON ASTERA ECARHSAN CARAN MEGALHN SFODRA. I cannot see how anyone 
can argue for a passive meaning when the verb is transitive with a direct 
object (cognate accusative for some). This is what George Caird called a 
non-true passive but it must be translated something like "having seen the 
star they rejoiced greatly (lit. rejoiced a great joy exceedingly).

Carlton Winbery
Louisiana College




Matt. 2:10 i˙do/nteß de« to\n aÓste÷ra e˙ca¿rhsan cara»n mega¿lhn sfo/dra.



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