End of Luke 18:7: statement or question?

Clwinbery at aol.com Clwinbery at aol.com
Sat Nov 30 20:38:56 EST 2002



In a message dated 11/30/02 1:28:34 PM, biblicalscribe at hotmail.com writes:

>The last clause of Luke 18:7 reads: kai makrothumei ep' autois  Is this
>a question or a statement? Bear in mind that the entire verse is a question
>already. If this laast clause is interrogative, then we have the meaning,
>"and does he bear long with them?"  If indicative, then, "and he bears
>long with them." Which fits the context of prayer more?
>
We really would like a full name signature on these post. Please!

You are correct that the whold sentence is a question and the last clause is 
part of it and thus a question. 

hO DE QEOS OU MH POIHSHi THN EKDIKHSIN TWN EKLEKTWN AUTOU TWN BOWNTWN AUTWi  
hHMERAS KAI NUKTOS, KAI MAKROQUMEI EP' AUTOIS;

Note that the whole question is introduced by OU MH. The relevant page in 
BDAG is 734 where he discusses the use of OU with a question expecting an 
affirmative answer. The use of it with MH is especially strong for it is 
negating a negative. Hence, it should be translated something like, "God will 
surely vindicate his elect who cry to him day and night and also surely 
suffer long (be patient) with them!"

Carlton Winbery
Louisiana College



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