Lk 1:55

Suedaleg at aol.com Suedaleg at aol.com
Tue Oct 22 02:08:28 EDT 2002


L. Besses asks
"I'm wondering, is there any true difference of meaning between PROS +
accusative (PROS TOUS PATERAS hHMWN) and dative case (TWi ABRAAM)?

What may be the reason for the use of PROS + accusative in the first
part of the sentence and of the dative case (without a preposition) in
the second part?
"
I think what we have in this verse is a poetic (semitic) clarification of 
sorts.  PROS + accusative can mean "toward", "in the direction of" but 
because he is "Speaking" it becomes here that God is saying something "to our 
fathers".  The dative can be an indirect object, the one to whom or for whom 
an action is done.  So again we have gos speaking "to Abraham and his seed".  
We have the same general meaning in the two uses, but putting them together 
can give a sense of dimension, like seeing the same view from two different 
points.  The dative may indicate the reception of the speach by those to whom 
it was spoken.  In English sometimes when we "speak to someone" it can mean 
that we had a conversation; they received and responded. (dative?)  Or we can 
mearly mean that we passed on information (as when we speak to an answering 
machine) and the receiving is merely assumed. (PROS + accusative)
I think Mary is emphasizing that not only were the prophecies given to the 
fathers but for them to keep and understand as well.

Dale Greenlee



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