Lk 1:63

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Sat Sep 14 07:41:50 EDT 2002


Englished and forwarded to B-Greek by CWC:

At 8:30 AM -0400 9/13/02, in response to Mme Chabert d'Hyères, Carl W.
Conrad wrote:
>> (1) I don't believe that the text intends to imply that onlookers were
>> thinking of the etymology of the name IWANNHS;

I grant you that, if you mean by etymology the science of the origin of the
names.

On the other hand, I don't think for a moment that Zacharias did not have
in mind the meaning of the name of hisr son when it was called for on the
day of his circumcision.

According to Midrash on Ecclesiastes: "A man is given three names: the one
given him by his father and mother, the one given him by other people [his
nickname], and the one which Heaven predestines for him. (Ecclesiastes
Rabbah 7:3).

IWANNHS ESTIN TO ONOMA AUTOU Lk 1:63 according to D05, where the article
indicates that John received one name, that of his vocation, given by the
angel.

Zacharias who was at least fifty years old (PRESBUTHS v 18) had long prayed
for an heir. When he wrote that the equivalent of "YH-makes grace is his
name," he certainly did not forget that his prayer had been granted nor
how. Even if all those in attendance were not aware of the implications of
"His name is 'John,'" still the close relations, the Levites and the
priests present understood doubtless understood the deep meaning of the
event.

S Chabert d'Hyères



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