[B-Greek] KATADHLON ESTIN EI KATA THN OMOIOTHTA - Heb 7:15

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Tue Dec 9 08:21:32 EST 2003


In a message dated 12/9/2003 7:33:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
zaxciel at hotmail.com writes:
KATADHLON ESTIN EI KATA THN OMOIOTHTA
Heb 7:15

My question, what is the best possible translation of the word " EI " in this 
context. 

I find it hard to use " if " in the context of this passage.  

Is there any cases were this can be interpreted as " that "?

I would appreciate any comment that would help me on this section of the 
passage.
______________________

What becomes increasingly clear is that one needs good tools.  Most Greek 
questions can be easily resolved if one has a decent grammar and a good lexicon.  
I would encourage everyone with an interest in reading Koine Greek to go sell 
what you have (excluding your first-born child) and purchase a reference 
grammar and a copy of BDAG (Baur, Danker, Arndt & Gingrich--A Greek-English 
Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature ISBN 0226039331).  
In grammars there are a number of good grammars:  A.T. Robertson, Dan 
Wallace, etc.--even a classical grammar which proves surprisingly useful (Smyth).

Under the word EI, BGAD (that's the older version of BDAG--my copy of this is 
currently stored at my friend's house) has

 II. After verbs of emotion that (Kühner-G. II 369, 8; Rob. 965. Cf. Appian, 
Bell. Civ. 5, 67 §283 AGANAKTEW EI=be exasperated that; Sir 23:14 QELHSEIS EI 
MH EGENNHSEIS; 2 Macc 14:28; 4 Macc 2:1; 4:7. S. on QAUMAZW 1a GAMMA) 
EQAUMASEN EI HDH TEQNHKEN he was surprised that he was already dead Mk 15:44a. MH 
QAUMAZETE EI MISEI hUMAS hO KOSMOS do not wonder that the world hates you 1J 3:13. 
Sim. also (Procop. Soph., Ep. 123 XARIN EXEIN EI=that) MARTUROMENOS . . . EI 
PAQHTOS hO XRISTOS testifying. . . that the Christ was to suffer Ac 26:23.—OU 
MEGA EI it is not surprising that 2 Cor 11:15 (cf. Aeschines, In Ctes. 94 ESTI 
DEINON EI; Diod. S. 23, 15, 5, PARADOCON . . . EI=incredible. . . that; ibid. 
QAUMASTON EI; Gen 45:28 MEGA MOI ESTIN EI).—That is also poss. after verbs of 
knowing or not knowing, e.g., J 9:25; Ac 19:2; 1 Cor 1:16; 7:16; so 
CBurchard, ZNW 52, ’61, 73-82.   

gfsomsel



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