[B-Greek] Psalm 39:7 LXX
Ben and Jo Crick
ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Sat Dec 20 18:52:27 EST 2003
On Fri 19 Dec 2003 (16:55:25), markeddy at adams.net wrote:
> The printed edition of Rahlfs' LXX has a footnote at Ps 39:7 which says
> that the three major LXX uncial manuscripts (B, S [=aleph in the N-A Greek
> NT], and A) all have the word SWMA, as in Hebr. 10:5. As support for the
> reading WTIA, the footnote simply has "Ga". The "Explanation of Symbols"
> section doesn't list "Ga" so I don't know what it means. Does somebody tell
> me what "Ga" stands for.
The "Ga" is the Gallican Psalter, which differs from the Vulgate /corpus autem
aptasti mihi/ in Hebrews 10:5, but has /aures autem perfecisti/ at Psalm
39[40]:7[6].
AF Kirkpatrick, /Psalms/, Cambridge, 1903, has a footnote on page 212:
"1 The reading of the LXX is SWMA DE KATHRTISW MOI, /a body didst thou prepare
for me/. This reading is attested by the Vulgate. /Aures/ in the Gallican
Psalter is a correction. KATARTIZESQAI occurs in the LXX as the rendering of
several Hebrew words, and might easily have been chosen to represent the
obscure /thou hast dug/. 'Body' for 'ears' may then have been a free
paraphrase. But the reading may have originated in an ancient corruption of
the Greek text. Through a repetition of the final -S of the preceding word,
and the change of WTIA into WMA, HQELHQAS WTIA might easily have become
HQELHSAS SWMA."
BF Westcott, one half of the famous "Westcott & Hort" duo, comments:
"The LXX, as is well known, differs from the Hebrew in one remarkable
clause : for 'oZ:NaYiM KaRiYTa LiY /ears hast thou opened (dug) for me/,
it gives SWMA DE KATHRTISW MOI. There can be no question that this is the true
reading of the Greek. The ceonjecture that SWMA is an early blunder for WTIA
(the reading of the other Greek versions) cannot be maintained in the face of
the evidence. The rendering must therefore be considered to be a free
interpretation of the original text. In this respect is extends and emphasises
the fundamental idea. The 'body' is the instrument for fulfilling the divine
command, just as the 'ear' is the instrument for receiving it. God originally
fashioned for man in his frame the organ for hearing His voice, and by this
he ppainly shewed that he was made to obey it."
[BF Westcott, /The Epistle to the Hebrews/, London, 3rd Ed 1903, p 310]
A case of Synechdoche or /pars pro toto/, the part for the whole?
ERRWSQE
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick ZFC Yb
<ben.crick at NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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