[B-Greek] Prepositions
mrt
mrt at hisurfer.net
Sat Dec 27 23:47:34 EST 2003
> Bert de Haan.
> I know that prepositions can have a great variety of meanings, but knowing
that does not always solve the problem of knowing what they mean in a given
sentence.
> To a beginner like me, it almost seems that when you encounter a
preposition, you can insert any English translation that makes
sense...............
> This meaning seems to be so far removed from the "basic(?)meaning" away
from. Is there a way to understand this verse using the meaning -away from-,
even if it is awkward English?
I think I see a problem in your understanding... that is you understand (or
want) there to be a "basic meaning" to prepositions. And you want a Grk.
term to find a close parallel with an English word.
It is better to understand words as having a range of meaning. Exact
correspondence of a term in the original carried over to the target language
word rarely occurs.
Perhaps a question might help - Can you tell me the "basic" meaning of
trunk?
When I was taught Greek one of my professors encouraged the class to look up
the meaning of prepositions. But he wasn't speaking about Greek
prepositions, instead - English ones. This should expand your comprehension
of prepositions. Yes "as" is also understood as a prep. Definition: in the
capacity or character of <this will serve ~ a substitute>
If you have Wallace's grammar take a look at pg. 363 "Root Fallacy"
Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, Rapids, Mich.:
Zondervan, 1996
you don't have a "license to kill" *all* distinctions of prepositions.
Unless your James Bond.
Michael Tarver
Oregon, USA
<'\\>< laus Deo
----- Original Message -----
From: <bertdehaan at gosympatico.ca>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 5:45 PM
Subject: [B-Greek] Prepositions
>
> I know that prepositions can have a great variety of meanings, but knowing
that does not always solve the problem of knowing what they mean in a given
sentence.
> To a beginner like me, it almost seems that when you encounter a
preposition, you can insert any English translation that makes sense.
> I'll quote two verses to help me ask my question.
> (1)Luke 7:35.
> KAI EDIKAIWQH hH SOFIA APO PANTWN TWN TEKNWN AUTHS.
> In the translations I checked, APO in Luke 7:35 is translated as -by-. I
looked up APO in the lexicon and it said that it can mean -by(agent)-.
> This meaning seems to be so far removed from the "basic(?)meaning" away
from. Is there a way to understand this verse using the meaning -away from-,
even if it is awkward English?
>
> (2)John 1:7.
> hOUTOS HLQEN EIS MARTURIAN, hINA MARTURHSHi PERI TOU FWTOS.
> EIS is translated 'as'.
> This translation makes perfect sense but I don't think that 'as' is even a
preposition.
> Does a fellow have to memorize all the different meanings, or is there
some sort of rhyme or reason to the different meanings?
>
> Thank you
> Bert de Haan.
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