[B-Greek] Re: Luke on KATALUMA

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Dec 31 13:32:26 EST 2003


>
> What I am saying is that TWi KATALUMATi in Luke 2,
> like any similar usage of hO KATALUMA, refers to the
> upstairs guest/dining room of a personal residence
> (not just any room). But perhaps I should be quick to
> add that I attribute no significance to its location.
> And Luke's usage of this same word in chapter 22 no
> more informs us of its meaning in chapter 2 as the
> reverse would (we are in agreement on this, I
> suppose).
>
> hO KATALUMA would bring to mind a specific location
> within a residence just as our word "attic" would.
> Both are located upstairs, but that to me is of zero
> significance. Should I reread my previous emails to
> see what this fuss is about?
>
> =====
> Waldo Slusher
> Calgary, AB

Waldo,
I and many others agree completely with your understanding of the text.
Whereas the word in itself may only refer to a temporary lodging place, our
knowledge of houses in Israel at the time suggests that in the three places
where the word occurs in the NT, it refers to an upstairs guest room in the
house of a relative or friend in a two-story building. On the ground floor,
there would often be a common/living room and an adjacent area/room to keep
the animals during the cold nights.
As far as translation goes, I prefer "guest room" in Luke 2 as well as the
other places. The "inn" is no longer in among the bible translators I work
with, but tradition dies hard, especially in a Christmas reading, which may
explain why so many recent English versions have kept the "inn."

Iver Larsen




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