[B-Greek] EKBALLEI: simple word in strange context (Mk 1:12)?
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Fri Feb 21 11:12:51 EST 2003
> Undoubtedly opinions will differ on this, but I can see no suggestion that
> Jesus participates in the process of his "shunting off" into the
> desert. He
> is removed powerfully, whether one wants to call this the unthinking
> obedience of the good soldier or, what seems to me more appropriate, the
> conveyance by a PNEUMA which is as much a WIND as a divine emanation;
Are you suggesting that a strong wind blew him out in the desert? :-)
I am happy to accept the "obedience" part of it, but not the "unthinking".
> I have to say that I think Mark's focus and perspective in his telling of
> the story of Jesus in the wilderness, for all that it does share features
> with the telling by Matthew and Luke, is unique and that Mark's selection
> of EKBALLEI, however we are to understand it, is quite deliberate.
Yes, I am quite sure it was deliberate. But it is certainly within the
semantic range of EKBALLW to indicate a command to go. This was listed in
BAGD among other places in:
Luke 10:2 hOPWS ERGATAS EKBALHi EIS TON QERISMON AUTOU "that he may send
workers out into his harvesting."
There are many cases where EKBALLW does not refer to removal by physical
force, but an authoritative command. This applies to "casting out" demons,
too. Here it is not a physical or forceful removal, but a command to leave.
In John 10:3-4 it appears that EXAGW and EKBALLW are used as synonyms for
the same event:
KAI TA IDIA PROBATA FWNEI KAT' ONOMA KAI EXAGEI AUTA. hOTAN TA IDIA PANTA
EKBALHi, EMPROSQEN AUTWN POREUETAI, KAI TA PROBATA AUTWi AKOLOUQEI.
So, I don't see a problem in Mark 1:12 saying that Jesus received an
authoritative directive from the Holy Spirit to go out in the wilderness,
and he did so. In English, we can express this by "send" as NIV and CEV do
or "made him go" as GNB has or "compelled him to go" as NLT has or "drive
him out" as RSV and REB have.
I would prefer "send", because "drive" or "compel" imply a reluctance or
resistance which is not implied in the context. All English translations use
"send" in Luke 10:4, so why not here?
Iver Larsen
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