[B-Greek] John 4:23-24
Polycarp66 at aol.com
Polycarp66 at aol.com
Tue Jan 28 06:07:31 EST 2003
In a message dated 1/28/2003 4:02:13 AM Eastern Standard Time,
translate at biblesociety.co.za writes:
> While looking at Joseph Haigler's question I noticed something else that
> seems strange to me. Why is the complement of PROSKUNEW first dative, then
> accusative?
>
> v.23 PROSKUNHSOUSIN TWi PATRI (dat.) and then TOUS PROSKUNOUNTAS AUTON
> (acc.)
> v.24 TOUS PROSKUNOUNTAS AUTON (acc.)
>
> Is this usual, or is there a difference in meaning, or are these just two
> equally valid options (six of one or half a dozen of the other ...)?
>
It would seem that the earlier usage was the acc. with PROSKUNEW while later
practice became to use the dat. In the meantime you have a mixture as in our
text. This is not peculiar to the NT. In Josephus' Antiquities 6.154 he has
hO SAOULOS ASEBHSAI MEN ELEGEN, AGENHTA DE POIHSAI TA PEPRAGMENA MH DUNASQAI;
TIMHSAI GE MHN AUTON PAREKALEI TOU PLHQOUS hOWNTOS SUN AUTWi PARAGENOMENON
*** TON QEON PROSKUNHSAI ***. DIDWSI DE TOUTO SAMUHLOS AUTWi KAI SUNELQWN
*** PROKUNEI TWi QEWi ***.
I wouldn't attach any particular significance to this.
gfsomsel
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