[B-Greek] EMBRIBAOMAI (Lyle Story)

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Thu Mar 27 16:09:54 EST 2003


I am forwarding to the list two messages that came to me rather than
directly to the list. I know that both were meant for the list.

I have read Iver's response in addition to these two responses and will
only add that I haven't been swayed from the view I expressed in my earlier
message--that Jesus is moved by the death of Lazarus rather than by the
reaction of others as a want of faith in his ability to deal with the
situation or by his failure to arrive earlier. Once we're satisfied that
Jesus COULD be grieved at Lazarus' death (vs 35 EDAKRUSEN--but perhaps some
want to read that as something other than grief), I see no reason why we
cannot understand the two uses of EMBRIMAOMAI also as expressions of grief
rather than indignation, particularly as one (vs. 33) has also ETARAXEN
hEAUTON. This is evidently a matter upon which there are and will be
different opinions.

Forwarded for: "Lyle Story" <lylesto at regent.edu>
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 14:27:33 -0500

In Jn. 11:33, 38, a repetition is found of the same Greek verb EMBRIMAOMAI,
translated as "deeply moved" (RSV). The first occurrence of the term is in
response to the complaint of the two sisters, while the second use of the
verb is in response to the criticism of the Jews who questioned his care
for his friend (v. 37). The verb ejmbrimavomai, is used of horses which
"snort" and also means "scold, censure." In Mk. 14:5, it is used of
bystanders who witnessed a woman's outpouring of expensive ointment on
Jesus, "they were censuring her." In Mk. 1:43, the participle of the same
verb is used to describe Jesus' command to the cleansed leper, "sternly
charging him." In Matt. 9:30, the verb is used as a stern warning to the
two blind men whom Jesus healed. It is helpful to note that in each case,
the three synoptic passages contain an object--the woman, the leper, and
the two blind men. Consequently, the object of the verb in John 11:33, 38
is Jesus himself. Thus, the second part of v. 33 can be literally rendered,
"he censured his spirit and troubled himself." In both 11:33, 38, the
question at issue is Jesus' attitude toward himself, or in himself. The
response of Jesus can be interpreted as, "Why did I not come sooner and
save my friends their grief and the grief of their friends as well? I have
only myself to blame that I did not come sooner." The thought may well be
conveyed through our expression, "If only I had. . ."

J. Lyle Story
Professor of Biblical Languages and New Testament
Regent University
(757) 226-4402
lylesto at regent.edu email
<http://home.regent.edu/lylesto/>http://home.regent.edu/lylesto/
-- 

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/


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