[B-Greek] Hebrews 11:11 & KATABOLHN SPERMATOS

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Mon Nov 24 07:00:06 EST 2003


Forwarded for: <mailto:kenneth.vendler at higherwinds.net>Kenneth C. Vendler
Sent (but didn't get through, somehow): Friday, November 21, 2003 6:56 PM
==========
Greetings,

This topic was originally brought up on Btrans and I was left scratching my
chin. In Hebrews 11:11, the Greek text  according to P13, Aleph, A, D2, 33
Byz [k,L] Lect Chrysostom and Augustine reads:

PISTEI KAI AUTH SARRA DUNAMIN EIS KATABOLHN SPERMATOS ELABEN KAI KAIRON
HLIKIAS EPEI PISTON HGHSATO TON EPAGGEILAMENON

Some translations (NET, NIV, et al)*  see EIS KATABOLHN SPERMATOS ELABEN
and EPEI PISTON HGHSATO TON EPAGGEILAMENON as refering back to Abraham in
verse 8, while others (NASB, RSV, et al) to Sarah in the present verse. I
have two questions:

1. Is the Greek here ambiguous (as it would seem from the totally diffent
readings of various translations)? If so, what is the most reasonable way
of understanding who the subjects of KATABOLHN SPERMATOS ELABEN and EPEI
PISTON HGHSATO TON  EPAGGEILAMENONare?  If it is not ambiguous, what does
the Greek text say in this passage as far as whether the reference to
Abraham as in many translations is warranted or not? Is anything pertinent
to Abraham to be found in Hebrews 11:11?

2. The meaning of KATABOLHN SPERMATOS ELABEN is also debated. Does it refer
to the male or female role in reproduction

*The UBS text that these translations follow  is slightly different:
PISTEI KAI AUTH SARRA DUNAMIN EIS KATABOLHN SPERMATOS ELABEN KAI KAIRON
HLIKIAS EPEI PISTON HGHSATO TON EPAGGEILAMENON Does this have any added
bearing on the issue?

Thank you for any light that you can shed on this text.

Kenneth C. Vendler
Williamstown, KY
<http://www.higherwinds.net>http://www.higherwinds.net

"Some people think they are thinking, when they are merely rearranging
their prejudices"
Attributed to William James

" All things come in pairs, one opposite the other, and he has made nothing
incomplete. Each supplements the virtues of the other. Who could ever tire
of seeing his [God's] glory? "
Sirach 42:24,25 New Revised Standard Version




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