[B-Greek] Revelation 18:12-13 GOMON . . . SWMATWN KAI YUXAS ANQRWPWN
Harold R. Holmyard III
hholmyard at ont.com
Fri Apr 9 11:38:01 EDT 2004
Dear Ted,
>I have a question about Revelation 18:12-13, which lists many items
>of "merchandise" (GOMON), ending with "bodies and souls of men"
>(SWMATWN KAI YUXAS ANQRWPWN).
>
>It is possible that SWMATWN KAI YUXAS ANQRWPWN is one term, referring
>to, perhaps, slavery. But I'm not familiar with the expression "body
>and soul of a man" being used to mean "slave" in Greek. For that
>matter, I don't remember seeing it at all, except when body and soul
>are being pointed out to be *distinct from* each other.
>
>What if SWMATWN KAI YUXAS ANQRWPWN are two different items in the
>list?
>I don't know how to buy and sell souls, nor how to load one into the
>cargo hold of a ship. So one guess is to say that this passage is
>figurative. (The "figurative" approach seems to be useful for much
>of Revelation!)
>
>What else might this be referring to, other than slaves?
HH: The context refers to what is bought and sold. Money can be a
medium of exchange affecting not only the disposition of the bodies
of men but their very souls. Rich men can purchase not only the
bodies of men, but in practical terms, their souls. Many Roman slaves
were teachers and even doctors, if I remember correctly. Money
purchases the most intimates aspects and faculties of people. Another
idea is that money can purchase not just the bodies of people but
their very lives.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
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