[B-Greek] 1 Peter 1:15
Ben Crick
ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Mon Dec 27 20:06:42 EST 2004
On Mon 27 Dec 2004 (14:01:42), normangoos at comcast.net wrote:
> There is an aorist imperative in this verse, GENHQHTW, translated with
> an active sense - "become".
Dear Norman
Carl has given a complete answer; but your request reminds me of that
well-known German poem /Der Zauberlehrling/ (the Sorceror's Apprentice).
The elderly Spellmaster has taken himself away somewhere; the apprentice
magician orders the broom to fill the bath with water. Unfortunately, he
cannot remember how to cancel the spell (never start something you don't
know how to stop!). Desperately he chops the broom into several pieces; but
each piece only carries on filling the bath to overflowing. At last /der alte
Hexenmeister/ returns. He takes in the situation at a glance, and issues the
countermanding order "/Besen, Besen, seid gewesen!/" best rendered in English
as the military parade ground order "Brooms, brooms, as you were!".
/Seid gewesen/ is grammatically a 2nd person plural perfect imperative "Be
has-been"; but odd-sounding in German ears. A bit of a Harry Potter "Hogwarts
Academy" scenario perhaps: if I may be permitted a little seasonal
lightheartedness.
ERRWSQE
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF ZFC Lu
<ben.crick at NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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