[B-Greek] DIGNWMWN in Didache 2:4

Harold R. Holmyard III hholmyard at ont.com
Tue Feb 24 08:15:03 EST 2004


Dear James,

>So, how about 'poker faced'? My own language uses "having two faces" ;-)
>Would I be faithful to the text if I translate OUK ESHi DIGNWMWN OUDE
>DIGLOWSSOS as (literal translation from my own language) "Do not become one
>who has two faces or one who has a forked tongue"?

HH: I already said that I did not think poker-faced matched the Greek
words. Poker-faced means that one's face is expressionless, that it is a
blank. Also, I said that "one who has two faces" does not seem to be what
the Greek word DIGNWMWN means.

However, "forked tongue" could be a valid translation for DIGLWSSOS, except
that it would be hard to fit it into Didache 2:4 . The dictionary says that
"forked tongue" implies "intent to mislead or deceive -- usually used in
the phrase to speak with forked tongue." You do not have the verb "speak"
in Didache 2:4. A forked tongue is a "lying tongue: a tongue that speaks
lies or words that are insincere or misleading (literary or humorous )."

					Yours,
					Harold Holmyard





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