[B-Greek] Antonyms?

Albert Pietersma albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Sat Jan 3 16:34:48 EST 2004


On Jan 3, 2004, at 1:49 PM, Maurice A. O'Sullivan wrote:

> At 16:53 03/01/2004, Arie Dirkzwager wrote:
>
>> In Luke 6: 20 you find only "poor". The Hebrew word 'anaw, probably 
>> the
>> origin of PTWCOS, has different meanings: poor in money and poor 
>> (humble) in
>> the spirit.
>
> Of the 34 occurrences of PTWCOS in the N.T, 10 are in Luke -- which 
> gives added significance, I think, to the fact that in 21:2 Luke uses 
> PENICROS. This is a hapax in the N.T, and only occurs three times in 
> the LXX -- Ex. 22:24; Pr. 28:15, 29:7. [ In the MT of these verses, 
> 'anaw does not appear.].
>
> But there are strong overtones of oppression about all three uses of 
> PENICROS in the LXX, thereby, I think, re-enforcing the view of 
> A.G.Wright in CBQ 44 (1982) 256-263 "The Widow's Mite: Praise or 
> Lament" that these verses are a lament about oppression and not praise 
> for almsgiving.
>
> I know that Fitzmyer holds that the two terms are used " in these 
> verse synonymously " -- and that he relies on Aristophenes' definition
> [ Plutus 553 ] -- " the life of a poor person ( PTWCOS ) is to live, 
> having nothing at all, whereas the life of a needy person (PENHS ) is 
> to live sparingly, dependent on toil " -- but I can't help wondering, 
> though, if the LXX usage wouldn't have had more influence on Luke than 
> Aristophenes <g>.
That the LXX would have had more influence on Luke than Aristophanes is 
undoubtedly correct, and I doubt that Fitzmyer is implying otherwise. 
There is, however, a lexicographical question at issue, it seems to me. 
Unless it can be shown that a Septuagintal pairing of Greek X with 
Hebrew Y has had an effect in the compositional/spoken language, one 
ought not assume that a change of meaning has taken place. Since, for 
example, PENICROS in all three LXX occurrences can be adequately 
accounted for on the basis of its extra-LXX meaning, one ought not 
assume a different meaning, just  because of the fact that it renders 
DL and (NY in the source text.
Al

> Regards,
>
> Maurice
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Maurice A. O'Sullivan  [ Bray, Ireland ]
> mauros at iol.ie
>
>
> ---
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>
—
Albert Pietersma
Professor of Septuagint and Hellenistic Greek
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Home: 21 Cross Street,
Weston ON Canada M9N 2B8
Email: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Homepage: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~pietersm




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