[B-Greek] Antonyms?

Ann Nyland accuratebibles at ozemail.com.au
Sat Jan 3 17:14:41 EST 2004


But it is not as if Aristophanes and the LXX were the only instances, or
that PTWKHOS was a rare word. In fact, it was a common-as-dirt word and its
meaning was unchanged from Aristophanes' time, even prior, from Homer's time
(used in Od. for "beggar"). The semantic range of PTWKHOS inc. "beggar" and
usually referred to a totally destitute person, whereas PENIKROS (see also
Od.) was a poor person, but not financially destitute - "needy" - as
Aristophanes said, living a thrifty life, having a job but not having
anything to spare. As a child I found a very thin stray dog lying on the
side of the road, - I was able to keep him and my Classicist father named
him "Ptokhos" not "Penikros" and we were "treated" to an explanation of the
difference in the terms.

The Aristophanes quote appears to be an English translation which is trying
to rhyme and misses the Greek. The quote is from Poverty the goddess's
speech in answer to Chremylus's comment that Poverty and Pauperism are
sisters/ fellows. Poverty reacts angrily, and sets out the difference
between the two. The whole play is about wealth and lack of it, hence the
title - the play gives us a thorough understanding of the terms, even if we
had not read any other Greek.

I myself do not agree that Luke abandoned several hundred years' worth of
common Greek usage of a common Greek word and decided instead to rely on a
LXX account. (After all, Turner's idea of "Biblical Greek" was discredited
many years ago.) Both words appear in the documentary sources. For example,
the adjective PENIKROS occurs in P.Oxy. 3273 and tells of the confusion
between two men of the same name and same village. One was mistakenly
nominated for the other man's office, although he was AQETOS KAI PENIKHROS,
lacking the financial means to be appointed to the office. Current doc.
lexicographer GHR Horsley notes that this illustrates well the use of the
adjective (NDIEC 3.80). There are 3 inscriptional attestations, and quite a
few Byzantine papyri.

Ann Nyland

----- Original Message -----
From: "Maurice A. O'Sullivan" <mauros at iol.ie>
To: "Arie Dirkzwager" <dirkzwager at pandora.be>
Cc: "Troels Hansen" <tkmh at get2net.dk>; "B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 5:49 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Antonyms?


> 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>.
>
> Regards,
>
> Maurice




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