[B-Greek] Antonyms?

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon Jan 5 01:26:22 EST 2004


> Aarhus, Denmark, January 3. 2004
> Dear fellow-B-greekers!
> I have always wanted to know who the 'poor in spirit' (Matt 5:3)
> really were. So I ask you if there is any chance that 'PTWCOS TW
> PNEUMATI' and 'KRATAIOW PNEUAMATI' (Luk 1:80) might somehow be antonyms?

Hi, Troels,
Good to hear form you.
I think your question is mainly a translation question. The person who
translated the underlying Hebrew text in Matthew did a better job that the
one who translated the same Hebrew word for use in Luke 6:20.
As Arie has already said, the underlying Hebrew word is undoubtedly (NY, and
this word has a broader range of meaning than "poor" in English and PTWCOS
or PENICROS in Greek. In the saying of Jesus, the intended meaning is not
the financially poor, but those who are humble and recognize their spiritual
need (and consequently ask for God's help). In Matthew this aspect of the
Hebrew word has been clarified by the phrase PTWCOI TWi PNEUMATI, but in
Luke translated word-for-word by PTWCOI.

Louw and Nida has the following to say about the phrase:

88.57: PTWCOI TWi PNEUMATI: ... pertaining to one who is humble with regard
to his own capacities... A literal translation ... may lead to serious
misunderstanding, since ‘poor in spirit’ is likely to mean either ‘lacking
in the Holy Spirit’ or ‘lacking in ambition or drive.’ In order to indicate
clearly that this poverty or need is related in some way to spiritual
realities, one may translate ‘happy are those who recognize their need of
God.’

As a bible translator, I prefer the last rendering instead of "humble",
because it fits the context best.

Some of the words used in the LXX to translate (NY are: PTWKOS, PENHS,
PENOMAI, PRAUS, PRAUQUMOS, EKPIPTW, TAPEINOS, TAPEINOW.

If you are looking for an antonym, I would suggest hOI PLOUSIOI (the
"have-it-all"s) as in Luke 6:24 (often exemplified by the religious leaders
of the day, especially the Pharisees. The parable of the tax collector and
the Pharisee praying in the temple show the contrast between the "poor" tax
collector and the "rich" Pharisee.)

Iver Larsen




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