[B-Greek] Coat of what?

Ben and Jo Crick ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Tue Jan 13 12:06:10 EST 2004


On Tue 13 Jan 2004 (08:19:43), bart.torbert at ihsenergy.com wrote:
> In Genesis 37:3 in the King James we get the notion that Joseph was
> given a "coat of mnay colors".  But other translations give all sorts
> of other readings.  We have a coat with long sleeves, there is a coat
> that reaches to the soles of the feet,, etc.
> 
> How is this verse rendered in the LXX and what is the strictest sense
> of the phrasing.

 Dear Bart,

 This "coat of many colours" is a foreigh loan word K:ToNeT PaSSiYM, rendered
 in the LXX as CITWNA POIKILON (Brenton). The same word [CITWN] is used in
 2 Samuel 13:18 (2 Kings 13:18 LXX), with the adjective KARPWTOS "A variegated
 robe" (Brenton again); Hebrew K:ToNeT PaSSiYM. The word PaS may indicate the
 palms or the soles of the feet; so K:ToNeT PaSSiYM could indicate a garment
 reaching down to the feet, and with sleeves reaching to the palms of the
 hands. The NRSV renders it "a long robe with sleeves". So also in Genesis
 37:23 and 31. The basic meaning of CITWN in NT Greek is a tunic or a shirt
 (see BDAG). POIKILOS implies "of many kinds or aspects" (BDAG again).

 If you have access to a library, see WF Albright, /The Archeology of
 Palestine/, Pelican Books, 1949, p 209. It depicts a 20" frieze from the Beni
 Hassan tomb painting, circa 1890 BC. This shows a group of itinerant Semitic
 tinkers (men, women and children) visiting Egypt with their goats and donkeys
 (compare Genesis 43:24). They are carrying weapons for protection, a lyre for
 entertainment, and the tools of their trade. The men are dressed in long
 "coats of many colours", whereas the Egyptians in the picture are dressed in
 short white kilts.

 ERRWSQE

 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick  ZFC Yb
 <ben.crick at NOSPAM.argonet.co.uk>
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