[B-Greek] "Forever" and "to be" (was "Re: Hebrews 1:8")

robert newman rob at designceramics.co.uk
Mon Jul 5 19:13:01 EDT 2004


Thank you Carl for the examples you gave from the LXX. These leave me
satisfied that BeDuhn's argument that I cited can't stand. Whether what
he wrote concerning usage in the NT is true or not, the fact is that the
words of Heb 1:8 have their origin in the LXX. The examples you gave
show that "forever" can and is used with the verb "to be" as in Heb 1:8.
Thank you for your work in researching my question.
 
>Harold wrote
There is no use of QEE in the Psalms, where the verse 
occurs which is quoted in Heb 1:8 (Ps 44:7 OG). If the writer of 
Psalm 44 had intended a vocative, he would surely have used QEOS and 
not QEE, and so that would be what we would find in Heb 1:8.
>
 
Rob
Thank you for your comments on the use of hO QEOS for vocative in the
LXX. In view of this we certainly can't expect QEE at Heb 1:8. I still
wonder whether the writer of the Psalm intended a vocative in view of
its application to a human king. It was previously mentioned that the
term 'God/god' is applied to the King, Angels and Judges. If it is
vocative then the king is here addressed as God is. I don't think this
is a problem. Interestingly the NAB has "O god" in the Psalm then "O
God" in Hebrews.
 
>HH: One argument that weighs heavily with me is what George said 
earlier, that "God is your throne" is a strange comment. It seems an 
inappropriate remark, glorifying man rather than God. A throne is 
something one sits on. Does the king sit on God? Could not the writer 
have expressed himself more felicitously if he had wanted to say that 
God was the strength behind the throne? This remark does not really 
convey that idea.
>
 
RN
I have found the use of "throne" interesting. Kings of Israel were said
to sit on YHWH throne 1 Chron 29:33 of course they did not literally sit
with YHWH. Revelation 3:21 is also interesting. Under QRONOS BDAG gives
"1) chair, seat" "2) supreme power of a political entity, dominion,
sovereignty, fig. extension of mgn.1 (a semantic component prob. present
in some of the aforementioned passages, for the idea of authority is
intimately associated with the chair that is reserved for the authority
figure)." One translation reads "It is God who supports your dominion
for all time to come,". Both nominative and vocative renderings make
sense to me though. I'm glad my question was answered, thanks for
everyone's help.
 
Robert Newman



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