[B-Greek] Hebrews 1:8

Tony Costa tmcos at rogers.com
Tue Jun 29 23:03:24 EDT 2004


Mark, translators differ as to whether the passage should read "Your throne,
O God, is forever and ever..."' or "God is your throne forever..."'.
Translations will usually have both readings. The question has to do with
whether QEOS is used as a nominative which would make it the subject, "God
is your throne" or whether it is used as a vocative in which QEOS is
addressed, "Your throne, O God...". The nominative can and is used as a
vocative (eg.John 20:28). A.T.Robertson in his 'Word Pictures of the New
Testament' on Heb.1:8 states, "It is not certain whether o theos is here the
vocative (address with the nominative form as in John 20:28 with the Messiah
termed theos as is possible, John 1:18) or o theos is nominative (subject or
predicate) with estin (is) understood: "God is thy throne" or "Thy throne is
God." Either makes good sense."  In my opinion I take it as the vocative
because it flows well with Heb.1:10-12 where the Son is also addressed
clearly in the vocative as KURIE ("Lord"). In Heb.1:8-12, the two main
divine titles QEOS and KURIOS are used of the Son. Bear in mind the b-greek
list is not the place for theological debate. This passage has the potential
to draw theological daggers.

Tony Costa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Saward" <msaward at bigpond.net.au>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 9:59 PM
Subject: [B-Greek] Hebrews 1:8


> Hi,
>
> In the Jehovah's Witnesses translation, the New World Translation (of
> which I have heard numerous criticisms), they translate the start of
> Hebrews 1:8 as:
>
> 'But with reference to the Son: "God is your throne forever..."'
>
> Whereas in NKJV and others it is akin to:
>
> 'But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..."'
>
> I'm only a novice at New Testament Greek, so was looking for some advice
> from those who know a lot more.  In my primitve understanding, THEOS in
> this verse is the subject, meaning that it is referring to His throne,
> not Him being the throne.  What I want to know - is the New World
> Translation's translation of this passage permissible or incorrect?
> Why?
>
> Thanks
> Mark Saward
>
> ---
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