[B-Greek] EGW EIMI in John 8:58

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Wed Mar 17 20:34:35 EST 2004


In a message dated 3/17/2004 8:05:54 PM Eastern Standard Time, Polycarp66 
writes:
In a message dated 3/17/2004 7:35:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
bertdehaan at gosympatico.ca writes:
  Polycarp66 at aol.com wrote;
on Wed, 17 Mar 2004 13:29:44 EST

> Arie is absolutely correct here.  In Isaiah we find numerous usages of EGW 
> EIMI with regard to YHWH
> 
> Is 42, 8 EGW KURIOS hO QEOS, TOUTO MOU ESTIN TO ONOMA
> Is 43.25 EGW EIMI EGW EIMI hO ECALEIFWN TAS ANOMIAS SOU
> Is 45.19 EGW EIMI EGW EIMI KURIOS LALWN DIKAIOSUNHN KAI . . .
> Is 45.22 EGW EIMI hO QEOS, KAI OUK ESTIN ALLOS
> Is 46.4   hEWS GHROUS EGW EIMI, KAI hEWS AN KATAGHRASHTE, EGW EIMI, EGW 
> ANEXOMAI hUMIN . . .
> Is 46.9   KAI MNHSQHTE TA PROTERA APO TOU AIWNOW, hOTI EGW EIMI hO QEOS
> 
> and many others.  If I remember correctly Joachim Jeremias wrote concerning 
> this.
> 

How would the repeated EGW EIMI be translated?
Would Is 45:19 be something like; 
"I, I am the Lord, the one speaking..." 
or could it  be; 
"I am the I am, the Lord who is speaking..."
__________

That would depend on whether you are translating the LXX or the MT.  If the 
latter, it would be "I am He."

___________

I should something add to what I said above.  Albert Piertersma has answered 
regarding the LXX for the most part, but I think a note concerning why the 
translation which he gives is proper would not be inappropriate.  In Ex 3.14 YHWH 
replies to Moses in answer to who has sent him and what his name is that he 
should say

)eYeh )a:$eR )eYeh (eyeh asher eyeh) 
I shall be what I shall be

This was translated by the LXX as 

EGW EIMI hO WN

While there is considerable variation in the translation practices between 
various sections of the LXX, the Pentateuch would no doubt be among the earliest 
books to have been translated so that the translator of Isaiah could not have 
been unaware of this.  That he avoided the use of this would seem to be 
evidence that it (or anything too close to it) was not his intention.  I would 
think that had he wanted to translate it as "I am the I am" he would have written 
something more like

EGW EIMI hO WN

gfsomsel



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