[B-Greek] hUPOMONH in the Apocalypse

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Mon May 31 13:49:29 EDT 2004


>
> hUPOMONH appears 21 times in the Apocalypse -- Re 1.9; 2.2, 3, 19;
> 3.10;13.10; and 14.12.  It appears 96 times in the entire NT.  Normally
> it is translated "patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness,
> perserverance."   Note, however, Re 13.10
>
> EI TIS EIS AIXMALWSIAN,
> EIS AIXMALWSIAN hUPAGEI;
> EI TIS EN MAXAIRHi APOKTANQHNAI
> AUTON EN MAXAIRHi APOKTANQHNAI.
>
> hWDE ESTIN hH hUPOMONH KAI hH PISTIS TWN hAGIWN.
> and Re 14.12
>
> hWDE hH hUPOMONH TWN hAGIWN ESTIN, hOI THROUNTES TAS ENTOLAS TOU QEOU KAI
> THN PISTIN IHSOU.
>
> In these verses this gloss does not seem to fit.  It would appear that
> there is a sense which is different from and probably derived from the
> normal meaning.  I would suggest that the author of the Apocalypse uses
> this word in the sense of "conviction, confession" or even "creed."
>
> Any thoughts?  Does anyone agree that the meanings "patience, endurance,
> etc." are inappropriate here?
>
> gfsomsel

Well, I cannot see how confession or creed could fit the context, and I
don't seen any problem with "endurance". Maybe your problem is hWDE?

NET Bible has:
13:10: This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.
Their note on hWDE reads:
"On hWDE here, BAGD 815 s.v. 2.b states: w. the local mng. weakened: in this
case, at this point, on this occasion, under these circumstances, in this
case moreover 1 Cor 4:2."

This special use of hWDE is also found in

Rev 13:18: This calls for wisdom.
Rev 14:12: This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints.
Rev 17:9: This requires a mind that has wisdom.

So, hWDE ESTIN is a short way of saying "this calls for" or "this requires"
or "here one needs to have" or "here it is important to have".

Iver Larsen




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