[B-Greek] Jn 2:4 TI EMOI KAI SOI, GUNAI

Mike Sangrey MSangrey at BlueFeltHat.org
Thu Mar 31 11:24:48 EST 2005


On Thu, 2005-03-31 at 08:04 -0800, Elizabeth Kline wrote:
> Jn 2:4 KAI LEGEI AUTHi hO IHSOUS: TI EMOI KAI SOI, GUNAI
> 
> In a recent discussion of the TNIV a blogger, who claims to know Greek, was
> arguing that this should be understood and translated as a rebuke. I have
> found little support for this in the literature.
> 
> TI EMOI KAI SOI can be, but need not be a dismissive reply.
> 
> GUNAI does not carry the same tone as "Woman!" in English.
> 
> Has this blogger discovered something I have missed?

In a word, 'no'.

GUNH, when used in the vocative, is a term of endearment and respect.
BAGD, in the first entry, has, "The voc. (W) GUNAI is by no means a
disrespectful form of address" and then cite at least 14 occurrences.

The more interesting phrase is TI EMOI KAI SOI, which very well may
carry a sense of "I thought we had an agreement."  In any case, what
Jesus is doing by using the vocative GUNAI is turning off in Mary's mind
(and, by extension, John is doing the same in the reader's mind), the
misinterpretation of TI EMOI KAI SOI as being confrontational.  In other
words, Jesus uses a term of respect in order to correctly convey his
emotional intentions with TI EMOI KAI SOI.

This, of course, is 180 degrees opposite to the TNIV blogger.

Also, I might add, Jesus next actions become ridiculous if TI EMOI KAI
SOI, GUNAI is a rebuke.  Why would Jesus rebuke his mom, and then turn
around and do the very thing she is suggesting?

-- 
Mike Sangrey
msangrey AT BlueFeltHat.org
Landisburg, Pa.
                        "The first one last wins."
            "A net of highly cohesive details reveals the truth."




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