[B-Greek] Luke 22:53

Bob Firth r.firth at ridley.unimelb.edu.au
Wed Oct 12 01:59:21 EDT 2005


I have been working on an exegesis of the betrayal of Jesus and thought 
I might share my thoughts on verse 53b to see what other think.

Luke 22:53b:
hAUTH ESTIN hUMWN hH hWRA KAI hH EXOUSIA TOU SKOTOUS
αὕτη ἐστὶν ὑμῶν ἡ ὥρα καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία τοῦ σκότους

One solution is to understand hAUTH ESTIN hUMWN as linked only with hH 
hWRA and take KAI as introducing a phrase clarifying this hour, as in 
“this is your hour, that of the power of darkness.” So NIV, "this is 
your hour, when darkness reigns.”

Alternately, ESTIN hUMWN might be understood to apply to both phrases, 
linked by KAI as in “this hour is yours, and so is the power of 
darkness.” so NASB, “this hour, and the power of darkness are yours.”

A third undestanding (my own creation) is to take hAUTH ESTIN in 
connection with the darkness, and the KAI connecting the two phrases 
which are both modified by hUMWN, “but this is your hour and your 
authority - darkness.”

I am wondering if my interpretation is grammatically possible/plausible, 
and which of these interpretations are to be preferred, and why.

thanks for your thoughts,
Bob
--
Bob Firth studies at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia



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