[B-Greek] translation of Mark 5:7

Ben Crick ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Thu Oct 27 18:53:50 EDT 2005


On Wed 26 Oct 2005 (13:08:01), dan-bgreek at hotmail.com wrote:
> My question is, how to translate the first part of what the demoniac
> says to Jesus.
> 
> Are the words ... TI ___ EMOI KAI SOI ... a colloquial expression?
> Many bibles translate ... TI ___ EMOI KAI SOI ... as "What have I to do
> with you"
> To me, I think this paraphrase is not accurate.
> 
> It seems to me that the expession ... TI EMOI KAI SOI ... is missing a
> verb  but that the verb is implied and supposedly obvious.
> 
> Is this a text ellipsis? - I don't think so.
> Was the text purposely written this way? - I think it was.
> If I am correct, what would be a good candidate for the missing verb?

 Dear Dan,

 This expression TI EMOI KAI SOI is a literal rendering of a Hebrew (or
 Aramaic equivalent) phrase MaH LiY WaLaK "What to me and to thee" or
 TI EMOI KAI SOI. It is found in Judges 11:12; 2 Samuel 16:10 and 19:22; 
 1 Kings 17:18; 2 Kings 3:13; 2 Chronicles 35:21; and in the GNT, Mark 5:7
 //Luke 8:28, and John 2:4. Variations occur in Joshua 22:24 and 2 Kings
 9:18-19.

 It seems in context to be a legal phrase invoking some sort of covenant
 or legal agreement. The party invoking the agreement says "The LORD do so
 to me, and more also, if I break this Covenant" (Ruth 1:17; 1 Kings 2:23).

 When Jesus went to cast out the Legion of demons, they claimed a contract
 right to infest the victim. They cried "What have I to do with thee, Jesus,
 thou Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:7). The demons feared that he had
 come to destroy them "before the time" (Matthew 8:29).

 As someone has suggested, you'll find previous threads on this topic in
 the Archives.

 ERRWSQE
 Ben
-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF                                       ZFC Hf
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