[B-Greek] eyw eimi egw eimi Isaiah 43:25

Albert Pietersma albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Mon Jan 2 12:19:58 EST 2006


Good question, the answer to which would seem to be No.
EGW EIMI EGW EIMI occurs three times in Esaias (Isaiah): 43:25, 45:19, 
51:12.
(1) In 43:25 Hebrew ANOCHI (2x) + HU + participle is rendered as EGW 
EIMI (2x) + article + participle.
(2) In 51:12 Hebrew ANOCHI (2x) + HU + participle + suffix  is rendered 
as EGW EIMI (2x) + article + participle+ pronoun (acc).
(3) In 45:19 Hebrew ANI (1x) + noun + participle + noun is rendered as 
EGW EIMI (2x) + noun + participle + noun
Hebrew ANOCHI ANOCHI of 43:25 and  51:12 is commonly (perhaps 
universally) read as appositional rather than equative, therefore "I am 
i.e. I am" rather than "I am = I am."  Greek EGW EIMI EGW would more 
than likely be intended and understood likewise, though reading it as 
equative is perhaps no stranger that it is in English (I AM am I AM). 
What is no doubt telling is that in the very few Patristic comments TLG 
provided, so such use is made of it.
Of further interest is 45:19 where reading the repetition as equative 
would yield I AM am I AM (the) Lord when I speak righteousness.
Thus my No to Bert's first question. As for his second question: 
Theoretically, making the one EGW EIMI arthrous and leaving the second 
one anarthrous would produce an S-V-SC. Perhaps the NETS translator of 
Esaias (who is on this list) has a view at variance with mine.
Al



while in 45:19 MT has ANI (1x) + noun.

On Jan 2, 2006, at 9:19 AM, Bert de Haan wrote:

> Isaiah 43:25;  EGW EIMI EGW EIMI hO EXALEIFWN TAS ANOMIAS SOU...
> Can the double EYW EIMI  mean; I am (the) I am, the one washing your
> transgressions...or would it need an article before the second EYW?
> Thank you.
> Bert de Haan.
>
>
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—
Albert Pietersma
Professor of Septuagint and Hellenistic Greek
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Home: 21 Cross Street,
Weston ON Canada M9N 2B8
Email: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Homepage: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~pietersm




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