[B-Greek] Rev. 1:5 b
Webb
webb at selftest.net
Wed Jan 25 17:12:12 EST 2006
Dear Dave,
In my opinion, the expression "he broke us free" needs improvement. It's
true (I think) that you could talk about unfastening chains, manacles or
other solid items using the Greek verb LUW (normally, "loose", "unbind",
"untie"). So if you could get out of being tied up by ropes OR chained with
chains, etc. by yourself, you might say in English, "I broke free". But
you'd never say of the person who untied you or cut your chains off, "he
broke me free". The expression just doesn't reverse in that way--not to say
that it's opaque to an experienced English speaker. It just sounds peculiar.
So the question is, what WOULD you say the person did, if they untied you or
cut your chains off with a saw, or broke them off with a sledge hammer and
cold chisel? Maybe the person...
Broke me out of the chains/manacles/leg irons
Freed me
Unbound me
Set me free
FWIW,
Webb Mealy
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