[B-Greek] Sahidic Coptic Version (was "Another example of a qualitative Q...
Awohili at aol.com
Awohili at aol.com
Mon Jul 10 20:20:25 EDT 2006
The usual significance (and translation) of the Sahidic Coptic indefinite
article, when before a count noun, is simply "a." Ou.rome, "a man." Ou.shime,
"a woman," and countless other times in the Coptic New Testament. Just as
in the example cited of John 18:40. The Greek is anarthrous: LHSTHS, which
nearly all English versions translate substantively as "a robber/thief." The
Sahidic Coptic version employs the indefinite article here: "a robber/thief."
With Coptic abstract nouns or nouns of material substance, the "a" need not
be translated, but it usually is before count nouns, and literally, not
qualitatively. For example, how would John 18:40 make better sense if translated
"qualitatively"?
Similarly, the Sahidic Coptic of John 1:1c translates the anarthrous QEOS by
the indefinite ne.u.noute, "a god/a God." This is in contrast with "The
God" (Greek: TON QEON; Coptic: p.noute) in verse 1:1b. There is no grammatical
reason to translate the Coptic qualitatively here at John 1:1c, it is a
plain construction, the literal translation of which is "a god/a God."
Thus far, I have seen no qualitative use of the Coptic noun noute, when
preceded by the indefinite article, in the Coptic New Testament. If that is
suggested, there should be sound grammatical reasons for it, and examples to
demonstrate it.
Regards,
Solomon Landers
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