[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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