[B-Greek] Matthew 9:20, Matthew 14:36 (TOU KRASPEDOU) cf Malachi 4:2 (LXX 3:20) KANAPH/TAIS PTERUXIN
yancywsmith
yancywsmith at sbcglobal.net
Thu Sep 7 12:37:36 EDT 2006
Saludos, William,
¿Qué hacés in la Argentina? (Podés responderme OFF LIST si
querés.) Fui expatriota de EE.UU. ahí por unos 11 años.
The relation between KRASPEDON and PTERUX is seen in Num 15:38
λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ
ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς
LALHSON TOIS UIOS ISRAEL KAI EREIS PROS AUTOUS
καὶ ποιησάτωσαν ἑαυτοῖς κράσπεδα
ἐπὶ τὰ πτερύγια τῶν ἱματίων
αὐτῶν εἰς τὰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν
KAI POIHSATWSAN hEAUTOIS KRASPEDA EPI TA PTERUGIA TWN hIMATIWN AUTWN
EIS TAS GENEAS AUTWN
καὶ ἐπιθήσετε ἐπὶ τὰ κράσπεδα τῶν
πτερυγίων κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον
KAI EPIQTSETES EPI TA KRASPEDA TWN PTERUGIWN KLWSMA hUAKINQINON
So, the KRASPEDON was a gathering and flourish with light blue
(Hyachinth colored) threads and was on the PTERUX, or "hem," at the
"corners." Two tassels would be down low and two up higher, depending
on how the garment was worn. It would be easy to refer to the one or
the other indirectly by metonymy.
Here is the entry from Lust, et al. (Lexicon on the LXX)
PTERUX
Ex 19:4; 25:20(bis); 38:8(37:9); Lv 1:17 wing Ex 19:4; id. (metaph.
for the rays of the sun) Mal 3:20; id. (metaph. of the wind) 2 Sm
22:11; end, farthest edge, extremity (of the earth) Is 11:12 —>Lsj
Suppl; Lsj RSuppl; Nidntt
Muraoka, in his LXX Lexicon has this note: PTERUX 2. calque on Heb. /
kanaf/, the extremity of some expanse: pl. and of the earth, world
(Jb 37:3, vl. AKRWN), Is. 11:2; Ez 7:2.
Here is and excerpt of Muraoka's entry for KRASPEDON
tassel, on the four corners of an ancient Israelite's outer garment,
"let them make for themselves tassels" (Num 15:38), "Take hold of the
tassel of a Jew" Zc 8:23.
I am not so sure that Mal 4:2 (3:20 =LXX 3:20) inspired the way these
two stories were told. Rather, the living traditions embodied in
Numbers, Zech, and the daily clothing habits of Judeans and Galileans
are the source of the story. According to Hagner (WBC) and others, it
seems that, given the context, the more likely Hebrew word behind
PTERUX (hem) would simply be kanap כנף, "hem," referring possibly
to a particular part of the "hem," the ציצת tzitzit, "tassle."
Nevertheless, I can imagine that Matthew would have been fascinated
and delighted with the Christological implications of the connection
with Malachi that you are making.
The study of Matthew's quotes from the "LXX" (and other) sources of
the OT is fraught with difficulties. An old standby on this topic,
and still worth the read is (you can probably get it at the ISEDET
library in Buenos Aires):
Gundry, Robert Horton.
The use of the Old Testament in St. Matthew’s Gospel. With special
reference to the Messianic hope.
Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1967.
The Africans scholar Maarten Menken, in a series of articles
published in various sources, has done some recent work in this area
and he is sensitive to the fluidity of the LXX text, which was
constantly in a state of flux. He suggests in several places where
Mattew's text goes his own way that he could have been using an
adjusted LXX text (an not necessarily adjusting the text himself). Be
that as it may, copiests were often revisionists, especially when
they had any access to Hebrew or Syriac/Aramaic oral and textual
traditions which were alive in the Church of Matthew's day would have
readily adjusted the "LXX" text, as did many others. So, we can't
just assume that an edition of the LXX (standardized for church use
in the 4th century C.E. and onward) was the "standard" LXX text in
Matthew's day, or even what that was. Some or even all of Matthew's
nonstandard quotes could be from his edited text.
Yancy Smith
yancywsmith at sbcglobal.net
5636 Wedgworth Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76133
817-361-7565
VALE/ERROSW/שלומ
On Sep 7, 2006, at 9:40 AM, William Ross wrote:
> We are all probably familiar with the many obvious indications that
> Matthew is dependent on the LXX, such as his quote of Isaiah 7:14 LXX,
> so I am surprised to see something that appears to me to be from the
> Hebrew rather than the LXX and I am wondering if I knew more about the
> etymology or extant usage of PTERUXIN that it would show that the
> Greek could have been his source for Matthew 9:20 and 14:36.
>
> It seems obvious to me that these verses:
>
> Mt 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of
> blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his
> garment:
> Mt 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his
> garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
>
> were inspired by Malachi 4:2 (LXX 3:20). Here is the KJV (from the
> Masoretic Hebrew text):
>
> Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
> righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth,
> and grow up as calves of the stall.
>
> The word translated "wings" is KANAPH which has the following
> semantic range:
>
> 03671 Pnk kanaph kaw-nawf'
> from 03670; n f; {See TWOT on 1003 @@ '1003a'}
> AV-wing 74, skirt 14, borders 2, corners 2, ends 2, feathered 2, sort
> 2, winged 2, misc 8; 108
> 1) wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt
> 1a) wing
> 1b) extremity
> 1b1) skirt, corner (of garment)
>
> ISTM that it was originally penned to refer to the rays of the sun of
> righteousness. This could have had the double meaning of the coming
> Davidic ruler, the periphery of who's very garments would extend
> divine healing - and thus makes a natural background for Matthew's
> stories.
>
> But if Matthew was reading the LXX, which he obviously normally did,
> he would have encountered PTERUXIN rather than KANAPH. My question
> then is, would PTERUXIN have a similar usage in its semantic range?
> Could he get "hem of his garment" from PTERUXIN?
>
> If not, would anyone think he could have been astute enough to catch
> the idea that "the sun of righteousness" was a man and the "wings"
> were his garment fringe?
>
> I think he could have made the interpretation from the LXX reading,
> but I am thinking it would be an easier sell if PTERUXIN lent itself
> to that reading.
>
> Sorry for such a complex, lengthy question.
>
> William Ross
> VGB, Argentina
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