[B-Greek] Hebrews 1:1-2 EN

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Tue Dec 18 01:29:44 EST 2007


Consider the case of Mt 2.1

Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως

TOU DE IHSOU GENNHQENTOS EN BHQLEEM THS IOUDAIAS EN hHMERAIS hHRWiDOU TOU BASILEWS

Here we have the same preposition repeated as in Heb 1.1-2 about which you ask.  Would you understand the first EN in the same manner as the second?

 
george
gfsomsel
 
Therefore, O faithful Christian, search for truth, hear truth, 
learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, 
defend the truth till death.
 
- Jan Hus
_________



----- Original Message ----
From: "Alderman, Jim" <jim.alderman at G3TP.com>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 12:43:12 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] Hebrews 1:1-2 EN

The parallel structure of the first two verses of Hebrews is quite
striking, especially if viewed in a diagram.  Here is a sentence tree of
these verses, albeit using Marshall's literal translation, which I am
using with a study group:
http://www.freewebs.com/jlaindy/Hebrews%20Mind%20Map/index.html.



My question is regarding the two phrases "by the prophets" (EN TOIS
PROFHTAIS) and "by a son" (EN hUIWi).  Both PROFHTAIS and hUIWi are
dative.  EN would literally be translated "in" but more naturally "by"
for readability in this context.  In a previous message
(http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2004-July/030716.html), a
case was made for requiring EN to "bear the sense 'by means of' or
'through the instrumentality of.' "



With both occurrences of EN being in the same sentence, both with the
dative, both following the same verb root and hence resulting in such a
parallel construction, could there be any reasonable argument made for
translating them differently?  In other words, I am not concerned with
how EN is translated, but that both occurrences should be translated the
same way - not in general, but only in this specific situation.



I realize that this question might be toward the fringe area of topics
considered by this group but I would appreciate any responses.



James L. Alderman

Takton Systems, Inc.

Indianapolis, IN (USA)



Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:40



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