[B-Greek] ARRABWN engagement ring

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Mon Feb 12 22:39:23 EST 2007


Actually, there are 3 items which are included in the ARRABWN [Heb -- ("RfBoWN] -- the ring, the staff and a cord.  I'm not certain what the significance of the cord might be or how it would be considered peculiar to a particular individual.  The word for "cord" in Hebrew [P.fSiYL] is not used frequently in the massoretic text.  It designates the cord which binds the breastplate to the ephod, the cord which binds the disk with "Holy to the LORD" on the High Priest's turban, the mandated tassels on the garments of the Israelites, the cord in the vision of Ezekiel who give Ezekiel a guided tour of the temple, and strangely in reference to something which secures the cover of a vessel.

It is interesting that in the one instance I can think of immediately which might be more or less comparable to an engagement ring is narrative of sending of Abraham's servant to acquire a wife for Isaac.  When he meets Rebekah he determines that she is the right sort of people and makes an agreement with her brother that she is to become Isaac's wife.  When the agreement is made he gives Rebekah garments, a nose ring, and bracelets.  I rather doubt that rings were used as we are accustomed to use them today in betrothals and weddings.

 
george
gfsomsel
_________



----- Original Message ----
From: Bryant J. Williams III <bjwvmw at com-pair.net>
To: George F Somsel <gfsomsel at yahoo.com>; Mitch Larramore <mitchlarramore at yahoo.com>; B Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 10:07:07 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] ARRABWN engagement ring


George,

I wonder, then, since the passages of Genesis 38 are not referring to an
"engagement ring," but  are referring to the "signet ring" that refers to
the identity of the holder of the ring as one who has authority? This would
be true since it is a "staff and ring" that are handed over to show
ownership and identity.

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George F Somsel" <gfsomsel at yahoo.com>
To: "Mitch Larramore" <mitchlarramore at yahoo.com>; "B Greek"
<b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] ARRABWN engagement ring


> Mitch,
>
> When I began checking this, I first checked in BDAG.  There I found that
it is a Semitic loan word -- ("RfBoWN in Hebrew.  I then checked in the
massoretic text of the OT and in the LXX.  I found the Hebrew word used 3
times in Genesis -- 38.17, 18, 20 and ARRABWN was used in the same places in
the LXX.  While it is possible that it might have been used to translate
another word as well, this seems not to have been the case.  In NT ARRABWN
is also used 3 times -- 2 Cor 1.22; 5.5 and Eph 1.14.  Surprisingly, it is
used already by Aristotle in his Politics though not in the sense of
"wedding ring" and about a century earlier by the orator Isaeus.  It is also
used by other Greek writers such as Plutarch, but again, not in the sense of
"wedding ring."  It further passed into Latin and French.  In the Genesis
passage in which it is used it signifies the objects which Judah gave Tamar
as a pledge when he thought she was a prostitute.
>
>
> george
> gfsomsel
> _________
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Mitch Larramore <mitchlarramore at yahoo.com>
> To: B Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 7:44:19 PM
> Subject: [B-Greek] ARRABWN engagement ring
>
>
> I've checked the archives and found the answer to the
> following question...for the most part. It was asked
> by someone if ARRABWN meant an engagement ring, and
> someone cited its use as such a ring, but only in
> Modern Greek. I note that ARRABWN is also listed as
> meaning a 'pledge' in ancient Greek. So, I just wanted
> to see if someone has ever bothered to determine
> (confirm?) the first time this word was in fact used
> for the engagement ring (or the entire engagement
> ceremony). Since ARRABWN can be used of a pledge in
> ancient Greek, it would seem like a word that could
> have been used of an engagement ring. I guess my
> question boils down to two elements:
>
> 1. what's the first attested reading of ARRABWN as
> 'engagement ring'?
>
> 2. is ARRABWN, when used of a pledge, ever found in
> ancient Greek in the context of an engagement ceremony?
>
> Mitch Larramore
> Sugar Land, Texas
>
>
>
>
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