[B-Greek] Translation of Subjunctives in Parables (e.g., Mark 4:26-28)

Scott Allen Rauch scottallenrauch at gmail.com
Tue Nov 13 13:08:25 EST 2007


   As I read the Parable of the Growing Seeds (Mk 4:26-28), I noticed that
(basically) in the first half the verbs are subjunctive (throw, lie down,
get up, sprout, grow), but the parable concludes with indicatives (bear
fruit, send off, is at hand).

   Is it reasonable to say that the subjunctives indicate a potential
reality and are in contrast to the very firm reality (of the indicatives) at
the end of the parable?

   Is this type of translation reasonable? (You have to read the first half
in a sing-song voice indicating stuff that may or may not happen.) "… like a
man who might cast his seeds on the earth. And he might lie down and get up
– night and day. And the [his?] seeds might sprout and grow – how, he knows
not [indicative => it is for certain he has no clue]. On its own the earth
[certainly] bears fruit. First …. But whenever the fruit might yield,
immediately he [surely] sends out the scythe, for the harvest [surely] is at
hand."

   This is ugly English, but is this the thrust of the Greek? Is the Greek
purposely contrasting the subjunctive against the indicative?

   If so, how DO you capture this meaning in translation?

Scott Rauch



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