[B-Greek] Translation of Subjunctives in Parables (e.g., Mark 4:26-28)
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Tue Nov 13 16:32:00 EST 2007
I think this message may have gotten lost in the process of passing
through moderation of new-member posts. I do think it should go to the
list despite the fact that it seems to be asking a translation
question; it really seems to me to be asking about the significance of
the subjunctives in the passage.
CWConrad
========
Forwarded for: "Scott Allen Rauch" <scottallenrauch at gmail.com>
Date: November 13, 2007 1:08:25 PM EST
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Translation of Subjunctives in Parables (e.g., Mark 4:26-28)
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
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list