[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



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