[B-Greek] PARARREW's root word (in Hebrews 2:1)?
Sarah Madden
sarah.r.madden at gmail.com
Tue Feb 5 06:59:54 EST 2008
Thank you, George, for adding much to this discussion. You and Elizabeth
Kline have been overly generous in answering this knotty (note the nautical
term ...) question. I'm studying Hebrews this semester, and this particular
word just did not make much sense until you both chimed in. Again, thank you
both for all of your time and effort! I am keeping your answers in my study
notes so they don't drift away and get lost in a sea of e-mails (nautical
terms intentional). :-)
Sarah
sarah.r.madden at gmail.com
Maryland
2008/2/5 George F Somsel <gfsomsel at yahoo.com>:
> Westcott notes the nautical imagery in his Hebrews commentary -- "The idea
> is not that of simple forgetfulness, but of being swept along past the sure
> anchorage which is within reach" (p. 37). Lane in the WBC notes
>
> "The peril against which the community is asked to guard is that of
> drifting off course (μήποτε παραρυῶμεν). If it is proper to recognize (with
> Teodorico, RevistB 6 [1958] 33–39) a nautical overtone in προσέχειν, "to
> hold a ship toward port, or to fasten the anchors to the sea bed," the image
> of a drifting ship, carried by the current beyond a fixed point, furnished a
> vivid metaphor for the failure to keep a firm grip on the truth through
> carelessness and lack of concern. In Prov 3:21 (LXX) παραρρεῖν signifies to
> lose sight of advice and wisdom. The writer warns his readers that they are
> in danger of losing sight of the reality of Christian salvation" (p. 37).
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On the other hand, Moffatt in his ICC commentary notes
>
> "The verb may have lost its figurative meaning, and may have been simply
> an equivalent for "going wrong," like "labi" in Latin (cp. Cicero, De
> Officiis, i. 6, "labi autem, errare … malum et turpe ducimus"). Anyhow
> προσέχειν must not be taken in a nautical sense ( = moor), in order to round
> off the "drift away" of παραρέω, a term which carries a sombre significance
> here ( = παραπίπτειν, 6:8); μήποτε παραρυῶμεν, τουτέστι μὴ ἀπολώμεθα, μὴ
> ἐκπέσωμεν (Chrysostom)" (p. 18).
>
> Yet Ellingworth in the NIGTC references the image
>
> "Παραρέω** is the spelling in most NT manuscripts, rather than the older
> παραρρέω (LSJ; MHT 2.102, 192f.) The verb is used in a similar way in
> Pr. 3:21, in a passage quoted in Heb. 12:5f.: υἱέ μὴ παραρρυῇς. In neither
> case does παραρέω have an object, so the meaning is more probably "drift
> away" than "let (wisdom, or Christian truth) slip away" from the persons
> addressed. Neither in Pr. 3:21 nor in Heb. 2:1 is there any suggestion of a
> ship drifting past the entrance to a harbour. This image is found in Philo
> (Gig. 13; Quaest. in Ex. 2.13), but without παραρέω. (The examples quoted
> in LSJ are predominantly psychological, suggesting that the metaphor of
> flowing was dead or dying.) Barclay's translation "shipwreck" thus seems
> unfounded. The meaning overlaps with ἀμελέω in v. 3, and ὑστερέω in 4:1.
> Chrysostom, quoted in Riggenbach, paraphrases as
> ἀπολώμεθα ... ἐκπέσωμεν, but these terms are blunter than the author's
> actual language at this point in the discussion. See I. H. Marshall
> 1969.134; Ballarini 1978.362; Mugridge; Oberholzer" (pp. 136-37).
>
>
> Attridge in Hermeneia seems to favor the nautical usage
>
>
> "In the call to greater attention, lest the addressees "slip away"
> (παραρυῶμεν), the language is rare and the image vague. The verb, the basic
> meaning of which is "flow beside," appears twice in the LXX, meaning
> "flow" or "slip away." There may be a hint of a nautical metaphor,
> according to which the addressees ought not, as ships, slip by the goal of
> their voyage, the safe harbor of salvation. If there is a specific
> metaphor involved, it is not fully developed. What the language certainly
> suggests is that Christians by neglecting their heritage may miss the
> opportunity to be part of that "unshakeable kingdom" that Christ inaugurates
> (12:28*) and may remain instead in a state of constant flux" (p. 64).
>
>
> I tend to agree, however, with Moffatt that the figure has lost the
> nautical reference. In LSJ many other usages are noted which have no
> relationship to nautical themes.
>
>
> παραρρέω [PARARREW], aor. -ερρύην [-ERRUHN] (v. infr.): pf. -ερρύηκα
> [-ERRUHKA] (v. infr.):—flow beside, by, or past, τὴν Νίνον [THN NINON]
> Hdt.2.150; τὰς Πλαταιάς [TAS PLATAIAS] Str.9.2.31; παρὰ πόλιν [PARA POLIN]
> Hdt.6.20, etc.: abs., Hp.Aër.6: prov., ὕδωρ παραρρέει [hUDWR
> PRARREEI], of those who promise to spare no effort, Cratin.60, cf.
> Lib.Ep.109.2.
>
> II. slip off or out, εἴ τί μοι τόξων .. παρερρύηκεν [EI TI MOI TOCWN …
> PARERRUHKEN] S.Ph.653; ὅτῳ μὴ παραρρυείη [ἡ χιών] [[OTWi MH PARARRUEIH [hH
> XIWN] ]] whom it did not slip off, X.An.4.4.11: metaph., πολλὰ ὑμῖν
> παρέρρει [POLLA hUMIN PARERREI] many points escaped you, Pl.Lg.781a;
> φιλοσοφίαν καὶ ῥητορικὴν παρερρυηκυίας [FILOSOFIAN KAI hRHTORIKHN
> PARERRUHKUIAS] having disappeared from memory, Gp.Prooem.4.
>
> 2. of persons, π. τῶν φρενῶν slip away from one's senses, Eup.357.6;
> abs., drift from course, err, υἱὲ μὴ παραρρυῇς [hUIE MH PARARRUHiS]
> LxxPr.3.21; μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν [MHPOTE PARARRUWMEN] Ep.Hebr.2.1.
>
> III. run off, Arist.Pr.866a9; π. παρὰ (v.l. πρὸς) τὴν ἀρτηρίαν [P. PARA
> (v.l. PROS) THN ARTHRIAN] slip into the windpipe, Id.PA664b29.
>
> 2. slip in unawares or by stealth, λόγοι παρερρυήκασι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ψευδεῖς
> [LOGOI PARERRUHKASI PROS hHMAS YEUDEIS] D.13.16; παραρρυεὶς ἄνθρωπος εἰς
> τὸν νεών [PARARRUEIS ANQRWPOS EIS TON NEWN] Plu.2.969e; ὅθεν παρερρύηκεν ὁ
> τοιοῦτος λόγος [hOQEN PARERRUHKEN hO TOIOUTOS LOGOS] Theon Prog.6; εἴ τι
> ἐν τῷ τῆς ποιήσεως δρόμῳ παραρρυὲν λάθῃ [EI TI EN TWi THS POIHSEWS DRWMWi
> PARARRUEN LAQHi] any irregularity which slips in, Luc.Hes.5.
>
> IV. φωναὶ σαθραὶ καὶ παρερρυηκυῖαι [FWNAI SAQRAI KAI PARERRUHKUIAI]
> cracked and unsteady, Arist.Aud.804a32.
>
>
>
>
> Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S., & McKenzie, R. (1996). A
> Greek-English lexicon. "With a revised supplement, 1996." (Rev. and augm.
> throughout) (1322). Oxford; New York: Clarendon Press; Oxford University
> Press.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> While the nautical image is interesting, I think too much indicates
> that to understand it in that one sense would be selecting one usage
> from the midst of a number of competing usages to understand it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> george
> gfsomsel
> … 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: Elizabeth Kline <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>
> To: greek B-Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 3, 2008 5:42:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] PARARREW's root word (in Hebrews 2:1)?
>
>
>
> On
> Feb
> 3,
> 2008,
> at
> 1:18
> PM,
> Elizabeth
> Kline
> wrote:
>
> >
> Another
> issue
> is
> the
> live/dead
> metaphor
> question
> which
> is
> somewhat
> >
> related
> to
> your
> question.
> Since
> we
> find
> the
> metaphor
> weakened
> long
> >
> before
> the
> GNT
> I
> would
> be
> inclined
> to
> agree
> with
> Ellingworth
> and
> >
> Spicq
> (Heb.Comm.)
> that
> this
> is
> a
> dead
> metaphor
> in
> Heb
> 2:1
> contra
> >
> B.F.Westcott
> and
> others.
> >
> >
> LSJ:1996,
> p1322
> "slip
> off
> or
> out"
> Soph.
> Ph.
> 653
> >
> >
> EI
> MOI
> TI
> TOXWN
> TWND'
> APHMELHMENON
> >
> PARERRUHKEN,
> hWS
> LIPW
> MH
> TWi
> LABEIN.
> >
> >
> See
> also
> LSJ:1996
> supp.
> p240
> "drift
> from
> course,
> err."
> >
> >
> The
> word
> is
> also
> found
> in
> LXX
> PRO.
> 3:21
> and
> IS.
> 44:4
> >
> >
> PRO.
> 3:21
> hUIE
> MH
> PARARRUHiS
> THRHSON
> DE
> EMHN
> BOULHN
> KAI
> ENNOIAN
> >
> >
> IS.
> 44:4
> KAI
> ANATELOUSIN
> hWSEI
> CORTOS
> ANA
> MESON
> hUDATOS
> KAI
> hWS
> >
> ITEA
> EPI
> PARARREON
> hUDWR
> >
> >
> The
> Isa.
> 44:4
> appears
> at
> first
> glance
> to
> support
> the
> live
> metaphor
> >
> reading
> whereas
> for
> PRO.
> 3:21
> LEH
> gives
> "to
> be
> careless,
> to
> neglect"
>
> HEB.
> 2:1
> DIA
> TOUTO
> DEI
> PERISSOTERWS
> PROSECEIN
> hHMAS
> TOIS
> AKOUSQEISIN,
> MHPOTE
> PARARUWMEN.
>
> C.Koester:2001
> (Hebrews
> AB
> p205)
> argues
> that
> PROSECEIN
> ane
> PARARUWMEN
> combine
> to
> create
> a
> nautical
> metaphor
> since
> "PROSECEIN
> was
> sometimes
> used
> for
> holding
> a
> ship
> on
> course
> toward
> port
> (LSJ,1512)".
> PROSECEIN
> appears
> to
> be
> used
> frequently
> in
> a
> cognitive
> sense
> in
> the
> GNT
> (LN
> 31.47,
> Danker
> (BDAG)
> 879-880).
> One
> might
> argue
> that
> behind
> the
> cognitive
> sense
> there
> was
> a
> nautical
> metaphor
> lurking
> somewhere
> in
> the
> shadows.
> I
> don't
> expect
> the
> nautical
> metaphor
> will
> disappear
> from
> the
> sermon
> notes
> any
> time
> soon.
>
>
>
> Elizabeth
> Kline
>
>
>
>
> ---
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>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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--
Sarah
sarah.r.madden at gmail.com
work: 301.429.8189
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