[B-Greek] Luke 22:41 - WSEI LIQOU BOLHN
Vasile Stancu
stancu at mail.dnttm.ro
Sun Jul 6 02:15:15 EDT 2008
I do not think that we should literally think of a certain measurable
distance associated with this expression. It should simply mean "a
relatively short distance". In Romanian, we have similar expressions (still
in use) such as "a stick's throw", "as you blink the eye", "a horse's run",
"as one would say <fish>". All of them refer to a relatively short distance
or period of time. And sometimes we jokingly stress in our conversations the
nonliteral meaning of such expressions and their relativeness: one says, "I
will finish that as you would say <fish>". "Fish!", I say; "haven't you
finished yet?". Or, "It is not far: just a horse's run". "Aha", the answer
comes, "a horse's run until the horse dies, isn't it?" But normally, when
using such expressions, nobody would think of estimating time or distance by
any calibrated means. Of course, I do not mean to say that we should
interpret Koine Greek by Romanian patterns; however, the logic that stands
behind such expressions seem to be quite similar, whatever the time frame or
type of civilisation.
Vasile STANCU
-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of David Rollins
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 10:01 AM
To: B-Greek
Subject: [B-Greek] Luke 22:41 - WSEI LIQOU BOLHN
I was looking at the record of Jesus in Gethsemane in the gospels.
Luke records a seemingly insignificant detail that the other others do not
use - in verse 41 of chapter 22 - KAI AUTOS APEPASQHE AP'
AUTWN WSEI LIQOU BOLHN,
Matthew 26:39 and Mark 14:35 - both have KAI PROELQON MIKRON EPIPTEN.
Now perhaps this is an insignificant question, but for the modern ear
- "a stone's throw" could be anywhere from 50 feet to 300 feet depending on
whether you are a weakling or a Major League player ( it is difficult to
find any information on what a Koine greek man would think of as "a stone's
throw"). Why did Luke put in this detail ? I would surmise that because the
other two accounts speak of "going forward a little" that a stone's throw
would be about 20 feet.
Perhaps Luke never threw stones as a boy, so he did not have much of "an
arm". :)
David Rollins
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