[B-Greek] EGW EIMI hO WN (LXX of Exodus 3:14)
Kevin P. Edgecomb
kevin at bombaxo.com
Fri Mar 28 18:01:10 EDT 2008
George Somsel wrote:
>> No, it really isn't totally accurate. The Hebrew has the imperfect
>> (prefix form) of the existential verb twice and would more accurately
>> be translated "I will be who / what I will be." I think I'll leave
>> the Greek to your own efforts. It would almost seem that the LXX was
>> translated under some Platonic influence.
I write:
The Hebrew imperfect form is not restrictively a future tense, but a
present/future aspect.
It seems reasonable that the LXX reflects a different underlying text
(perhaps Albert Pietersma can say more about this) which would've included
the Tetragrammaton in the hO WN position, the Hebrew being perhaps simply:
)HYH YHWH, "I am YHWH" which was simply literally translated EGW EIMI hO WN.
hO WN is certainly a passable translation of YHWH, "He Is", and is likewise
understood thus in patristic texts and iconography.
Regards,
Kevin P. Edgecomb
Berkeley, California
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list