[B-Greek] Please help with LK 1:54

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Thu Dec 10 12:09:00 EST 2009


On Dec 10, 2009, at 6:35 AM, Jay Adkins wrote:
> Luke 1:54 ANTELABETO ISRAHL PAIDOS AUTOU, MNHSQHNAI ELEOUS
> 
> Dear BGreekers,
> 
> Please help me understand why this is not translated “He has helped His
> servant child Israel to remember mercy.”  Other than the comma, which we all
> know was added much later, I do not understand why most have translated as
> the ESV “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,.”
> 
> I understand that
> ANTELABETO is a Third Person, Singular, Aorist, Middle, Indicative &
> MNHSQHNAI is an Aorist, Passive, Infinitive.

"Child" doesn't really belong here at all; this is the standard usage of PAIS in the sense of "servant" -- very much like French garçon, or erstwhile American usage of "boy" for "servant."


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)






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