[B-Greek] Please help with LK 1:54
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Fri Dec 11 06:14:10 EST 2009
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Adkins" <jayadkins264 at gmail.com>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 11. december 2009 13:42
Subject: [B-Greek] Please help with LK 1:54
Thanks to all who responded to my question. I was totally unaware and
ignorant of the usage of PAIS. While this was not the reason I wrote, I do
appreciate the information. My concerns were with regard to the usage of
the infinitive. Mr. Larsen did address the issue, however, in doing so he
used another term in which I am ignorant of. What are “MP forms?” Should I
remove the term ‘child,’ would my translation then convey the idea
intended? “He has helped His servant Israel to remember mercy.”
Sola Gratia
Jay Adkins
--------------------
Old timers on the list are used to MP as an abbreviation for Middle/Passive
forms. I should have explained that. Carl Conrad can explain more about that or
you could search the archives.
And no, the meaning of PAIS as servant does not make your suggested translation
what is intended. It is not Israel who is showing mercy, but God who is showing
mercy to Israel by sending the expected Messiah. He has come to the aid of his
servant Israel, remembering to show mercy.
Although the Greek grammar is awkward because of Semitic influence, this is the
only possible meaning in context.
The SIL Exegetical Summary says:
"1. The infinitive ‘to remember’ is due to Hebrew influence and denotes an act
parallel with, or modifying, the previous verb so that this verse means ‘he
helped his servant Israel; he has remembered his mercy’ [TH, WBC].
1.1 It indicates the reason for helping Israel [BECNT, EGT, NIGTC, TH; NET]: he
helped Israel because he was merciful. This added infinitive has the sense ‘and
he remembered’, but instead of giving the result of helping Israel, it indicates
the cause [NIGTC]. Helping Israel is presented as fulfilling a promise made long
ago, but not forgotten by God [EGT]. To speak of God remembering is an
anthropomorphism that is common in the OT [WBC].
1.2 It defines God’s helping Israel as a remembering of mercy [Lns, NICNT, NTC,
WBC, and probably the translations of KJV, NASB, NRSV, NCV, NET, NIC, NLT]: he
helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy. God remembered his
promise to be merciful [NLT].
2. It is the infinitive of purpose [AB, Arn, ICC, Lns]: he helped Israel in
order to remember mercy. ‘To remember mercy’ means to carry his mercy into
effect [Lns]. It may be translated ‘so as to remember mercy’ and means to prove
that he had not forgotten [ICC]. This is an allusion to Psalm 98:3 and means God
remembered his mercy and faithfulness to Israel [AB]."
As you can see a few commentators see the infinitive as purpose, but the
majority do not. Nor do I.
Iver Larsen
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