[B-Greek] kataluma

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Dec 30 00:18:50 EST 2009


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Yates" <bill.yates4 at btinternet.com>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 29. december 2009 23:36
Subject: [B-Greek] kataluma


> In Luke 2:7 we have kataluma translated as 'inn.  In 22:11 it is translated as 
> 'upper room'.
>
> Can anyone suggest why this word would be translated in such different ways? 
> In 10:34 he uses PANDOXEION which is translated as 'inn'.
>
> Surely, the original author would not have intended this difference  in 
> meaning in his original text.
>
> Did this discrepancy arise from St Jerome's Latin translation or is some other 
> explanation more plausible.

Yes, it must be influenced by the Latin Vulgate which uses diversorium. Tyndale 
translated it as "ynne", and it is only the most recent translations (in 
English) that have realized the mistake and moved to the sense of "guest room". 
BDAG has similarly adjusted the earlier BAGD entry. (Thanks to Tony Pope for 
this information). In this context, it can hardly be a public room, but a guest 
room in a private home of a relative, probably upstairs like the upper room for 
the last supper. (But smaller). Since it was already occupied, Joseph and Mary 
were apparently allowed to stay in the empty and available space at ground level 
which was used as a shelter for animals during winter time. The sheep were out 
in the grazing field.

For Luke 10:34 PANDOCEION Vulgate has stabulum and Tyndale comen ynne.
For Luke 22:11 Vulgate has diversorium and Tyndale "gest chamber".

Iver Larsen 




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