[B-Greek] Revelation 14:7 and HLTHEN

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Sun Jan 4 04:50:43 EST 2009


Forwarded (reformatted) for: Wayne <mtwaynew at hotmail.com>
Date: January 4, 2009 4:20:56 AM EST
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Revelation 14:7 and HLTHEN


My question is concerning the absolute most accurate way to translate  
the phrase Revelation 14:7 that includes   "hOTI  HLQEN  hH hWRA  THS   
KRISEWS AUTOU"

Specifically, I am curious as to HLQEN (translated as "came" in the  
Concordant Literal Version).

the parsing I get is indicative 2nd aorist active 3rd person  
singular?   I found this comment on wikipedia:

In the indicative mood, the aorist refers to a past action, in a  
general way or as a completed event. It may also be used to express a  
general statement in the present (the "gnomic aorist"). Used this way,  
it is described as the aorist tense.

I am thinking that in Revelation 14:7, HLQEN is a "gnomic aorist"?   
Which means that translating it as a simple past tense action (as in  
the CLV) would be incorrect.  Would I be right or wrong?  I found this  
commentary on gnomic aorist:

Gnomic Aorist: The aorist indicative is occasionally used to present a  
timeless, general fact. When it does so, it does not refer to a  
particular event that did happen, but to a generic event that does  
happen. Normally, it is translated like a simple present tense.
1Pet 1:24 The grass withers and the flower falls off

P.S.  Honestly, and it might be obvious, but I know very little about  
translating koine.   My question stems from using the program "ISA2"  
to try and figure out what is really being said combined with my  
theological perspective on this passage.  I'm a dangerous man.  thanks.

wayne williams



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