[B-Greek] Revelation 14:7 and HLTHEN

Bill Barton phos at windstream.net
Sun Jan 4 12:10:55 EST 2009


On Sunday, January 4, 4:50 AM, Wayne Williams wrote:


> I am thinking that in Revelation 14:7, HLQEN is a "gnomic aorist"?>

"Gnomic" is from the Greek term GNWMH which in turn derives from GINWSKW "to 
know."  With reference to the gnomic aorist, Wallace says the following:

"The [gnomic] aorist indicative is occasionally used to present a timeless, 
general fact."

As an example of the gnomic aorist, Wallace gives Matt 23:2, "the scribes 
and Pharisees sit on Moses' seat." ("Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics," pg. 
562).  In this example "sit" would be a gnomic aorist.

But in Rev14:7 the hour of wrath is not (in my opinion) presented as a 
timeless, general fact, rather the hour of wrath is presented as something 
that is at hand.  Therefore the aorist in Rev 14:7 would not be a gnomic 
aorist.

Robertson refers to this aorist in Rev 14:7 as "prophetic use."  ("Word 
Pictures in the New Testament," pg. 411).

Wallace doesn't address Rev 14:7 in particular, but he lists a category 
which he calls "Immediate Past Aorist / Dramatic Aorist" which seems to me 
to apply to Rev 14:7.  Wallace says the following:

"The [immediate past/dramatic aorist] indicative can be used of an event 
that happened rather recently.  Its force can usually be brought out with 
something like 'just now,' as in 'just now I told you.'  This may be 
lexically colored (occurring with verbs of emotion and understanding), but 
more often it is due to Semitic coloring, reflecting a Semitic stative 
perfect. [33]"  (Wallace, op. cit., p. 564)

As an example Wallace gives Matt 9:18, "My daughter has just now died." 
(Wallace, op. cit., p. 565)

The reference [33] given by Wallace is Fanning, "Verbal Aspect," pp 275-276. 
This reference by Fanning can be found on google books:

http://books.google.com/books?id=lLNaBdYkjYMC&pg=PA276&lpg=PA276&dq=semitic+stative+perfect&source=web&ots=levTGxGeva&sig=WFMMqmwEzSP1DrD1-59t1pREyC8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA275,M1


Regards,

Bill Barton


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl W. Conrad" <cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu>
To: "B-Greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: "Wayne" <mtwaynew at hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 4:50 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] Revelation 14:7 and HLTHEN


> 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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