[B-Greek] Construing 1 Peter 3:7 (was "ASQENESTERWi SKEUEI in 1 Peter 3:7")

Harold Holmyard hholmyard3 at earthlink.net
Mon Jul 27 14:15:18 EDT 2009


Carl,
>
> Or is the neuter adjectival form chosen because ASQENESTERWi SKEUEI is  
> neuter? And if so, then why shouldn't TWi GUNAIKEIWi be understood as  
> an attributive adjective? -- as I was originally inclined to suppose?  
> Perhaps SKEUEI TWi GUNAIKEIWi is the dative complement to SUNOIKOUNTES  
> as well as to APONEMONTES TIMHN, in which case the hWS should be  
> construed only with ASQENESTERWi. It does seem to me that KATA GNWSIN  
> must be seen in conjunction with hWS ASQENESTERWi SKEUEI:  
> "consideration" is appropriate in view of the greater weakness/ 
> vulnerability involved. In that case, we'd have something like,  
> "husbands sharing existence with (their) feminine/wifely vehicle in an  
> understanding way (since it is weaker/more-vulnerable), attributing  
> worth to (it/them) as co-heirs of the grace of life ... "
>   

HH: Thanks for the summary of the discussion. I believe that living 
together according to knowledge is the way that one shows honor. The 
verbs can work together. The weakness here cannot be bad because it is 
God-given. God created woman differently than man for a purpose. I take 
TWi GUNAIKEIWi as clarifying what the author means by hWS ASQENESTERWi 
SKEUEI: "as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one." The last phrase TWi 
GUNAIKEIWi clarifies that he is picturing the man and wife as two 
vessels, with the weaker being the feminine one. I have a hard time 
seeing the phrase as construed with both verbs because in English 
different prepositions would be involved: "living together as with a 
weaker vessel" versus "showing honor as to a weaker vessel," but perhaps 
that problem would not have existed in Greek. I don't have a problem 
with the two instances of hWS possibly construing with a single verb 
because they seem to be functioning slightly differently. There is more 
of a comparison made with the idea of vessel, but more of a simple 
identification with respect to being a fellow-heir of the grace of life. 
"Fellow-heir of the grace of life" seems to recall God's original 
purpose in creating male and female human beings as the unity of "man" 
or "humanity," and so of course it recalls creation of the female as a 
complement to the male (Genesis 2).

HH: In looking at numerous Bible versions it is clear that some scholars 
have construed hWS ASQENESTERWi SKEUEI with the first verb, and some 
with the second verb. I would say that construing it with the second is 
more frequent. Examples of construing with the first verb are:

NET 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with 
consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs 
of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.

NAS 1 Peter 3:7  You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an 
understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and 
grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your 
prayers may not be hindered.

CSB 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with 
understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs 
of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

GWN 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with 
understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as 
those who share God's life-giving kindness so that nothing will 
interfere with your prayers.

HH: However, more lean in the other direction in English, construing the 
phrase with the second verb:

BBE 1 Peter 3:7  And you husbands, give thought to your way of life with 
your wives, giving honour to the woman who is the feebler vessel, but 
who has an equal part in the heritage of the grace of life; so that you 
may not be kept from prayer.

DRA 1 Peter 3:7  Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to 
knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as 
to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.

ESV 1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an 
understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, 
since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers 
may not be hindered.

KJV 1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to 
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and 
as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not 
hindered.

NAB 1 Peter 3:7  Likewise, you husbands should live with your wives in 
understanding, showing honor to the weaker female sex, since we are 
joint heirs of the gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

NIB 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live 
with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and 
as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will 
hinder your prayers.

NIV 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live 
with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and 
as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will 
hinder your prayers.

NJB 1 Peter 3:7  In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives 
with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one 
who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the 
generous gift of life. This will prevent anything from coming in the way 
of your prayers.

NKJ 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, 
giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs 
together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

NRS 1 Peter 3:7  Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your 
wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker 
sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life-- so 
that nothing may hinder your prayers.

HH: One version may try to construe with both verbs:

NLT 1 Peter 3:7  In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your 
wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may 
be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of 
new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard











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