[B-Greek] JOHN 12:3 TOUS PODAS AUTOU

Elizabeth Kline kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Fri Mar 20 14:26:57 EDT 2009


JOHN 12:3 hH OUN MARIAM LABOUSA LITRAN MUROU NARDOU PISTIKHS POLUTIMOU  
HLEIYEN TOUS PODAS TOU IHSOU KAI EXEMAXEN TAIS QRIXIN AUTHS TOUS PODAS  
AUTOU: hH DE OIKIA EPLHRWQH EK THS OSMHS TOU MUROU.


... KAI EXEMAXEN TAIS QRIXIN AUTHS TOUS PODAS AUTOU:

This is somewhat over encoded from the standpoint of referential  
identity both of the subject and the object. The use of AUTHS  
following MARIAM is unremarkable even though zero anaphora would also  
work here. The second TOUS PODAS isn't required to identify the  
referent.  In other words the clause might be reduced to one of the  
following:


... KAI EXEMAXEN TAIS QRIXIN AUTOUS
... KAI EXEMAXEN  AUTOUS TAIS QRIXIN

or perhaps even

  ... KAI EXEMAXEN TAIS QRIXIN

The repetition of TOUS PODAS might serve to draw added attention to  
the startling nature of the act being performed, assuming that it was  
startling in that time and culture.

Elizabeth Kline







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