[B-Greek] middle voice - still looking for more answers
George F Somsel
gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Mon Nov 23 14:43:51 EST 2009
While the entry in BDAG is under λυμαίνω LUMAINW, this verb is a hapax in the NT and appears 17 times in the LXX. It is ALWAYS in the middle. Originally the word λυμαίνω LUMAINW indicated cleansing one's self from filth and came to have the meaning of maltreat another. My guess is that the sense "maltreat" was derived from the concept of cleansing one's self of THEIR FILTH.
george
gfsomsel
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----- Original Message ----
From: Mark Lightman <lightmanmark at yahoo.com>
To: greek B-Greek <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>; Elizabeth Kline <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>; Eddie Mishoe <edmishoe at yahoo.com>
Sent: Mon, November 23, 2009 11:53:28 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] middle voice - still looking for more answers
Eddie egrapse:
<However, I have not run up against a Middle verb
that I would say is Active in meaning (which is a
periphrasis for it being a 'deponent').>
What about Acts 8:3? Σαυλος δε ελυμαινετο την
εκκλησιαν. SAULOS DE ELUMAINETO THN
ELYSIAN. Where is the middle force?
Romans 13:2 οι δε ανθεστηκοτες ἑαυτοις κριμα
λημψονται. hOI DE ANQESTHKOTES hEAUTOIS
KRIMA LHMYONTAI. Does not the fact that
that LAMBANW is made reflexive with hEAUTOIS show
that it is considered active/deponent in the
future?
Mark L
Φωσφορος
FWSFOROS MARKOS
--- On Sat, 11/21/09, Eddie Mishoe <edmishoe at yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Eddie Mishoe <edmishoe at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] middle voice - still looking for more answers
To: "greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>, "Elizabeth Kline" <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>, "Mark Lightman" <lightmanmark at yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 6:40 PM
Mark, (and Elizabeth, see below)
Thanks for this reply. My contention is that all Middle verbs in the NT are intentionally used to express the nuance of the Middle. I think you can argue that some old Interjections or idiomatic uses could be found to argue against my position. However, I have not run up against a Middle verb that I would say is Active in meaning (which is a periphrasis for it being a 'deponent').
Both the Middle and Active have the Subject acting, so you can see why they are often times difficult to distinguish. But in every instance of the Middle, there is some "self-propulsion" (an old word of Carl's that creates a good image in my mind) involved, the Subject is acting or performing something. I think Carl likes the expression "agentive" (with what we use to call deponents) where the Subject initiates or performs an action.
Elizabeth, are you in agreement with what I've written? If not, please feel free to correct me. I certainly would defer to someone of your scholastic level. Any input you can offer would be greatly appreciated (Carl has to be getting tired of my OFFLIST questions to him!)
Eddie Mishoe
---
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