[B-Greek] Gen 3:16b LXX: t'shuqah (desire) => APOSTROFH (turning)

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Wed Jan 6 00:14:12 EST 2010


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert Pietersma" <albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca>
To: "Iver Larsen" <iver_larsen at sil.org>
Cc: "Eric S. Weiss" <papaweiss1 at yahoo.com>; "b-greek" 
<b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 5. januar 2010 21:21
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Gen 3:16b LXX: t'shuqah (desire) => APOSTROFH (turning)


While from a Hebrew lexicographical perspective one would certainly
want examine the three passages in which TShQH occurs, I don't think
it is particularly relevant for APOSTROFH. Instead, one might better
look at the nineteen occurrences of APOSTROFH in the LXX.
-----------------------
IL: My interest is not in lexicography but in understanding the semantic range 
of both the Hebrew and Greek word. LXX is a translation, and therefore it is IMO 
not a matter of either or, but both and. One should look both at the occurrences 
of APOSTROFH in the LXX (and beyond) and at the Hebrew words this Greek word is 
used to translate. Of course, most words have a number of possible senses, and 
therefore the same word can be used in different contexts to translate different 
words in another language.
---------------------

Muraoka
(2002) has the following entry: 1. return, comeback; 2. turning to
somebody for companionship and intimacy. Ge 3.16; 4.7. Given the fact
that component 2. is (apparently) solely based on the two Genesis
passages, one may well question its lexicographical legitimacy.
--------------------------
IL: But component 2 only might possibly fit Gen 3.16 (although I doubt it), but 
certainly not 4.7. So this puts an even bigger question mark on it.
I don't have Muraoka, but  the LXX lexicon I do have, suggests that the normal 
sense of APOSTROFH is "return" or "turn away from". However, for Ez 16.53 it 
suggests "shall turn their fortune". For Gen 3.16 is suggests "inclination".
For EPISTROFH, the same lexicon suggests: return, attention paid to, conversion, 
turning.

Based on these resources, I suggest that both 1 and 2, above are too narrow and 
only possibly fit in certain contexts. Rather, I suggest that the basic idea is 
to turn oneself or somthing from one location or focus to another location or 
focus. It can apaprently be either transitive or intransitive. Whether the sense 
is "turn to", "turn away from" or "return to" is a matter of context.
----------------------------
What seems reasonably clear is that the Genesis translator did not
know what TShQH meant. Why, in that case, he opted for APOSTROFH is
anybody's guess (might he be pointing back to 2:21-23??). But as far
as we can tell, it wasn't because it suited the Greek context.
Potentially, reception history would have field day with it, but that
is a different story.
Al
--------------------------
IL: I don't think that is reasonably clear. It is reasonably clear that WE do 
not understand the Hebrew word very well, but I trust the LXX translator had a 
better chance of understanding it. That is why I am willing to listen to that 
voice, too.

Iver Larsen




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