[B-Greek] SEIRAS as 'braids' in Judges 16:13-19?

Ken Penner kpenner at stfx.ca
Wed Jun 23 15:26:05 EDT 2010


FWIW, The usual Greek words for braids derive from the root PLK- (e.g., PLOKH, PLEKW), but I don't see what we would call "locks" "braids" and "plaits" clearly distinguished in the Greek literature. 


Ken M. Penner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Religious Studies
St. Francis Xavier University
Antigonish, NS Canada
kpenner at stfx.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Daniel Buck
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 3:45 PM
To: B-Greek
Subject: [B-Greek] SEIRAS as 'braids' in Judges 16:13-19?

The usual meaning of SEIRA is a rope or cord. But in the account of Sampson and Delida, the LXX uses it in v. 13, 14, and 19 to refer to Sampson's hair, "TAS hEPTA SEIRAS THS KEFALHS."  I can't imagine Sampson's uncut hair falling naturally into seven discrete strands each time it is mentioned, so it seems that what he did was wear his long hair in seven braids. And a braid does in fact bring to mind the twisted joining of strands into a rope.

Could the lexicons be amiss here in not giving 'braids' as a specific meaning of SEIRA, or have I just not looked at enough lexicons?

Daniel Buck


      
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