[B-Greek] anq wn = since
Iver Larsen
iver_larsen at sil.org
Sun Apr 10 05:05:56 EDT 2011
LSJ has this to say:
"3. to denote exchange, at the price of, in return for...—hence ἀνθʼ ὥν
wherefore, A.Pr.31, S.OT264, Th.6.83, Ev.Luc.12.3; ἀντὶ τούτου therefore,
Ep.Eph.5.31; but ἀνθʼ ὧν also for ἀντὶ τούτων ὅτι .., because,"
BDAG says:
"④ ... W. attraction of the rel. ἀνθʼ ὧν in return for which=because (Soph.,
Ant. 1068; X., An. 1, 3, 4; OGI 90, 35 [196 B.C.]; PLeid D I, 21; LXX; AscIs
2:14; Jos., Ant. 17, 201; SibOr 5, 68; B-D-F §294, 4) Lk 1:20; 19:44; Ac 12:23;
2 Th 2:10."
ANQ' hWN is a fixed phrase that means "in return for which" or "as a consequence
of which". So, if we have A ANQ' hWN B, then in most cases event A has happened
or will happen as a consequence of event B, but sometimes the idea is: A has
happened. As a consequence of event A, B will also happen.
That event A is a consequence of event B is clear enough in the BDAG NT
citations above, but note that they list all occurrences of the expression
except the one in Luke 12:3 under sense 4. For this verse LSJ suggests
"wherefore", and BDAG lists Lk 12:3 under the next sense:
⑤ indicating result, w. implication of being a replacement for someth.,
wherefore, therefore, so then (Aeschyl., Prom. 31; Thu. 6, 83, 1; 4 Macc 18:3;
Jdth 9:3; Jos., Ant. 4, 318) Lk 12:3
Although A is usually the consequence of B, B may be a consequence of A. That
seems to be the case in Jdth 9:3 and 4 Macc 18:3 (I have not checked the
others.) In these cases there is a full stop after the triggering event A. As a
consequence of A, then B has happened or will happen.
Let me quote the full text, since we need the context:
οὐδὲν δὲ συγκεκαλυμμένον ἐστὶν ὃ οὐκ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται καὶ κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ
γνωσθήσεται. \v 3 ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ὅσα ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ εἴπατε ἐν τῷ φωτὶ ἀκουσθήσεται
OUDEN DE SUGKEKALUMMENON ESTIN hO OUK APOKALUFQHSETAI KAI KRUPTON hO OU
GNWSQHSETAI. ANQ' hWN hOSA EN THi SKOTIAi EIPATE EN TWi QWTI AKUSQHSETAI
Nothing can be so completely covered up that it will not be uncovered and
nothing is so hidden that it will not become known(.)
ANQ' hWN whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light.
The speech starts with a warning to the disciples about not becoming hypocrites
like the Pharisees. Then comes a comment about a future judgment and there seems
to be a general principle that "whatever is done under the cover of darkness
will be heard in the light". As a consequence of this general principle, nothing
can be covered up or hidden forever. But it is also possible to turn it around
and say that here B is a consequence of A. In that case, the first sentence
would give the general principle and the second the consequence of the
principle. Because the two statements are saying more or the less the same
thing, it is difficult to decide on which is the better interpretation. Because
of the hOSA, I think it is most likely that LSJ and BDAG are correct in
interpreting these verses as: First A. As a consequence of A, then B. NA has a
full stop before ANQ' hWN here in Luk 12:3, but not in any of the other places.
This agrees with KJV, RSV, ESV (therefore), NASB (accordingly) and NET, GNB (so
then).
Iver Larsen
----- Original Message -----
From: "=)" <p1234567891 at gmail.com>
To: "George F Somsel" <gfsomsel at yahoo.com>; "B-Greek List"
<b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: 10. april 2011 08:13
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] anq wn = since
> Dear George,
>
> Yes I was not looking for word-for-word equivalents, so that is why I
> excluded occurrences of the first three usages you listed; I was wondering
> why the relative pronoun was used and if "anq wn" is something like a
> standard phrase for "since". But how do we know that Luke 12:3 does not mean
> "but there is nothing which has been covered that will not be revealed and
> nothing hidden that will not be known, since whatever you said in the
> darkness will be heard in the light and ..."? How would a hearer determine
> that "since" was not intended?
>
> David Lim
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Does "anq wn" mean "since"? I thought "anti" is a preposition, but there
>> does not seem to be any English "equivalent" for "anq" in this phrase, is
>> there? It occurs in Luke 1:20, Luke 12:3, Luke 19:44, Acts 12:23 and 2 Thes
>> 2:10. Is "anti toutou" in Eph 5:31 also similar? Does it mean "because of
>> this:" ("this" referring to what comes next)?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> David Lim
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