[b-greek] Re: John 20:16 RABBOUNI

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Tue Oct 16 2001 - 08:15:35 EDT


At 11:44 AM +0000 10/16/01, jwest@highland.net wrote:
>> Text: LEGEI AUTHi IHSOUS: MARIAM. STRAFEISA EKEINH LEGEI AUTWi hEBRAISTI:
>> RABBOUNI (hO LEGETAI DIDASKALE).
>>
>> I've been asked off-list whether I don't think that "RABBOUNI" is an overly
>> stiff and formal term for Mary to use for the Jesus whom she only now,
>> after he has called her by name, recognizes. My response was that I thought
>> it expressed simultaneous respect and adoration, but quite frankly I don't
>> know what the implications and connotations of that term might be in this
>> setting in Aramaic and thought it worth asking our Aramaic people on the
>> list--Randall, Jack, others?--to comment. My correspondent says he couldn't
>> imagine addressing a risen Lord with a term like "Doctor" or
>> "Professor"--but I wonder whether, in the culture of the passage,
>> "Teacher!" would really be so out of place.
>
>your first instinct is correct. it is simultaneously a term of respect and
>reverence. not at all out of place. interestingly it is less *respectful*
>than the expected "adonai".

Thanks, Jim; these days I don't trust my instincts too much.

>> Wie moechten denn die gelehrten Herren Doktoren zu antworten?
>
>ich bin nicht eine gelehrten, aber ich bin eine Esel.

ein Gelehrter, doch sicher, ein Esel sicher nicht (sowie auch nicht weiblich!)!
--

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
Most months: 1647 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwconrad@ioa.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/

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