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Ac.28:3 καθάπτειν
Posted: January 20th, 2016, 9:59 am
by Stephen Hughes
ἔχιδνα … καθῆψεν τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.
“A viper fastened onto his hand.”
When you imagine this scene, does the κατα- prompt you to think that the viper bit down, or does it imply to you that harm would result from the coming into contact? Do you take it as primary directional or intentional?
Re: Ac.28:3 καθάπτειν
Posted: January 20th, 2016, 4:13 pm
by Jonathan Robie
Stephen Hughes wrote:ἔχιδνα … καθῆψεν τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.
“A viper fastened onto his hand.”
When you imagine this scene, does the κατα- prompt you to think that the viper bit down, or does it imply to you that harm would result from the coming into contact? Do you take it as primary directional or intentional?
Is there any evidence that καθάπτειν means more than "fasten", "lay hold of", "attack"? I'm not sure what would justify either of the implications you draw from the etymology.
Re: Ac.28:3 καθάπτειν
Posted: January 21st, 2016, 9:29 am
by Stephen Hughes
I'm wondering how other people who have read this understand it. I'm not after proving my way of seeing it is correct.