Matt. 4:16 καθημαι and Matt. 5:1 καθιζω
Posted: April 22nd, 2021, 11:34 pm
Matt 4:16 ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν ⸀σκοτίᾳ ⸂φῶς εἶδεν⸃ μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου φῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς.
Matt 5:1 Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·
I suppose this is more of a lexical question.
In Matt 4:16 the verb καθημαι is used, and in 5:1 καθιζω is used. I'm wondering what the nuance is between these words? Generally, and particularly in this context.
My guess is that καθημαι, being middle, is indicating that the subject is performing the action which affects itself. Specifically in this case, it may be suggesting reciprocity, or that it is the people's own fault for "sitting in darkness." The idea being "the people who are sitting themselves in darkness." Whereas in Matt. 5:1 the focus with καθιζω is more on the action, and does not indicate any middle nuance, particularly anything reciprocal. The idea being simply that Jesus sat. "...and sitting down, the disciples came to him."
I'd like to know if this idea is acceptable. Especially the idea that the text is saying (lightly saying, but saying nonetheless) that the people of Galilee were responsible themselves for "sitting" in darkness. Or at least that there is some nuance between the two words καθημαι and καθιζω.
Matt 5:1 Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·
I suppose this is more of a lexical question.
In Matt 4:16 the verb καθημαι is used, and in 5:1 καθιζω is used. I'm wondering what the nuance is between these words? Generally, and particularly in this context.
My guess is that καθημαι, being middle, is indicating that the subject is performing the action which affects itself. Specifically in this case, it may be suggesting reciprocity, or that it is the people's own fault for "sitting in darkness." The idea being "the people who are sitting themselves in darkness." Whereas in Matt. 5:1 the focus with καθιζω is more on the action, and does not indicate any middle nuance, particularly anything reciprocal. The idea being simply that Jesus sat. "...and sitting down, the disciples came to him."
I'd like to know if this idea is acceptable. Especially the idea that the text is saying (lightly saying, but saying nonetheless) that the people of Galilee were responsible themselves for "sitting" in darkness. Or at least that there is some nuance between the two words καθημαι and καθιζω.