So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Semantic Range, Lexicography, and other approaches to word meaning - in general, or for particular words.
RandallButh
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Joined: May 13th, 2011, 4:01 am

So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by RandallButh »

We have finally uploaded a somewhat lengthy article on ἑβραίστί
in the blog "So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?" A PDF of the published Brill volume article is available.

See http://www.BiblicalLanguageCenter.com under "community" "BLC blog"

Enjoy.
Ken M. Penner
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Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by Ken M. Penner »

It's somewhat gratifying that now I won't need to publish my work on the topic. I can point to this article. It's well argued and more thoroughly supported.
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
RandallButh
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Joined: May 13th, 2011, 4:01 am

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by RandallButh »

And for several years, your paper was the one that I would cite for others. I thank you for that, as well as a couple of references in the footnotes of our (Pierce and myself) paper.

It still amazes me how deeply entrenched some of the misreadings have been, like in the letter of Aristeas, or Josephus' use of the term.
Barry Hofstetter

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by Barry Hofstetter »

Really an excellent paper. I was not convinced by your textual arguments from Acts -- I thought them somewhat weak in fact, but the rest of it is gold, and has convinced me that your thesis is accurate.
Stephen Hughes
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Is it appropriate to discuss the paper you have posted?

Post by Stephen Hughes »

Thank you for posting the electronic version of your paper. It is at the same excellent standard that I have found in other works published by Brilliant over the years.

If it is appropriate, I'd like to ask a question about the bit that you quoted from John Coirier on your page 69.
Γελᾷ δ' ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
(Menander, Γνῶμαι μονόστιχοι 108)
RandallButh
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Joined: May 13th, 2011, 4:01 am

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by RandallButh »

The forum is for questions.
Stephen Hughes
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Joined: February 26th, 2013, 7:12 am

lnterpretation of the tribune's question.

Post by Stephen Hughes »

A lot hangs on the interpretation of the Tribune's "question".

Couldn't Ελληνιστί γινώσκεις; contextually mean, either:
  • "I'm sorry, I don't speak Coptic." (The tribune feels his own communicative competency is inadequate) OR
    "Your Latin is appalling." (He feels Paul's is)?
Γελᾷ δ' ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
(Menander, Γνῶμαι μονόστιχοι 108)
RandallButh
Posts: 1105
Joined: May 13th, 2011, 4:01 am

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by RandallButh »

neither Latin nor Coptic were used for general communication in the land of Israel, first century.
The conversation took place in the Jewish temple court and the it was being recorded in a Greek book.
The temple had a warning in GREEK for gentiles to stay out of the temple area.
Stephen Hughes
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Joined: February 26th, 2013, 7:12 am

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by Stephen Hughes »

Not everyone there was a Roman citizen. It is not a public conversation.

I think that if Paul spoke Aramaic, and the tribune wanted to speak Greek, the question is reasonable and really a question.
Γελᾷ δ' ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
(Menander, Γνῶμαι μονόστιχοι 108)
RandallButh
Posts: 1105
Joined: May 13th, 2011, 4:01 am

Re: So what, in fact, does ἑβραϊστί mean?

Post by RandallButh »

He was a chiliarch in charge of a prisoner.
He was not asking a polite question, 'by the way, si te plait, I'd prefer Greek, would you mind switching to Greek for me, pretty please?
The natural reading is that the chiliarch was surprised by Paul's Greek, since he went on to conclude (ἄρα)--then you're not the Egyptian (who apparently couldn't speak Greek).
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