[B-Greek] πᾶσαι = only two in Matt. 13.56?

Mark Goodacre goodacre at duke.edu
Tue Mar 8 20:36:15 EST 2011


Matt. 13.56: καὶ αἱ ἀδελφαὶ αὐτοῦ οὐχὶ πᾶσαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς εἰσιν;

KAI hAI ADELFAI AUTOU OUCI PASAI PROS hHMAS EISIN;

This is usually translated "And are not *all* his sisters with us?"
However, Richard Bauckham suggests that "Although Matthew refers to
'all his sisters', we cannot tell whether there were more than two,
since Greek can use 'all' for only two" ("The Relatives of Jesus",
Themelios 21.2 (January 1996): 18-21 (18)).  I think it would be odd,
though, to read this verse as suggesting two sisters only.  The usual
translation of PAS and the emphasis here suggest to me a rhetorical
"all" rather than "both".  Can anyone think of good examples of PAS
meaning "both"?

Thanks
Mark
-- 
Mark Goodacre
Duke University
Department of Religion
Gray Building / Box 90964
Durham, NC 27708-0964    USA
Phone: 919-660-3503        Fax: 919-660-3530

http://www.markgoodacre.org



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