[B-Greek] A simple matter?
Carl Conrad
cwconrad2 at mac.com
Sun Mar 13 07:23:31 EDT 2011
There's a nice piece by Iver Larsen this morning at Better Bibles Blog on ἁπλοῦς [hAPLOUS] and ἁπλότης [hAPLOTHS]. 'Tis a "simple" notion, but one that may drive a translator up the walls for its complexity. I remember once in graduate school puzzling over a description of the Homeric warrior Ajax as ἁπλοῦς καὶ γενναῖος (hAPLOUS KAI GENNAIOS).
Have a look-see:
http://betterbibles.com/2011/03/13/haplous-single-sound-sincere-good-healthy-or-what/
Iver does not mention and is perhaps not familiar with the old Shaker hymn, "Simple Gifts," but it's worth meditating upon in the context of this discussion of the Greek words that are not just Biblical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Gifts
American list-members may recall the singing of it at the memorial service for victims of the Tucson shootings this past January 12.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
More information about the B-Greek
mailing list