[B-Greek] Word for Seventh . . . something?
Harold Holmyard
hholmyard at ont.com
Thu Mar 8 13:10:16 EST 2007
Dear Glenn,
>
> This is my first post to your discussion group. I am somewhat familiar with Biblical Greek, but not really a Greek scholar. I need some help in regard to a certain word which appears in an historical document which could help me make sense of some texts of Scripture. The word is
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> Hebdomatikon
>
> This word is not found in Scripture, but instead in the writings of Josephus--and it appears to be refering to a "seventh" (sabbatical) cyear. Most of the time, Josephus calls this a HEBDOMOS year--but twice he calls it a HEBDOMATICAN year. The closest word I can find is HEBDOMACONTA, as found in the Septuagent under Daniel 9:24 and other similar texts. Obviously, both of these words are from the word for "seven," but not a single reference work I investigated was able to clariffy for me what this word (hebdomatican) means EXACTLY. Is there someone here that can help me, with 1) A varifable meaning. 2) Documented source of meaning, and 3) Other reference works where I might be able to give me more detailed information.
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> The citation from Josephus is located in two places:
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> Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston, Book 14, Chapter 16, Section 2 and Book 15, Chapter 1, Section 2.
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> Thank you for any help you can give me.
>
HH: It seems to mean "seventh." The word is hEBDOMATIKOS in LSJ, a Greek
lexicon. In the copy of Antiquities I checked, I believe the phrase was
translated as "Sabbatic year" in both sections you cited. The sabbatic
year occurred every seventh year.
Yours,
Harold Holmyard
>
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