[B-Greek] Jude 2 - Again

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Wed Dec 3 08:22:11 EST 2008


On Dec 3, 2008, at 8:00 AM, rhutchin at aol.com wrote:

> Jude 2-
>
> ELEOS hUMIN KAI EIRHNH KAI AGAPH PLHQUNQEIH
>
> Given that PLHQUNQEIH is singular, 3rd person, is that reason to  
> think that the author meant only to apply it to AGAPH and not to  
> ELEOS or EIRHNH?
No.

>
>
> Could the author be writing-
>
> Mercy to you
>
> and peace
>
> and love (may it be multiplied)

It's common enough for a verb to agree with only one of its subjects.  
I'd take the hUMIN also with PLHQUNQEIH, and I'd understand PLHQUNQEIH  
as a middle sense (intransitive) rather than as a passive: "May mercy  
and peace and love abound for you" or "May your mercy and peace and  
love increase exponentially."


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)





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