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b-hebrew - Re: FW: [b-hebrew] Re:plurality & divinity

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  • From: George F Somsel <gfsomsel AT juno.com>
  • To: yodan AT yodanco.com
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: FW: [b-hebrew] Re:plurality & divinity
  • Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 10:24:27 -0400

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 07:04:49 -0700 "YODAN" <yodan AT yodanco.com> writes:
>
> Quick response (which I sent to John Gray, who asked the question,
> but
> realized that it was not sent to the group - others may find this
> of
> interest):
>
> Referring to God in plural does not necessarily reflect a concept of
> a
> plurality of God, but rather a sign of respect. Similarly to the
> use of the
> plural "you" in French when addressing someone to whom one wishes to
> show
> respect (even someone one is not well acquainted with). Some to
> think of
> it, I wonder if "you" in English used to have two different forms -
> a
> singular and a plural - that became one. Does anyone know? The use
> of
> plural when referring to God can also be viewed as similar to the
> way some
> people use the "we" language (The Royal "We") when they actually
> refer to
> themselves.
________________

Yes, there was a singular form of the 2nd person pronoun in Middle
English which is no longer used. It appears in the AV translation as
"thou."

george
gfsomsel
___________




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