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  • From: "Barry H." <nebarry AT verizon.net>
  • To: "fred burlingame" <tensorpath AT gmail.com>, <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] the hellenization of isaiah
  • Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:07:22 -0400


----- Original Message ----- From: "fred burlingame" <tensorpath AT gmail.com>
To: <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2010 11:46 AM
Subject: [b-hebrew] the hellenization of isaiah


Isaiah 61:1 appears in classical hebrew format.

A. An introductory clause: "spirit of Lord of me on me because:"

B. followed by a couplet in parallel: (i) "He annoints me to bear tidings to
afflicted ones; and (ii) He sends me to bind up ones being broken of heart;"

C. followed by a couplet in parallel: (i) "to proclaim to ones being
captive, liberty; and (ii) to ones being bound, opening."

The subsequent, septuagint, greek, translation, in its wisdom, alters the
original hebrew and changes clause "C(ii)" to: "to the blind, recovery of
sight."

The subsequent, greek, translation of the original hebrew new testament in
luke 4:18 then proceeds to further change the hebrew by: (1.) retaining the
septuagint old testament, new clause "C(ii);" (2.) deleting clause "B(ii);"
and adding another new clause "C(iii):" "to send to ones being oppressed a
release."

With the symmetry, balance and substance lost in and by the hellenization of
the hebrew new testament, a question arises. Why is the hebrew new testament
discussed not here? Does the opinion continue to hold sway that the new
testament orginally authored in greek?

Two observations, Fred:

1) I would be careful about drawing too many conclusion from LXX and the NT. We don't know, for instance, if the LXX translator was using the same Vorlage. Another factor, of course, is theology -- are the translators, and especially the NT writers, bringing out what they think is the the theological meaning of the text for their own context?

2) What Hebrew NT? What authority do you think a later translation has over an original text?

N.E. Barry Hofstetter, semper melius Latine sonat...
Classics and Bible Instructor, TAA
http://www.theamericanacademy.net
(2010 Salvatori Excellence in Education Winner)
V-P of Academic Affairs, TNARS
bhofstetter AT tnars.net
http://www.tnars.net

http://my.opera.com/barryhofstetter/blog
http://mysite.verizon.net/nebarry





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