Biblical Hebrew Forum

[TedBro AT aol.com]

Wikipedia definition of "hellenization" (below), for what it's worth....  
"Hellenization (or Hellenisation) is a term used to  describe the spread of 
ancient Greek culture, and, to a lesser extent, language.  It is mainly 
used to describe the spread of _Hellenistic civilization_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_civilization)  during the 
_Hellenistic period_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_period)  following the campaigns of 
_Alexander the Great_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great)  of 
_Macedon_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedon) . The result of 
Hellenization 
was that elements  of Greek origin combined in various forms and degrees with 
local elements, which  is known as _Hellenism_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenism) . _Persian  culture_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_culture)  had a decisive impact upon 
the emergence of Hellenism. In  modern times 
hellenization has been associated with adoption of modern Greek  culture 
and the ethnic and cultural homogenization of Greece." 
The terms does not rightly apply to the loss of nuances of the Hebrew  
language by translation into other tongues (as has been suggested on this 
list). 
 However the case has been made that the Gospel of John hellenizes Jesus, 
through  loss of the eschatology of the prophets, and introduction of the 
deified Christ.  (Ideas about gods taking flesh and interacting with human is 
common in  Greek mythology, but absent from Hebrew tradition.) I find the 
later use of the  term more insightful. (Sorry!) 
-Ted Brownstein 

 
In a message dated 10/17/2010 3:27:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tensorpath AT gmail.com writes:

George:

Please permit me to address your last comment  concerning the title of this
thread.

i believe the title of the  thread ("the hellenization of isaiah")
appropriate.

The hebrew  language represents perhaps the highest cultural expression of
the hebrew  people. Hebrew puns (for example, but without limitation)
punctuate and  flourish across the pages of hebrew text. Translation of the
hebrew into  greek (or english or chinese) necessarily involves the loss of
these puns  and the corresponding rich cultural fabric of the hebrews; and
the  incorporation of the culture of the translated language.

Hence, the  septuagint achieves "the hellenization of isaiah."

regards,

fred  burlingame