“It’s all Greek to me!!”
Posted by admin on January 13, 2010
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by P. Karageorgi This is a brief look into what’s lost in translation
Greek writing was made using the Symbols Font and Bwgrk Font from Bible Works. You’ve heard the saying, “It’s all Greek to me.” People say that when they don’t understand something. What do Greeks say when they don’t understand something? Perhaps “It’s all English to me” ? No, they say, “It’s all Chinese to me.” You can imagine, a Greek married to a Chinese results in a lot of confusion. [Note that the Greek may not appear properly if your browser is not set right or your computer does not have the same font that I used - I'm no expert in these matters. Some spaces between letters in certain words showing accents are too long. I have also shown the Greek without accents and breathings.] REMEMBER, ALL THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGES OF THE BIBLE i.e. HEBREW, ARAMAIC AND GREEK ARE NOT DEAD LANGUAGES. THEY ARE LIVING LANGUAGES WITH MILLIONS OF SPEAKERS. Of course, they have changed just as English has changed over the centuries. Amusing Greek in the New Testament Acts 20:9-12 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. Eutychus / Eυτυχος = Lucky Mark 4:28 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself [automatic]; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. auvtoma,th ga.r h` gh/ karpoforei/( prw/ton co,rton( ei=ta sta,cun( ei=ta plh,rh si/ton evn tw/| sta,cui?Å αυτοματη γαρ η γη καρποφορει πρωτον χορτον ειτα σταχυν, ειτα πληρη σιτον εν τω σταχυι The Greek word used here is automatic. Acts 12:9-10 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord (Greek automatic): and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 10 dielqo,ntej de. prw,thn fulakh.n kai. deute,ran( h=lqon evpi. th.n pu,lhn th.n sidhra/n( th.n fe,rousan eivj th.n po,lin( h[tij auvtoma,th hvnoi,cqh auvtoi/j\ kai. evxelqo,ntej proh/lqon r`u,mhn mi,an( kai. euvqe,wj avpe,sth o` a;ggeloj avpV auvtou/Å διελθοντες δε πρωτην φυλακην και δευτεραν ηλθον επι την πυλην την σιδηραν την, φερουσαν εις την πολιν ητις αυτοματη ηνοιχθη αυτοις και εξελθοντες προηλθον ρυμην μιαν και ευθεως απεστη ο αγγελος απ' αυτου In other words automatic gates existed 2000 years ago. It sounds rather strange with today's meaning of "automatic", i.e. some sophisticated mechanism with sensors operating the movement. It appears as though doors opened by themselves. The Modern Greek word "autokineto" and the English "automobile" literally mean "moves by itself". That's what the first moving cars looked like because there were no horses pulling them. However, we know that cars are moved by petrol /gas driven engines. Of course, in Acts 12:10 the gates were miraculously opened by God. Acts 4:1313 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Greek is “unlettered” and “idiots”. In ancient Greek society a person who was only concerned with his own affairs was considered an "idiot". In Modern Greek "idiotic" means "private". 13 Qewrou/ntej de. th.n tou/ Pe,trou parrhsi,an kai. VIwa,nnou( kai. katalabo,menoi o[ti a;nqrwpoi avgra,mmatoi, eivsi kai. ivdiw/tai( evqau,mazon( evpegi,nwsko,n te auvtou.j o[ti su.n tw/| VIhsou/ h=san θεωρουντες δε την του Πετρου παρρησιαν και Iωαννου και καταλαβομενοι οτι ανθρωποι αγραμματοι εισιν και ιδιωται εθαυμαζον επεγινωσκον τε αυτους οτι συν τω ιησου ησαν Play on Words1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. o[ti crhsto.j o` Ku,rioj οτι Xρηστος ο Kυριος Sounds like "the Lord is Christ". The word used sounds like “Christos” / “Christ” but spelt differently. Xρηστος means "good, beneficial, kind". Xρiστος is Christ. Rom 2:4 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 4 h' tou/ plou,tou th/j crhsto,thtoj auvtou/ kai. th/j avnoch/j kai. th/j makroqumi,aj katafronei/j( avgnow/n o[ti to. crhsto.n tou/ Qeou/ eivj meta,noia,n se a;geiÈ η του πλουτου της χρηστοτητος αυτου και της ανοχης και της μακροθυμιας καταφρονεις αγνοων οτι το χρηστον του Qεου εις μετανοιαν σε αγει Philemon 10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: All the more humorous because Onh,simoj means "profitable, helpful; from o;nhsij profit" 10 parakalw/ se peri. tou/ evmou/ te,knou( o]n evge,nnhsa evn toi/j desmoi/j mou( VOnh,simon( 11 to,n pote, soi a;crhston( nuni. de. soi. kai. evmoi. eu;crhston( παρακαλω σε περι του εμου τεκνου ον εγεννησα εν τοις δεσμοις μου, Oνησιμον Sounds like “without Christ” “achriston” sounds like “good Christ”. Paul’s birth was premature – aborted but looked after and lived 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ABORTION 8 e;scaton de. pa,ntwn w`sperei. tw/| evktrw,mati w;fqh kavmoi,Å εσχατον δε παντων ωσπερει τω εκτρωματι ωφθη καμοι Friend in Matt 26 Did Christ call Judas, “Friend”?49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. ο δε Iησους ειπεν αυτω, Eταιρε εφ’ ω παρει τοτε προσελθοντες επεβαλον τας χειρας επι τον Iησουν και εκρατησαν αυτον. o` de. VIhsou/j ei=pen auvtw/|( ~Etai/re( evfV w=| pa,rei to,te proselqo,ntej evpe,balon ta.j cei/raj evpi. to.n VIhsou/n( kai. evkra,thsan auvto,nÅ John 15:13-15 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. mei,zona tau,thj avga,phn ouvdei.j e;cei( i[na tij th.n yuch.n auvtou/ qh/| u`pe.r tw/n fi,lwn auvtou/Å 14 u`mei/j fi,loi mou evste,( eva.n poih/te o[sa evgw. evnte,llomai u`mi/nÅ 15 ouvke,ti u`ma/j le,gw dou,louj( o[ti o` dou/loj ouvk oi=de ti, poiei/ auvtou/ o` ku,rioj\ u`ma/j de. ei;rhka fi,louj( o[ti pa,nta a] h;kousa para. tou/ patro,j mou evgnw,risa u`mi/nÅ μειζονα ταυτης αγαπην ουδεις εχει ινα τις την ψυχην αυτου θη υπερ των φιλων αυτου. υμεις φιλοι μου εστε εαν ποιητε οσα εγω εντελλομαι υμιν. ουκετι υμας λεγω δουλους, οτι ο δουλος ουκ οιδε τι ποιει αυτου ο κυριος, υμας δε ειρηκα φιλους οτι παντα α ηκουσα παρα του πατρος μου εγνωρισα υμιν. The Greek word translated “friend” when referring to Judas is completely different to that used when referring to the rest of the disciples. Judas is an Etairos i.e. colleague, comrade, co-worker. Philos is used for the other disciples. “Philos” is more loving. The word Eταιρos is also found in Matt 11:16; 20:13 and 22:12. On each occasion, it is used rather negatively in the context. Male and Female Friends and Neighbours Luke 15:1-10 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. male 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours [ τους φιλους και τους γειτονας]
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? female 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours [ τας φιλας και τας γειτονας] together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. The Greek shows the woman called her female friends and neighbours. It was culturally unacceptable for her to invite males. StrippedMatt 27 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 28 kai. evkdu,santej auvto.n clamu,da kokki,nhn perie,qhkan auvtw/ και εκδυσαντες αυτον χλαμυδα κοκκινην περιεθηκαν αυτωα Col 2 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 15 avpekdusa,menoj ta.j avrca.j kai. ta.j evxousi,aj( evdeigma,tisen evn parrhsi,a|( qriambeu,saj auvtou.j evn auvtw/|Å απεκδυσαμενος τας αρχας και τας εξουσιας εδειγματισεν εν παρρησια θριαμβευσας αυτους εν αυτω In Greek “spoiled” has the meaning of “stripping”. The enemies of Christ publicly stripped Him before His crucifixion. However, Christ is triumphant over His enemies and He strips and disarms them openly. Other Allos and eteros. When these words are used in precise meaning, allos means “other of the same kind” and eteros “other of a different kind”. Luke 23 32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. e[teroj Luke is precise with his Greek. He uses "eteros" to show that Christ was not another criminal like the other two. He was “other of a different kind". Was Christ’s brother, James, an apostle? Gal 1 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. (Matt 13:55) Acts 14:14 Barnabas is called an apostle. Like Barnabas, James the Lord's brother, is an apostle in the general sense of being sent out but not one of the 12. They were apostles of a different kind. Word patterns Rom 12:9-19 Many words ending in either “-ontes” or “-ountes” 9. αποστυγουντες ...11... ζεοντες ... δουλευοντες ... 12... χαιροντες... υπομενοντες ... προσκαρτερουντες This makes it easier to memorize. More Play on Words Play on words work & busybody 2Thess 3:11 only works if you read in Greek. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. mhde.n evrgazome,nouj( avlla. periergazome,nouj literally means "working and working around" read & know / acknowledge Acts 8:30 and 2Cor 1:13 avnaginw,skete h' kai. evpiginw,skete(; 3:2 ginwskome,nh kai. avnaginwskome,nh Acts 8:30 ginw,skeij a] avnaginw,skeij? Ginoskeis a anaginoskeis? Understandest thou what thou readest? 2 Corinthians 1:13 13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 2 Corinthians 3:2 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: “to read” literally means “to know again”. This is what happens when you are reading. You are RECOGNIZING the letters of the words. “Recognize” is Latin for “to know again”. CAUTION! If you know some NT Greek, be careful, if you wish to try it out on a modern Greek speaker. Some NT Greek words are very rude in Modern Greek. …………………………………………… Prof Dr Chrys C. Caragounis has produced material on NT Greek pronunciation. Here is his article on NT Greek pronunciation and the errors of Erasmus http://septuagint-interlinear-greek-bible.com/un-greek.pdf He has a webpage http://www.lsn.se/2509/ there are many good articles here on the subject. A few years ago, I did a course in Byzantine and NT Greek at Queen’s University, Belfast. The lecturers were not Greek but they used the Modern Greek way of pronunciation, not the Erasmian. Things are changing slowly. There are many proud and arrogant people in the academic world who are reluctant to change. see also http://www.christilling.de/blog/2006/01/historical-greek-pronunciation.html
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