καμηλος - gender

Semantic Range, Lexicography, and other approaches to word meaning - in general, or for particular words.
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David Lim
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Joined: June 6th, 2011, 6:55 am

καμηλος - gender

Post by David Lim »

I was wondering why the feminine article is often used for "camel" (many times in the old testament; and also Matt 23:24 uses "την καμηλον"). Is that the default? Related to that, how did the LXX translators decide which gender to use (Lev 11:4, Deut 14:7 use "τον καμηλον")?
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Stephen Carlson
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Re: καμηλος - gender

Post by Stephen Carlson »

The fact that κάμηλος can be masculine or feminine without changing declension exhausts the Greek content of this question.

As for why the camel in Matt 23:24 is feminine, I consulted several commentaries and ... nothing. They don't even notice. If there's something particular about she-camels in this culture, I don't know what it is.
Stephen C. Carlson, Ph.D.
Melbourne, Australia
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