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καμηλος - gender

Posted: October 24th, 2012, 9:56 pm
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")?

Re: καμηλος - gender

Posted: October 25th, 2012, 8:34 am
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.