Matthew 25.40
Posted: June 19th, 2015, 3:52 pm
Hello again. I have greatly appreciated your explanations and comments in the past. This time I have a question about Matthew 25.40:
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ' ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε.
and particularly the translation of the words: ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων.
Most English versions translate these words as: “to one of the least of these my brethren (brothers / brothers and sisters)”
In this case, the “least” form a subgroup of the “brethren”; not all the brethren are the “least”.
From the very little I have read and from the other cases I have seen of this construction of the adjective (with the article repeated), it would seem that the most natural translation would be something like: “to one of my brethren, the least / to one of my brethren, who are the least / to one of the least, who are my brethren”.
In this case the “brethren” and the “least” are one and the same group; all the brethren are the least.
Are both of these ways to translate these words possible or is only one correct? Or is there still another way which is preferable?
In addition, if it lies within the scope of the Forum, I would be interested in knowing your opinion of Jeremias’ assertion that “τούτων” in this verse represents a superfluous demonstrative in Aramaic and should not be translated. (Joachim Jeremias, The Parables of Jesus, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1972, 2nd revised edition, p. 207)
Thank you for any ideas you can share with me.
Thomas Hagen
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ' ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε.
and particularly the translation of the words: ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων.
Most English versions translate these words as: “to one of the least of these my brethren (brothers / brothers and sisters)”
In this case, the “least” form a subgroup of the “brethren”; not all the brethren are the “least”.
From the very little I have read and from the other cases I have seen of this construction of the adjective (with the article repeated), it would seem that the most natural translation would be something like: “to one of my brethren, the least / to one of my brethren, who are the least / to one of the least, who are my brethren”.
In this case the “brethren” and the “least” are one and the same group; all the brethren are the least.
Are both of these ways to translate these words possible or is only one correct? Or is there still another way which is preferable?
In addition, if it lies within the scope of the Forum, I would be interested in knowing your opinion of Jeremias’ assertion that “τούτων” in this verse represents a superfluous demonstrative in Aramaic and should not be translated. (Joachim Jeremias, The Parables of Jesus, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1972, 2nd revised edition, p. 207)
Thank you for any ideas you can share with me.
Thomas Hagen