ἐρωτάω double accusative?

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Jacob Rhoden
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ἐρωτάω double accusative?

Post by Jacob Rhoden »

I learn't ἐρωτάω understanding that it is followed by two accusatives. However it seems to me that this might not always literally be the case. A quick search shows that it is sometimes true, and sometimes the second accusative might be buried further away, so its hard to find, but in some cases I just can't see it, for example:
Luke 4:38 Ἀναστὰς δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς συναγωγῆς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Σίμωνος ⸆. πενθερὰ δὲ τοῦ Σίμωνος ἦν συνεχομένη πυρετῷ μεγάλῳ καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν περὶ αὐτῆς.
I assume in the above case περὶ αὐτῆς is where the second accusative should be?
John 1:21 καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτόν ⸆· ⸂τί οὖν; σὺ Ἠλίας εἶ;⸃ °καὶ λέγει· οὐκ εἰμί. ὁ προφήτης εἶ σύ; καὶ ἀπεκρίθη· οὔ.
In this case, Is τί οὖν standing in for the second accusative?
Matt. 15:23 ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ⸀ἠρώτουν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν.
In this case λέγοντες isn't accusative?

I have a few of the more advanced grammars such as Wallace, but I can't see a section that would help me understand this better. Wallace does mention ἐρωτάω on page 604, but he doesn't mention it has a double accusative. It does mention two forms of double accusative on page 181 but I don't see how his description "person-thing" or "object-compliment" fits this above example. Am I missing something?
Robert Emil Berge
Posts: 63
Joined: August 24th, 2016, 1:34 pm

Re: ἐρωτάω double accusative?

Post by Robert Emil Berge »

Although ἐρωτάω can be constructed with a double accusative, there are many other possibilities, like in your examples. If you look in a comprehensive dictionary, like the LSJ you will find most possible constructions with some examples. Of course not every construction is used in Biblical Greek, but you will most often find the construction used. Here's some of the article for ἐρωτάω in LSJ.
ἐρωτ-άω, [...] ask, τινά τι something of one, ἅ μ’ εἰρωτᾷς Od.4.347; εἰρωτᾷς μ’ ὄνομα κλυτόν 9.364; ὅσ’ ἄν σ’ ἐρωτῶ S.OT1122; οὐ τοῦτ’ ἐρωτῶ σ’ Ar.Nu.641:—Pass., to be asked, τι Pl.Lg.895e, X.Cyr.1.4.3.

2. ἐ. τι ask about a thing, A.Pr.228, Pl.R.508a; τι περί τινος Id.Tht.185c; ἐ. ἐρώτημα to ask a question, Id.R.487e [...]

3. folld. by indirect question, εἰρώτα .. τίς εἴη καὶ πόθεν ἔλθοι Od.15.423; ἐ. εἰ .. or ἤν .. to ask whether.., [...]

II. question a person, εἰρωτᾷς μ’ ἐλθόντα θεὰ θεόν Od.5.97; ἐ. καὶ ἐλέγχειν Antipho 6.23; τινα ἀμφί τινος E.Ion236 (lyr.) [...] hence later, submit, set forth, propound an argument, λόγον Gal.5.257:—Pass., ὁ λόγος .. ἠρωτῆσθαι φαίνεται Arr.Epict.2.19.1; ἐρωτηθέντος τοῦ σοφίσματος S.E.P.2.237.

III. later, = αἰτέω, beg, entreat, ἐ. τινὰ τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην LXX I Ki. 30.21, al. ; ἐρωτᾶτε τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην τὴν Ἱερουσαλήμ ib.Ps.121(122).6; ἅ σε ἐρωτῶ PMag.Par.1.272; ἐ. τινὰ ποιεῖν τι POxy.292.7 (i A.D.), Ev.Luc.8.37, etc. ; ἐ. τινὰ ἵνα .. ib.7.36; ὅπως .. ib.7.3, al., PMag.Leid.W.16.13; ἐ. τὸν πατέρα περὶ ὑμῶν Ev.Jo.16.26. (Perh. from ἐρ(ϝ)ωτάω, cogn. with ἐρ(ϝ)έσθαι (v. ἔρομαι).)
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