RobertBeecham wrote:Could the word αιδιος in the following 2 verses mean unseen (derived from α-ειδω as with Hades) rather than eternal (derived from α-ει)? In both cases unseen seems to fit the context better.
αγγελους τε τους μη τηρησαντας την εαυτων αρχην αλλα απολιποντας το ιδιον οικητηριον εις κρισιν μεγαλης ημερας δεσμοις αιδιοις υπο ζοφον τετηρηκεν (Jude 6)
τα γαρ αορατα αυτου απο κτισεως κοσμου τοις ποιημασιν νοουμενα καθοραται η τε αιδιος αυτου δυναμις και θειοτης εις το ειναι αυτους αναπολογητους (Rom 1: 20)
The same questions were raised by the poster on the old B-Greek mailing list in 2003 as can be seen in the B-Greek Archives.
lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2003-October/026522.html
lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2003-October/026565.html
lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2003-October/026581.html
There are serious etymologcal difficulties, however fascinating the suggested association may seem.
Not many are likely to agree that ἀΐδιος makes more sense in these verses understood as meaning “unseen” rather than “eternal/everlasting.”
ἀ-ειδ doesn’t work as alpha privative plus root ϝειδ/ϝοιδ/ϝιδ -- there is a verb with Homeric form ἀείδω Attic ᾄδω and it means “sing.”
There is an attested adjective derived from alpha privative plus root ϝειδ/ϝοιδ/ϝιδ; it is ἄϊστος; it is a word found only in poetry and not found in the GNT.
The ordinary word for “unseen” appears right in one of the verses you’ve cited, Rom 1:20; it is ἀόρατος (alpha privative + root ὁρα-
There is age-old speculation about the name of the god of the underworld Ἅιδης or ᾅδης and a possible derivation from alpha privative + root ϝιδ, but such a possibility is obviated by the rough breathing regularly found over the initial alpha. The etymology is a fanciful one.
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)