Re: Genesis 1.2 epefereto

From: Polycarp66@aol.com
Date: Tue May 02 2000 - 21:25:48 EDT


In a message dated 5/2/2000 5:28:57 PM Central Standard Time,
sunuiprachu@cs.com writes:

<< I am puzzled by epefereto of Genesis 1.2. Middle Liddell has "to bring,
 lay, put upon," as well as "to attack." I feel that epiforew and epifora
 must indicate the direction in which to expand epiferw: Lampe renders
 epifora as "impact, attack," but allows a gentler "divine visitation,"
 whereas epiforew parallels epiferw in meaning "to put upon," but departs in
 indicating "to make pregnant." Does anyone have anything more solid? >>

There are certain other ideas conveyed by the word EPIFERW -- such as to
impend or to hover over. Cf. Heroditus 1.209.4

[4] EMEU QEOI KHDONTAI KAI MOI PANTA PRODEIKNUOUSI TA EPIFEROMENA. HDH WN EN
THi PAROIXOMENHi NUKTI hEUDWN EIDON TWN SWN PAIDWN TON PRESBUTATON EXONTA EPI
TWN WMWN PTERUGAS KAI TOUTEWN THi MEN THN ASIHN THi DE THN EURWPHN
EPISKIAZEIN.

[4] The gods care for me and show me beforehand all that is coming. Now then,
I have seen in a dream in the past night your eldest son with wings on his
shoulders, overshadowing Asia with the one and Europe with the other.

[tr. A. D. Godley]

May the gods care for me and foreshow to me the impending things [the things
hovering over]. . .

EPEFERETO translates the Hebrew M:RaXeFeT. This is a piel participle of
RfXaP which is used for a bird's hovering -- cf. Deut. 32.11.

gfsomsel

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