hoi douloi/hai doulai
Posted: February 11th, 2019, 4:31 am
Hi, a simple question (I just have no idea in Greek, sorry!).
LXX translates the word "slaves" in Exodus 21:7 as hai doulai (female slaves). In original word in Hebrew says "slaves", which in Hebrew means primarily male slaves, but also male-and-female slaves (in Hebrew, if you use a plural masculine form it may reffer to masculine only, but also to both males and females). my question is: how does it work in Greek, is there a general term for slaves that you could use in order to express in one word "male-and-female slaves", which the translators could have used in order to translate the Hebrew "slaves (AVADIM)" (like the English: "slaves") or isn't there such a thing, and the translator had to chose between "hoi douloi" and "hai doulai"? (the verse speaks after all about the rules of a female slave).
Thank you,
Ruben
LXX translates the word "slaves" in Exodus 21:7 as hai doulai (female slaves). In original word in Hebrew says "slaves", which in Hebrew means primarily male slaves, but also male-and-female slaves (in Hebrew, if you use a plural masculine form it may reffer to masculine only, but also to both males and females). my question is: how does it work in Greek, is there a general term for slaves that you could use in order to express in one word "male-and-female slaves", which the translators could have used in order to translate the Hebrew "slaves (AVADIM)" (like the English: "slaves") or isn't there such a thing, and the translator had to chose between "hoi douloi" and "hai doulai"? (the verse speaks after all about the rules of a female slave).
Thank you,
Ruben