In Genesis 1:16 LXX, ἀρχή is ἀρχάς, acc. fem. pl. both times. I would have expected ἀρχήν. Why is it plural?
Here is the text of Gen 1:16 from LXX:
καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ ϑεὸς τοὺς δύο ϕωστῆρας τοὺς µεγάλους τὸν ϕωστῆρα τὸν µέγαν εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡµέρας καὶ τὸν ϕωστῆρα τὸν ἐλάσσω εἰς ἀρχὰς τῆς νυκτός καὶ τοὺς ἀστέρας.
Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
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Please quote the Greek text you are discussing directly in your post if it is reasonably short - do not ask people to look it up. This is not a beginner's forum, competence in Greek is assumed.
Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
Brandon Davidson
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Re: Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
Hi, Brandon.
As a matter of housekeeping, please contact a moderator so that we can get your username to conform to the forum police.
I'm not sure why it would read εἰς ἀρχάς instead of εἰς ἀρχήν. I had never really thought of it. I've asked in another group, too, to put out feelers for opinions. Perhaps people have commentaries on the Septuagint.
As a matter of housekeeping, please contact a moderator so that we can get your username to conform to the forum police.
I'm not sure why it would read εἰς ἀρχάς instead of εἰς ἀρχήν. I had never really thought of it. I've asked in another group, too, to put out feelers for opinions. Perhaps people have commentaries on the Septuagint.
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
Is it possible the LXX translators read memshelet as memshalot and took that as a plural form?
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Re: Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
That is correct.timothy_p_mcmahon wrote: ↑December 12th, 2019, 3:41 am Is it possible the LXX translators read memshelet as memshalot and took that as a plural form?
Wevers, Notes on the Greek Text of Genesis wrote:
Ken M. Penner
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, St. Francis Xavier University
Editor, Digital Biblical Studies
General Editor, Lexham English Septuagint
Co-Editor, Online Critical Pseudepigrapha pseudepigrapha.org
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Re: Why is αρχή plural in Genesis 1:16?
I mentioned the same thing in the "other group." Here as there I will also mention that the plural for the singular would not be that jarring in Greek, as you occasionally see it other contexts (most often poetry, but not limited to poetry).Ken M. Penner wrote: ↑December 12th, 2019, 9:31 amThat is correct.timothy_p_mcmahon wrote: ↑December 12th, 2019, 3:41 am Is it possible the LXX translators read memshelet as memshalot and took that as a plural form?
N.E. Barry Hofstetter, M.A., Th.M.
Ph.D. Student U of FL
Instructor of Latin
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
καὶ σὺ τὸ σὸν ποιήσεις κἀγὼ τὸ ἐμόν. ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε.
Ph.D. Student U of FL
Instructor of Latin
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
καὶ σὺ τὸ σὸν ποιήσεις κἀγὼ τὸ ἐμόν. ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε.