11-09-2011, 09:47 PM
distazo Wrote:Hi Paul thank you so much for the info.
I have asked this information before but nobody replied to the question. In addition, as far as I could research including my syrian friend who can read the Peshitta, could not find a backup for 'garaba' and the book 'Was the NT really written in Greek' (Raphael Lataster) had it as 'garibo'.
I am glad I make this as a big subject. What did the Bereans do? I want to make sure that my translation does not contain uncertain claims.
Regards
Honestly, it could go either way. This was a major issue before vowel points were invented. I can't rule out "leper", either, grammatically either one works fine.
Yet, while both can work, it's the translators job to decide which one makes more sense. The Greek translator decided "leper" made more sense, apparently unaware of the implication of a bunch of people having dinner at a leper's home. Shimon may have been cured of his leprosy, perhaps even by Meshikha, but we have no record of that. And besides, why would his nickname continue that stigma ?
Add in the factor of the lady with the alabaster jar of fine perfume/incense, and you wonder whether or not the proper way to look at Shimon is that he was associated somehow with fancy vessels, perhaps as his job.
Very important, Akhi, notice that this was part of his name. "Shimon Garaba", like "Shimon Keepa". The text does not say, "Shimon, who was a leper", it literally implies that is how he was known, almost as if it's a surname. This is very indicative of how it should be translated.
+Shamasha