Hebrews 5:2 & 5:7

[Larry Kelsey]

Shlama Akhay,

Even though these two posts don't do any real serious damage to the Greek primacy movement, it's always nice to know how the REAL original reads (and how it does not read I might add) <!-- sarcasm: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/sarcasm.gif" alt="arcasm:" title="Sarcasm" /><!-- sarcasm: -->

Larry_Kelsey 1. "Another observation"
Dec-20-2002 at 06:07 PM (GMT3)

Shlama Akhay,

In Hebrews 5:2 of the Peshitta, the ideas of (#1), being able to humble oneself, and (#2), feeling/sympathizing are not fully recaptured in the Greek text. After reviewing what I copy and paste, see if you agree. First, from the Greek camp...

Heb 5:2: μετριοπαθειν <3356> <5721> ( TO EXERCISE FORBEARANCE) δυναμενος <1410> <5740> ( BEING ABLE) τοις <3588> ( WITH THOSE) αγνοουσιν <50> <5723> ( BEING IGNORANT) και <2532> ( AND) πλανωμενοις <4105> <5746> ( ERRING,) επει <1893> ( SINCE) και <2532> ( ALSO) αυτος <846> ( HIMSELF) περικειται <4029> <5736> ( IS ENCOMPASSED) ασθενειαν <769> ( WITH INFIRMITY
(IGNT)

03356: 3356 μετριοπαθεω metriopatheo met-ree-op-ath-eh'-o

AV-have compassion on 1; 1

1) to be affected moderately or in due measure
2) to preserve moderation in the passions, esp. anger or grief
2a) of one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors, faults, sins of others, but bears them gently (Thayer)

Heb 5:2: who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity; (ASV)

Heb 5:2: He can deal gently with people who are ignorant and easily deceived, since he himself is subject to weakness.Heb 2:18; 4:15; 7:28 (ISV)

Heb 5:2: being able to feel in due measure for those not knowing and having been led astray, since he also is circled about with weakness(LITV)

Heb 5:2: being able to have a right measure of compassion on the ignorant and erring: because he himself, also, is surrounded with infirmity.(LO)

Heb 5:2: He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is encompassed with moral weakness,(Montgomery)

Heb 5:2: and must be one who is able to bear patiently with the ignorant and erring, because he himself also is beset with infirmity.(Weymouth)

Heb 5:2: able to be gentle to those ignorant and going astray, since himself also is compassed with infirmity; (Young's Literal)

Now for the Aramaic-to-English translations...

Heb 5:2: and he can humble himself, and sympathize with the ignorant and the erring, because he also is clothed with infirmity
(Murdock)

and (is one) who can humble himself, and suffer with those who know not and err, since he also himself with infirmity is clothed.
(Etheridge)

He is one who can humble himself and have compassion on those who are ignorant and go astray; for he himself is also subject to weaknesses. (Lamsa)

Either the 'humbling' or the 'feeling/ suffering/ compassion' connotations don't get fully absorbed in the Greek. While 'metriopatheo' listed above is a very 'meaty' Greek word, it still doesn't capture the simple meaning of being able to humble oneself as a result of being subject to weaknesses. Any thoughts?

NOW FOR HEBREWS 5:7
Dec-20-2002 at 06:31 PM (GMT3 )Larry_Kelsey
2.

"A very unnecessary..."

...prepositional phrase! In Hebrews 5:7 there is a phrase at the end of the verse in the Greek that the Aramaic doesn't have and I'm glad it doesn't!! Take a look and see what I mean!

Heb 5:7: Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, (American Standard Version)

Heb 5:7: Likewise, when he was clothed in flesh, he presented supplication and entreaty with intense invocation, and with tears, to him who was able to resuscitate him from death; and he was heard. PERIOD!
(Murdock)

Shlama w'Burkate, Larry Kelsey