Mark 12:42

[judge]

How does the greek of mark 12:42 read?
I have heard it mentions lepta duo (two leptas) but that leptas were not used in the first century at all, and that they were not used in palestine (?).

If this is true does it not show that greek mark is a translation?

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhi Michael,

The Byzantine Greek reads "two leptas which amount to a Kodrantes", which the Old Scratch follows to a tee:

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"Two small coins (Shmunyn) which amount to a quarter (Rubba)." ([font=Estrangelo (V1.1)]09bwr[/font] is the cognate of the Greek "Kodrantes")

But the Peshitta reads very differently, using Semitic terms both times:

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"Two minyan which are small coins. (Shmune)"

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Man, it's amazing how clearly the Peshitta is a revision of Old Scratch towards the Byzantine Greek, isn't it?

Where's that Yuri at? I'll bet he has a plausible reason for this one, too. Maybe a meteor fell out of the sky and hit the pen that the Old Scratch dude was using, and the resulting ink blob made it look like the Greek.

It's possible.

[judge]

I am told that the coins used in this period were shekels and prutahs. What is minyan?

[Paul Younan]

Shlama Akhi Michael,

"Minyan" is the dual of "mina", the Aramaic root which means "count, number."

The verse is saying "two pieces" (minyan) which were "small coins." (shmune)

[judge]

Shlama Akhi Michael,

"Minyan" is the dual of "mina", the Aramaic root which means "count, number."

The verse is saying "two pieces" (minyan) which were "small coins." (shmune)

If leptas were not even used in the first century,or in Judea, then this seems a pretty good indication that Mark is not the original.

[Paul Younan]

That Greek Mark is not the original, I agree.