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The Discourse Function of γάρ in Mark 5:42: Strengthening, Explanation, or Background?
This exegetical study of The Discourse Function of γάρ in Mark 5:42: Strengthening, Explanation, or Background? is based on a b-greek discussion from June 23rd, 2014. The initial inquiry questions the traditional understanding of the discourse particle γάρ, particularly in Mark 5:42, where it introduces the girl’s age (“for she was twelve years old”) immediately after the description of her rising and walking. The conventional grammatical interpretation often posits that γάρ clauses serve to explain, support, or strengthen an aspect of the preceding assertion.
The main exegetical issue under investigation is whether the function of γάρ in Mark 5:42 necessarily adheres to a “strengthening” or “explanatory” role, or if it can simply introduce “off-line background information” without a strong logical connection of causation or direct support. The discussion centers on the nuance of a particular technical term, “strengthening,” used by scholars like Levinsohn, and whether its application to Mark 5:42 forces an unnatural interpretation of the text. Alternative hypotheses propose that Mark’s use of γάρ might be broader, accommodating simple, relevant background details that enrich the narrative without necessarily providing a cause or reinforcement.
Greek text (Nestle 1904):
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀνέστη τὸ κοράσιον καὶ περιεπάτει, ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα. καὶ ἐξέστησαν ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ.
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- There are no significant differences in the wording of Mark 5:42 between the Nestle 1904 and SBLGNT 2010 editions. The text for the verse, particularly the clause containing γάρ, is identical.
Textual criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
From the perspective of textual criticism, the wording of Mark 5:42, specifically the clause ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, is remarkably stable across major manuscript traditions. The NA28 critical apparatus indicates no significant variants that would alter the meaning or discourse function of γάρ in this verse. The unanimity of textual witnesses suggests a high degree of certainty regarding the original wording.
Lexical notes for key terms:
- γάρ (conj.) – BDAG: “for, because, since, indeed.” It is typically used to introduce a statement that explains, clarifies, or justifies a preceding assertion. However, as the discussion highlights, the precise nuance (e.g., strong explanation, mere background, reinforcement) is often context-dependent and subject to scholarly debate regarding its pragmatic function in discourse.
- ἀνίστημι (verb) – BDAG: “to stand up, rise, get up.” In this context, it describes the girl’s immediate action of rising from her supine position.
- κοράσιον (noun) – BDAG: “a young girl, maiden.” While it generally refers to a young female, its precise age range can be flexible, lending weight to the argument that specifying “twelve years old” might be significant for clarifying her developmental stage.
- περιπατέω (verb) – BDAG: “to walk about, walk around, go about.” This denotes her ability to move independently and freely after being healed, signifying the completeness of the restoration.
- ἐτῶν δώδεκα (gen. of age/duration) – A common Greek idiom for stating age: “of twelve years.” This detail about the girl’s age is the focal point of the discourse analysis concerning γάρ.
Translation Variants
The grammatical structure of Mark 5:42 is straightforward: an initial main clause describing the girl’s actions (καὶ εὐθὺς ἀνέστη τὸ κοράσιον καὶ περιεπάτει) followed by a γάρ clause providing additional information (ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα). The rhetorical analysis hinges on the interpretation of γάρ and its relationship to the preceding statement. Traditional interpretations, often influenced by grammarians like Levinsohn, emphasize a “strengthening” or “explanatory” connection, implying that the girl’s age somehow reinforces or accounts for her immediate rising and walking.
The core tension in the discussion lies in whether the age detail (twelve years old) explains why she rose and walked, or if it simply adds a descriptive attribute. If γάρ indicates explanation or causation, one might infer that her age clarifies her capacity to walk (i.e., she was old enough to walk, so her walking was not a secondary miracle) or even her youthful vigor (i.e., she was young enough to recover and move immediately, like a small child). This aligns with some participants’ suggestions that the age “strengthens” the idea of her being a κοράσιον in a specific developmental sense, or provides a reason for her walking around rather than just standing.
Conversely, the hypothesis of γάρ introducing “off-line background information” suggests a looser connection. In this view, the age is a relevant detail “for the sake of providing background information,” perhaps making “the picture of the described situation more concrete” without implying a direct causal or explanatory link to her actions. This perspective resonates with translations that place the age in parentheses, such as the NIB’s rendering: “Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” Such a parenthetical treatment rhetorically isolates the age as supplementary information rather than an integral part of the cause-and-effect chain, suggesting a narrative aside or an “afterthought” by the author.
The debate highlights the spectrum of semantic and pragmatic functions attributed to γάρ, ranging from strong causal explanations to more subtle, contextual background provision. The choice of translation thus reflects an exegetical decision about the precise rhetorical force Mark intends by including the girl’s age at this specific juncture.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The analysis of Mark 5:42 reveals a nuanced understanding of the discourse particle γάρ. While traditionally viewed as strictly explanatory or causative, the discussion suggests that in narrative contexts, its function may extend to providing relevant background information that is “off-line” from the main narrative flow, serving to enrich the reader’s understanding without necessarily strengthening or explaining the preceding action in a causal sense. The concept of “strengthening,” as employed by Levinsohn, is a technical term that may encompass various forms of reinforcement, including the mere provision of descriptive detail that confirms or elaborates on a preceding statement. However, the exact nature of this “strengthening” in Mark 5:42 remains open to interpretation, particularly whether it implies a logical connection like “old enough to walk” or simply a descriptive elaboration.
The choice of translation for ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα therefore depends on the exegete’s assessment of Mark’s specific rhetorical intent:
- “Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. They were utterly astonished.”
This translation maintains a strong explanatory or causal link, suggesting her age explains or reinforces her immediate ability to walk. - “Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk—she was twelve years old. They were utterly astonished.”
This uses a dash to indicate a more direct, yet still integrated, piece of information that might offer a subtle reinforcement or clarification of her developmental stage, rather than a strong causal explanation. - “Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk (she was twelve years old). They were utterly astonished.”
This parenthetical rendering treats the age as supplementary, “off-line” background information, relevant to the scene but not necessarily a direct cause or primary explanation for her action.
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