Mt. 2:6: A novice’s question Ted Mann theomann at earthlink.net
Tue Jun 12 13:31:13 EDT 2001
The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts (Mt. 2:6): The NASB translates hHGOUMENOS as “Ruler,” and the KJV reads”Governor” (note the caps), giving the impression, it seems to me, thathHGOUMENOS is a title or a position. On the other hand, the NIV and NRSVuse “ruler,” which emphasizes function rather than station. SincehHGOUMENOS is a participial form (middle) of the verb hHGEOMAI, shouldn’t itbe translated as “one who rules,” or something similar? Does the fact thatit is used substantivally imply a title? In other words, why do the NASBand KJV capitalize this term?With appreciation.TedDr. Theodore H. Manntheomann at earthlink.nethttp://home.earthlink.net/~theomann
The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek ManuscriptsThe Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts
Mt. 2:6: A novice’s question Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Tue Jun 12 14:57:46 EDT 2001
The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts At 1:31 PM -0400 6/12/01, Ted Mann wrote:>(Mt. 2:6): The NASB translates hHGOUMENOS as “Ruler,” and the KJV reads>“Governor” (note the caps), giving the impression, it seems to me, that>hHGOUMENOS is a title or a position. On the other hand, the NIV and NRSV>use “ruler,” which emphasizes function rather than station. Since>hHGOUMENOS is a participial form (middle) of the verb hHGEOMAI, shouldn’t it>be translated as “one who rules,” or something similar? Does the fact that>it is used substantivally imply a title? In other words, why do the NASB>and KJV capitalize this term?Here’s the relevant heading under hHGEOMAI in LSJ at Perseus:II. lead, command in war, c. dat., nêes thoai, hêisin ‘Achilleus es Troiênhêgeito Il.16.169 , cf. Od.14.238; ou gar eên hos tis sphin epi stichashêgêsaito might lead them to their ranks, Il.2.687; hê. Trôessin es Ilion5.211 ; hê. Mêiosin 2.864 ; lonchaisin E.Ba.1360 ; heterois Lys. 31.17 ,cf. X.An.5.2.6; en tais strateiais, hais hêgeitai basileus Isoc. 12.180 :also generally, polei E.Fr.282.24 ; but usu. c. gen., Sarpêdôn d’ hêgêsat’. . epikourôn Il.12.101 ; hêgêsato laôn 15.311 , cf. 2.567, al.; hê. têsexodou Th.2.10 ; hêgoumenos tôn hêdonôn all’ ouk agomenos hup’ autônIsoc.9.45 : abs., to be in command, Id.16.21, etc.2. rule, have dominion, c. gen., tês ‘Asiês, tês summachiês, Hdt.1.95,7.148; hoi Thessaliês hêgeomenoi Id.9.1 : abs., hoi hêgoumenoi the rulers,S. Ph.386, cf. A.Ag.1363; hê. en tois adelphoisleading men, Act.Ap. 15.22 ;hê. scholês to be the head of a philosophical school, Phld.Acad. Ind.p.107M., al.3. as official title, hêgoumenos, ho, president, sunodou PGrenf.2.67.3 (iiiA.D.); gerdiôn ib.43.9 (i A.D.); hiereôn PLond. 2.281.2 (i A.D.): abs.,PFay.110.26 (i A.D.).b. of Roman governors, hê. ethnous,= Lat. praeses provinciae, POxy.1020.5(ii/iii A.D.); hê. tês Galatias Luc.Alex.44 .c. of subordinate officials, hê. tou stratêgou POxy.294.19 (i A.D.); kômêsPRyl.125.3 (i A.D.).d. abbot, Just.Nov.7.1, al.: fem. -menê abbess, ibid.4. hêgoumenos as Adj., principal, pulôn PFlor.382.15 (iii A.D.), POxy.55.9(iii A.D.).I think that says everything relevant to the question, but I might add thatsubstantive participles quite often translate into English as agent-typenouns as here hO hHGOUMENOS = “ruler” or “governor.” Note 2b: “of Romangovernors”–but the term can be applied to one who holds either politicalor military authority (or both). “Governor” was a standard term for anyonein a position of authority in 17th century English; the first seriousendeavor to spell out the sort of education required of the Britishgoverning class was Sir Thomas Elyot’s _Boke of the Governour_ datingsometime near 1550, I think. I only know this because my son’s doctoraldissertation was on Sir Thomas Elyot.– Carl W. ConradDepartment of Classics/Washington UniversityHome: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, MO 63130/(314) 726-5649cwconrad at artsci.wustl.eduWWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek ManuscriptsThe Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts