Language of Jesus: Difference between revisions
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Overall, both versions appear to be Aramaic rather than Hebrew because of the verb שבק (''šbq'') "abandon", which is originally Aramaic.<ref name="Greenspahn, Frederick E 2003. P.25"/><ref name=critexeg>Davies, William D. and Dale C. Allison. 1997. Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. Volume III. P.624</ref> The "pure" Biblical Hebrew counterpart to this word, עזב (`''zb'') is seen in the first line of [[Psalm]] 22, which the saying appears to quote. Thus, Jesus is not quoting the canonical Hebrew version (êlî êlî lâmâ `<sup>a</sup>zabtânî); he may be quoting the version given in an Aramaic [[Targum]] (surviving Aramaic Targums do use ''šbq'' in their translations of the Psalm 22 <ref>http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/index.htm</ref>). |
Overall, both versions appear to be Aramaic rather than Hebrew because of the verb שבק (''šbq'') "abandon", which is originally Aramaic.<ref name="Greenspahn, Frederick E 2003. P.25"/><ref name=critexeg>Davies, William D. and Dale C. Allison. 1997. Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew. Volume III. P.624</ref> The "pure" Biblical Hebrew counterpart to this word, עזב (`''zb'') is seen in the first line of [[Psalm]] 22, which the saying appears to quote. Thus, Jesus is not quoting the canonical Hebrew version (êlî êlî lâmâ `<sup>a</sup>zabtânî); he may be quoting the version given in an Aramaic [[Targum]] (surviving Aramaic Targums do use ''šbq'' in their translations of the Psalm 22 <ref>http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/index.htm</ref>). |
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The Markan word for "my god", ελωι, definitely corresponds to the Aramaic form אלהי, elāhî. The Matthean one, ηλι, fits in better with the אלי of the original Hebrew Psalm, as has been pointed out in the literature; however, it may also be Aramaic, because this form is attested abundantly in Aramaic as well.<ref name=critexeg/><ref>Williams P.J. 2004. The linguistic background to Jesus' Dereliction Cry. The New Testament in its first century setting (ed.Williams P.J., Andre D. Clarke et al.) P.7-8.</ref> Curiously, already 4th century Church Father [[Epiphanius of Salamis]] considered that ''êlî êlî'' was Hebrew and the rest of the sentence was in Aramaic.<ref>The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis: Book II and III. 49/69 68.3, 4. (1994, transl. Frank Williams) P.386: "Indeed, the Lord prophesied this when he said, in Hebrew, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani.' On the cross the Lord duly fulfilled what had been prophesied of him by saying 'Eli, Eli,' in Hebrew, as had originally been written. And to complete the companion phrase he said, 'lema sabachtani,' no longer in Hebrew but in Aramaic, so as to begin as had been written of him but to change the remainder of the line to another language as he went on. (4) This too he did with a good provision. By saying, 'Eli, Eli,' he meant to acknowledge that the words had been spoken of him by the prophet. But by saying the rest no longer in Hebrew but in Aramaic, he meant to humble the pride of those who boast of Hebrew, and to declare other languages fit for the fulfillment of the oracles about him."</ref> (Actually, in support of the Epiphanius quote and against the earlier claim above, eli is not common in Aramaic, "el" is mainly found in Aramaic magic texts along with other borrowings from Hebrew. "eli" is not found in Aramaic.{{OR}}) |
The Markan word for "my god", ελωι, definitely corresponds to the Aramaic form אלהי, elāhî. The Matthean one, ηλι, fits in better with the אלי of the original Hebrew Psalm, as has been pointed out in the literature; however, it may also be Aramaic, because this form is attested abundantly in Aramaic as well.<ref name=critexeg/><ref>Williams P.J. 2004. The linguistic background to Jesus' Dereliction Cry. The New Testament in its first century setting (ed.Williams P.J., Andre D. Clarke et al.) P.7-8.</ref> Curiously, already 4th century Church Father [[Epiphanius of Salamis]] considered that ''êlî êlî'' was Hebrew and the rest of the sentence was in Aramaic.<ref>The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis: Book II and III. 49/69 68.3, 4. (1994, transl. Frank Williams) P.386: "Indeed, the Lord prophesied this when he said, in Hebrew, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani.' On the cross the Lord duly fulfilled what had been prophesied of him by saying 'Eli, Eli,' in Hebrew, as had originally been written. And to complete the companion phrase he said, 'lema sabachtani,' no longer in Hebrew but in Aramaic, so as to begin as had been written of him but to change the remainder of the line to another language as he went on. (4) This too he did with a good provision. By saying, 'Eli, Eli,' he meant to acknowledge that the words had been spoken of him by the prophet. But by saying the rest no longer in Hebrew but in Aramaic, he meant to humble the pride of those who boast of Hebrew, and to declare other languages fit for the fulfillment of the oracles about him."</ref> (Actually, in support of the Epiphanius quote and against the earlier claim above, eli is not common in Aramaic, "el" is mainly found in Aramaic magic texts along with other borrowings from Hebrew. "eli" is not found in Aramaic.{{OR|date=July 2012}}) |
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In the following verse, in both accounts, some who hear Jesus' cry imagine that he is calling for help from [[Elijah]] (Ēlīyāhū or Ēlīyā). This is perhaps to underline the incomprehension of the bystanders about what is happening. [Or rather a bystander insult?] This detail has been argued to fit in better with the Matthean version, since êlî seems somewhat more prone to be confused with Ēlīyā(hū) than ělāhî does.<ref name=critexeg/><ref>Williams P.J. 2004. The linguistic background to Jesus' Dereliction Cry. The New Testament in its first century setting (ed.Williams P.J., Andre D. Clarke et al.) P.6.</ref> |
In the following verse, in both accounts, some who hear Jesus' cry imagine that he is calling for help from [[Elijah]] (Ēlīyāhū or Ēlīyā). This is perhaps to underline the incomprehension of the bystanders about what is happening. [Or rather a bystander insult?] This detail has been argued to fit in better with the Matthean version, since êlî seems somewhat more prone to be confused with Ēlīyā(hū) than ělāhî does.<ref name=critexeg/><ref>Williams P.J. 2004. The linguistic background to Jesus' Dereliction Cry. The New Testament in its first century setting (ed.Williams P.J., Andre D. Clarke et al.) P.6.</ref> |
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