A Question For My (Ancient) Greek Speaking Friends

February 4th, 2010 · Posted in God Stuff, Nerdery · 6 Comments

In Revelation 5:6, it says the slain-looking lamb has “seven horns and seven eyes”. In the Greek, is it made clear whether this means the lamb had 7 eyes where I have 2 (i.e. they are an attribute) , or does it mean he had 7 eyes and 7 horns like I might have 7 peanuts and 7 pistachios (a possession)?

The difference has an implication as to whether his worthiness to open the sealed scroll is implicit in his being, or whether it is in response to what he has done.

RodeoClown: likes to imagine the 7 seals on the scroll perform clever tricks for fish.

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6 Comments to “A Question For My (Ancient) Greek Speaking Friends”

Izaac Said:
February 4th, 2010 at 2:14 pm

At present I have only completed three days of Greek. That doesn’t count, does it?

RodeoClown Said:
February 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm

It counts if you know the answer :)

Chris Said:
February 5th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

While I can’t help but admire the Theonerdery of this question, I’m at a loss as to whether there could possibly be a pragmatic implication for this question. ;)

RodeoClown Said:
February 6th, 2010 at 8:13 am

Hi Chris,

you’re right about it being theonerdery :)
If the bonus horns and eyes are a feature of the lamb (Jesus), then his scroll-opening worthiness is bound up in who he is. If they are a possession – then it is a result of what he has done.

Not every thing has a pragmatic purpose, and the answer will have pretty much zero impact in how I live my life.

Doesn’t stop it being interesting though :)

Brett Peatman Said:
September 15th, 2010 at 7:08 pm

Hi Ian,
I just noticed this one. It is a very literal translation, in that the verb means ‘to have /hold’. Given the context of being descriptive it is usually assumed that they are attributes of the lamb, although you could also translate it as possessive.

Cheers,
Brett

RodeoClown Said:
September 15th, 2010 at 8:06 pm

Thanks Brett,
So if I go with the usual translation, Jesus is worthy because of who he is.
Sounds good to me.

Thanks again for providing some insight into the translation.

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