Glory Be to Jesus Christ!
🌞
Since in the works published at the following links:
https://churchandsociety.org.ua/pdf/projects/zbirnyk.pdf
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/17082024.html
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/27112024.html
it is written that the use of prepositions is important for the correct understanding of important and actual issues, in particular the issue of power, I am writing commentaries on the use of these prepositions. As a piece of advice on how to read the text, you can read the verse in translation and/or in the original (if you have the opportunity), and then the commentary on prepositions here. Next, you need to understand which part of the verse the commentary refers to, and consider what it affirms — or less often, denies — that is essential to understanding. This thoughtful reading helps to deepen understanding and protects against the mistakes mentioned above.
As Lent approaches, the readings from the New Testament are replaced by readings from the Old Testament to encourage people to repentance.
Since I am commenting on several Ancient Greek (koine) prepositions, I will continue to comment on the Old Testament readings by considering the first complete translation into Ancient Greek, the Septuagint.
At the 6th hour:
Zechariah VIII, 7 — ‘ἀπὸ γῆς ἀνατολῶν καὶ ἀπὸ γῆς δυσμῶν’ - ‘apo ges anatolon kai apo ges dysmon’ - ‘from the land of the rising of the sun and from the land of the setting of the sun; from the land of the east and from the land of the west’. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that the Lord will gather His people from the east and the west, from everywhere, and they will leave those lands. This is a prophecy of a change of place, and by implication, of living conditions, meaning that it is a prophecy of a change in the living conditions of people in the Kingdom of God.
Zechariah VIII, 8 — ‘ἐν μέσῳ’ - ‘en meso’ - ‘in the midst’ (where). A common expression. ‘εἰς λαόν’ - ‘eis laon’ - ‘the people’.
‘εἰς Θεόν’ — ‘eis theon’ - ‘God’.
The preposition ‘eis’ indicates who will be who. ‘ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ’ — ‘en aletheia kai en dikaiosyne’ - ‘in truth and in righteousness; with truth and righteousness’. Both translations are possible, the first indicating that all this will happen in truth and righteousness, and the second that truth and righteousness themselves will need it.
Zechariah VIII, 9 — ‘ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις’ - ‘en tais hemerais tautais’ - ‘in these days’. ‘ἐκ στόματος’ - ‘ek stomatos’ - ‘out of the mouth’. The preposition ‘ek’ indicates where the words will come from. ‘ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἡμέρας’ - ‘aph hes hemeras’ - ‘from that day’. The preposition ‘apo’ in its form before the following ‘he’ indicates the beginning of the countdown. ‘ἀφ’ οὗ ᾠκοδόμηται' - aph ou oikodometai
- that might be built
. The negative particle is unclear, but the Hebrew text and many translations give this version of the translation.
Zechariah VIII, 10 — ‘εἰς ὄνησιν’ - ‘eis onesin’ - ‘for the benefit; for the good (in the sense of for the good
in the broadest sense)’. The preposition ‘eis’ indicates the purpose. ‘ἀπὸ τῆς θλίψεως’ - ‘apo tes thlipseos’ - ‘from (because of) sorrow'. The preposition ‘apo’ indicates that people could not escape suffering.
Zechariah VIII, 13 — ‘ἐν κατάρᾳ’ - ‘en katara’ - ‘in cursing’. That is, in many difficulties and sufferings. ‘ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν’ - ‘en tois ethnesin’ - ‘in the nations; among the nations’. ‘ἐν εὐλογίᾳ’ - ‘en eulogia’ - ‘in blessing’. ‘ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν’ - ‘en tais chersin’ - ‘in the hands’. This refers to the power in the hands of the faithful, to their strengthening.
Zechariah VIII, 14 — ‘ἐν τῷ παροργίσαι με’ - ‘en to parorgisai me’ - ‘in anger alongside Me’. That is, people angered God when He showed them closeness and mercy.
Zechariah VIII, 15 — ‘ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις’ - ‘en tais hemerais tautais’ - ‘in these days’.
Zechariah VIII, 16 — ‘ἐν ταῖς πύλαις ὑμῶν’ - ‘en tais pylais hymon’ - ‘in your gates (i.e. cities, fortifications, organised places)’.
Zechariah VIII, 17 — ‘ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν’ - ‘en tais kardiais hymon’ - ‘in your hearts’.
For more on the reading, please refer to the following:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/15032024.html
At vespers:
Zechariah VIII, 19 — ‘εἰς χαρὰν καὶ εὐφροσύνην καὶ εἰς ἑορτὰς ἀγαθάς’ - ‘eis charan kai euphrosynen kai eis heortas agathas’ - ‘for joy, and happy prosperity, and good feasts; joy, and happy prosperity, and good feasts’.
Zechariah VIII, 21 — ‘εἰς μίαν πόλιν’ - ‘eis mian polin’ - ‘to one city’.
Zechariah VIII, 22 — ‘ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ’ - ‘en Ierousalem’ - ‘in Jerusalem’.
Zechariah VIII, 23 — ‘ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις’ - ‘en tais hemerais ekeinais’ - ‘in those days’. ‘ἐκ πασῶν τῶν γλωσσῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν’ - ‘ek pason ton glosson ton ethnon’ - ‘from all the tongues of the nations’. The preposition ‘ek’ indicates where these people will come from, and also where the Lord will gather them.
For more on the reading, please refer to the following:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/commentaries/15032024.html
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!