Looking for a resource (if even in existence)

Mike Tourangeau

I am wondering if there is a resource that would show other English words that come from a particular Greek word. I know most words are translations, but for instance φαρμακεία is translated "sorceries" in my English bible. Is there a link to "pharmacy"..... I could say there is, but I am only guessing.

I don't even know if this is even something in existence

 

If anybody knows of a resource, let me know. Thanks

Mark Barnes

You need to be careful here. Many English words are derived from Greek or other languages, but that doesn't mean at all that the Biblical writers had those concepts in mind. A good English dictionary will tell you pharmacy has the following origin:

Middle English: from Old French farmacie, via medieval Latin from Greek pharmakeia ‘practice of the druggist’, based on pharmakon ‘drug’.

But rather than doing that, you should look up φαρμακεία in a Greek lexicon, for this purpose a general lexicon, rather than an NT lexicon is best. Liddell-Scott says this:

φαρμᾰκείᾱ, ἡ, use of drugs, esp. of purgatives, Hp.Aph.1.24, 2.36 (both pl.), PCair.Zen.18.5 (iii B.C.), Gal.15.447, etc.; αἱ ἄνω φ., i.e. emetics, Arist.Pr.962a3; of abortifacients, Sor.1.59: generally, the use of any kind of drugs, potions, or spells, Pl.Lg.933b: pl., Id.Prt.354a, Ti.89b, Men.535.9.
2. poisoning or witchcraft, D.40 57, Plb.6.13.4, POxy.486.21 (ii A.D.); αἱ περὶ τὰς φαρμακείας, = αἱ φαρμακίδες, Arist.HA572a22.
II. metaph., remedy, παιδιὰς προσάγειν φαρμακείας χάριν Id.Pol.1337b41.

 

So all this means that you have two words (pharmacy in English, and φαρμακεία in Greek), that are both related. In the ancient world there often wasn't much difference between magic and medicine. Thankfully, today, the two are quite distinct.