When the BDAG has multiple choices, but your verse isn't mentioned in any, what do you use ?
When using the BDAG in exegetical study, what do you do when your verse's use of a greek word is not in the BDAG, and there are multiple choices within the BDAG ?
Do I choose the one that lines up with the Louw-Nida ?
Needless to say, I am a novice with the Greek and Hebrew texts.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Best Answers
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For starters, it is a perfect active indicative 2nd person singular from Lambano (λαμβάνω) - the beginning Greek way of translating that would be "You have taken/received." This would be the basic meaning if a word could have a meaning by itself. Next, you would look at the context to determine the meaning. If you have the 3rd Edition BDAG, it gives you definitions for many of the words. Find the best definitions that would fit the context. With the definition are a few suggested gloss words that would fit within the framework of that definition - there is freedom here. What is referenced in BDAG are just examples, especially for a word like Lambano/λαμβάνω since this is a word that is used often. It would be impossible for BDAG to reference every use without making the book extra large.
You can also look at how the word is used in the rest of Revelation and then how the word is used by the Author (assuming it is the same John who wrote all the others that bear his name). You could then look at textual variants and manuscripts (if there are any) to see how other ancient texts understood the word. But the immediate context is the most important.If you are new to languages, then do a verse comparison on how other translators translated the word. Many technical commentaries could help you examine the Greek words and give helpful insights.
Lastly, since "take" or "receive" are good choices due to the word often being translated that way, pick which one fits the best in the context. Ultimately, context is the most important thing.2 -
Let me ask you a question - how would you decide which romantic to use?
One of the problems I often see in the forums is people forgetting that a language is a language, a dictionary is a dictionary - they forget to bring the skills they have in English (or other native language) to the new Biblical language. If, after using all the skills you already have, you can't figure it out, look at a variety of translations and see if you can now figure it out. As a last resort, look at an interlinear Bible to see what Logos has tagged it as - remembering that Logos does not claim to be the infallible ultimate authority.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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The BDAG is fairly new to me and I am trying to learn how to use it properly.
You might enjoy watching this video:
2
Comments
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Well, how did scholars translate the word in your verse?
Or I'm misunderstanding.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Can you give an example of one that does not match up for you? That will make it easier the good people here to analyse the situation.
👁️ 👁️
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Using the KJV, Rev 3:3. the words "thou hast received" . Greek transliteration eilephas, lemma: lambano. LN 57.125
There are multiple definitions in the BDAG, but none for Rev 3:3.
It does highlight one for Rev 2:28 (BDAG-10: c)
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For starters, it is a perfect active indicative 2nd person singular from Lambano (λαμβάνω) - the beginning Greek way of translating that would be "You have taken/received." This would be the basic meaning if a word could have a meaning by itself. Next, you would look at the context to determine the meaning. If you have the 3rd Edition BDAG, it gives you definitions for many of the words. Find the best definitions that would fit the context. With the definition are a few suggested gloss words that would fit within the framework of that definition - there is freedom here. What is referenced in BDAG are just examples, especially for a word like Lambano/λαμβάνω since this is a word that is used often. It would be impossible for BDAG to reference every use without making the book extra large.
You can also look at how the word is used in the rest of Revelation and then how the word is used by the Author (assuming it is the same John who wrote all the others that bear his name). You could then look at textual variants and manuscripts (if there are any) to see how other ancient texts understood the word. But the immediate context is the most important.If you are new to languages, then do a verse comparison on how other translators translated the word. Many technical commentaries could help you examine the Greek words and give helpful insights.
Lastly, since "take" or "receive" are good choices due to the word often being translated that way, pick which one fits the best in the context. Ultimately, context is the most important thing.2 -
Let me ask you a question - how would you decide which romantic to use?
One of the problems I often see in the forums is people forgetting that a language is a language, a dictionary is a dictionary - they forget to bring the skills they have in English (or other native language) to the new Biblical language. If, after using all the skills you already have, you can't figure it out, look at a variety of translations and see if you can now figure it out. As a last resort, look at an interlinear Bible to see what Logos has tagged it as - remembering that Logos does not claim to be the infallible ultimate authority.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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I try a different lexicon. :-)
Dr. Nathan Parker
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Notwithstanding all the other worthy responses, I would take it to mean that the Rev 2.28 reference may cover the use in Rev 3.3. I looked in a couple of other lexicons and they didn’t have a reference for it either.
👁️ 👁️
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I wasn't hung up on the example I gave, it was just one of many.
The BDAG is fairly new to me and I am trying to learn how to use it properly.
Thank you to all who responded.
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If your goal is to learn how to use BDAG, I would definitely read the paper by the late Dr. Rodney Decker. I'm attaching it here.
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The replies look out of sequence in this thread 🤨 Did something change in the way replies appear?
DAL
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I’ve been seeing that a lot, things out of order and duplicated
👁️ 👁️
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The BDAG is fairly new to me and I am trying to learn how to use it properly.
You might enjoy watching this video:
2
