It’s Greek to Me

Some of you know I’m taking Elementary Greek I on my lunch hour.  It’s Saturday, and I was sick all night, so I’m in bed this morning, and was reading my daily reading, and decided to try to translate just one verse from the original.  I chose Matthew 5:28, which, in our New Living Translation, says, “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

My Greek New Testament says it this way, “ἐγώ δέ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ βλέπων γυναῖκα πράς τό ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτήν ἤδη ἐμοιχευσεν αὐτήν ἐν τῂ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ.”

After at least two hours, I’ve come up with this rough “wooden” (sorry, that’s where we are) translation–”But I say to you that all who fix their eyes toward a woman continuing lusting after her already continues to commit adultery in the heart in him.”

Several things I learned through all that blood, sweat, and tears:

• The “But I say” is very strong.  Make no mistake, Jesus is arguing against the common wisdom.
• The looking is not casual.  There is a sense of continuing.  This is not a “woops, there’s something there I should avoid looking at” moment.  Something catches his eye and he not only fails to look away, but gazes intently.  This is no accident.
• The adultery, in the same way, is not incidental.  It continues.
• The woman is not participating in this act in any way that I can see.  She is the object of his lust, but not participating.

I know, more than you ever wanted to know, right?  At the moment, Greek is entirely laborious to me, but one of the professors said, “Reading the New Testament in English is like a man kissing his bride through the veil.”  I’m looking forward to the veil being lifted–some day.

Have a fabulous weekend, and if you’re in my class, I’ll see you tomorrow!

If you’re reading through the Daily Walk Bible, today’s passage is Matthew 5-7.

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