Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: annalex; blue-duncan; P-Marlowe; Dr. Eckleburg; BibChr; Calvinist_Dark_Lord
There is a word for cousin, suggenes. If they had wanted to use the word cousin, they could have used it. Instead, they used the word "adelphos." Interestingly, adelphos is a compound word that means "from the same womb."

Note how in Luke 14 & 21, Adelphos and Suggenes are in the same list. In other words, they are different from one another.

Lu 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Lu 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Lu 2:44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

Lu 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Lu 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

623 posted on 12/07/2006 2:58:27 PM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and proud of it! Supporting our troops means praying for them to WIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 618 | View Replies ]


To: xzins; blue-duncan; P-Marlowe; Dr. Eckleburg; BibChr; Calvinist_Dark_Lord
There is a word for cousin, suggenes

Yes, and also anepsios for nephew. However, the usage is that adelphos is a generic term of relatives of roughly the same age, when the specific narrow term cannot be applied to everyone in the group, or for some other reason not advisable. We see that expansive usage throughout the scripture and it is still common in the Middle East and Greece today.

One simple reason to use the generic term is that Jesus liked to use the word "brother" to refer to His disciples. Imagine the gospel where strangers are called warmly "brothers" whereas the flesh and blood relatives coolly "cousins". It would have been outright confusing.

629 posted on 12/07/2006 3:37:02 PM PST by annalex
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 623 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson