Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 5:12

ὄφελον. This shortened form of ὤφελον has become virtually a particle, utinam, both in the LXX. (Exodus 16:3) and in the N.T., with a past tense (1 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 11:1; Revelation 3:15[138]) of an impracticable wish. Only here with the future, of a practicable wish. See Burton, Tenses, § 27; Blass, Gr. § 63. 5 and § 66. 1.

[138] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

καὶ�, “would that they would even make themselves eunuchs.” So Deuteronomy 23:1 (2). Cf. Hesychius, ὁ�. St Paul vividly, if somewhat coarsely, contrasts partial with complete mutilation, the latter being “a recognized form of heathen self-devotion” (Lightfoot). The metaphorical meaning of excision from the Church (cf. ἀποκοπή of divorce, Deuteronomy 24:3 (1) in Aquila, or according to another reading κοπή, and in Symmachus διακοπή), though more in accordance with our modern notions of delicacy of expression, is contrary to the unanimous opinion of the Greek commentators. It also does not suit the middle voice so well.

οἱ�, “who throw you into confusion.” Dan. (LXX.) Daniel 7:23; Acts 17:6; Acts 21:38[139]; also some six times in the Hexapla. See especially Symm. Isaiah 22:3, ἀνεστατώθησαν (LXX. πεφεύγασι, Theod. μετεκινήθησαν); an unknown Greek translator of Habakkuk 3:16, ἀνεστατώθη τὰ σπλάγχνα μου (LXX. ἐπτοήθη ἡ κοιλία μου). In the well known naughty boy’s letter to his father (ii.—iii. cents. A.D.) he writes “My mother said to Archelaus ‘He quite upsets me! off with him,’ ” ἀναστατοῖ με· ἄρρον αὐτόν (see e.g. Deissmann, Licht vom Osten, p. 133, or Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, VII. 5, p. 269, 1908).

[139] Is affixed it means that all the passages are mentioned where the word occurs in the Greek Bible.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 5:12

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