Ulrich Berges, «'Ich gebe Jerusalem einen Freudenboten'
Synchrone und diachrone Beobachtungen zu Jes 41,27», Vol. 87 (2006) 319-337
The references to Zion and Jerusalem (41,27; 44,26.28; 45,13; 46,13) in the
section Isa 40–48 dedicated to Jacob and Israel and which follows the Prologue in
40,1-11, require an explanation because they present the perspective of the return
from the point of view of the Jewish homeland, which for the first time appears
only in Isa 49,14. Synchronically Isa 41,27 interrupts the parallel double structure
of the dispute with the foreign gods in 41,21-24.25-29. Diachronically Isa 41,27
is not attributable to the redactor of the first collection, composed between 539
and 520 BC, but to a more recent hand, which — starting from the first Servant
Song with its expansion and reinterpretation with Darius I in mind — introduces
the perspective of the return into the dispute with foreign gods. JHWH proves his
unique and overpowering sovereignty over history not only with regard to Cyrus
but also to Darius I.
72 Hellen Mardaga
pronoun in a very nuanced way, which leads in some cases to an overly
detailed and diversified division in categories16.
Dictionaries of the New Testament on the contrary all describe the
use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος in the same way. The use of the pronoun is divided in two
columns: the absolute or substantival use and the adjectival use. Gener-
ally the following categories are distinguished:
(1) The absolute use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος17: i) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος in an opposition referring
to the most remote person or object; ii) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος pointing to a proximate
person or object; iii) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος indicating a well known person or object;
iv) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος denoting a following or preceding relative or ὅτι-phrase; v)
á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος used in oratio obliqua18.
(2) Adjectival use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος: i) the use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος as an adjective in
oppositions; ii) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος to distinguish the mentioned person or object
from other persons or objects.
Dictionaries of the New Testament and grammars point at specific
nuances in the demonstrative meaning of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος19; especially in four
(i) The grammar of F. Blass and A. Debrunner (see note 14) for example divides the
16
use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος into six categories (170-71): “1. Die Abwesenden als solche; 2. In Verbindung
mit οὗτος und im Gegensatz zu diesem wird es im NT fast nie gebraucht; 3. Besonders
bezeichnet es in der Erzählung, auch der fingierten, der Erwähnte und was mit diesem
zusammenhängt; 4. Im Nachzatz; 5. Nicht oft mit folgendem Bezugswort; 6. Abgeschwacht
zu ‘er’†while A.T. Robertson (see note 14) brings the total up to ten (707): “(g) á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος: 1.
The Purely Deictic; 2. The Contemptuous use (cf. οὗτος); 3. The Anaphoric; 4. The Remote
Object (Contrast); 5. Emphasis; 6. With Apposition; 7. Article with Nouns except when
Predicate; 8. As Antecedent to Relative; 9. Gender and Number; 10. Independent Useâ€.
(ii) The same verses are quoted several times, but the function of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος therein is de-
scribed differently. A.T. Robertson (707-08) sees the use of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος in 1,18 as emphatic and
anaphoric and adds to it that the pronoun resumes a participle. F.W. Grosheide (Beknopte
Grammatica op het Grieksche Nieuwe Testament [Kampen 1912]) on the contrary believes
that á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος from 1,18 refers to an absent person or object and is used in an opposition in
an apodosis (124).
J.F. Schleusner, Novum lexicon Graeco-Latinum in Novum Testamentum, 2 vol.
17
(41819) 747-48 does not make any distinction between the absolute and the adjectival use of
the pronoun. He only gives three short indications: “1) is, ille, iste. Pronomen demonstrati-
vum… 2) ‘talis’, i.q. τοιοῦτος…3) interdum omittiturâ€. C.G. Bretschneider, Lexicon manuale
Graeco-Latinum in libros Novi Testamenti, 31840) 375-376 does make a distinction between
the absolute and the adjectival use. The absolute use is divided as follows: “(a) ad remotius, et
est: ille, illa, illud; (b) ad proximum: ille is, hic, hic ipse; (c) refertur as id, quod sequitur, ut
accuratius describaturâ€. E. Robinson, A Greek and English Lexicon of the New Testament
(London 1837) 250, does not make a distinction between substantival and adjectival use,
but between “in antithesis, referring to the more remote subject†and “without antithesis,
referring to the person or thing immediately preceding or just mentionedâ€.
In his 4th, 5th and 6th edition W. Bauer (Griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch zu den Schrif-
18
ten des Neuen Testaments und der übrigen urchristlichen Literatur [Berlin 1949-1988]) adds
a fifth column to his description of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος: “e. In Oratio obliqua bez. Der Redende mit á¼Îº
sich selber (Isaeus 8,22; Polyb. 3,44, 10. 12, 16, 5)â€.
I. The strong meaning of á¼ÎºÎµá¿–νος: 1. The general deictic function: 7,11; 9,12.28; 13,26;
19
19,21.35; 2. Referring to the remote one: a) in an opposition: 1,8; 2,20-21; 3,28.30; 5,35.47;