Hebrew of the Hebrews

A place for those new to Biblical Hebrew to ask basic questions about the language of the Hebrew Bible.
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Ruminator
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Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

Hebrew of the Hebrews

Post by Ruminator »

This question concerns whether or not a Greek phrase used in the NT is a Hebrew idiomatic usage. If this is off topic, please let me know and I'll delete the question.

The phrase is:
Philippians 3:5 I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.

Philippians 3:5 περιτομῇ ὀκταήμερος ἐκ γένους Ἰσραήλ φυλῆς Βενιαμίν Ἑβραῖος ἐξ Ἑβραίων κατὰ νόμον Φαρισαῖος
Is this a Hebrew idiomatic usage? Or should it be understood word by word?

English translations vary on how it is to be understood: https://biblehub.com/philippians/3-5.htm
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William Ross
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SteveMiller
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Re: Hebrew of the Hebrews

Post by SteveMiller »

William,
There is no 'Hebrew of Hebrews' or 'Israelite of Israelites' in the OT.

In the OT, we do have the expressions: holy of holies, king of kings, Lord of Lords, God of Gods, heaven of heavens - and maybe others.
These expressions refer to the ultimate of that group.
All of these are in the NT except for God of Gods and heaven of heavens.
Sincerely yours,
Steve Miller
Detroit
http://www.voiceInWilderness.info
Honesty is the best policy. - George Washington (1732-99)
Ruminator
Posts: 52
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:09 am

Re: Hebrew of the Hebrews

Post by Ruminator »

Thank you Steve. It appears that the preposition ἐξ makes this not a Hebraism: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/ ... ippians-35
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William Ross
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SteveMiller
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Re: Hebrew of the Hebrews

Post by SteveMiller »

Ruminator, I agree. LXX and NT never translated any of the Hebrew superlatives with the preposition "ek" in between.
Sincerely yours,
Steve Miller
Detroit
http://www.voiceInWilderness.info
Honesty is the best policy. - George Washington (1732-99)
Saboi

Re: Hebrew of the Hebrews

Post by Saboi »

ἐξ becomes the prefix letter מ and thus 'ἐξ Ἑβραίων' becomes מעבדים.
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