The Hebraic New Testament (Part 5)

Have you ever noticed phrases in the New Testament similar to "began to say" or "began to rebuke" or "began to teach?"  Do those phrases sound redundant to you?  It is a common pattern in Matthew, Mark and Luke and it also occurs in Acts.  If you have read any other posts I have written on the Hebraic New Testament, you will recognize that these are the books that are especially Hebraic in their language.

Following is a graph of occurrences of this "began to ... verb" pattern in the Greek New Testament.

Here is an example in context.  Notice how this pattern is invisible in some of the more recent translations (paraphrases).  The translators apparently felt that it was awkward English and chose to remove it— the Hebraisms are probably the first things to go in the paraphrases.

Matt 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke (ηρξατο επιτιμαν – erxato epitiman) him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 

• The Message – Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
• CEV – Peter took Jesus aside and told him to stop talking like that. He said, "God would never let this happen to you, Lord!"
• NCV – Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that. He said, "God save you from those things, Lord! Those things will never happen to you!"
• God's Word Translation – Peter took him aside and objected to this. He said, "Heaven forbid, Lord! This must never happen to you!"
• Bible in Basic English – And Peter, protesting, said to him, Be it far from you, Lord; it is impossible that this will come about. 

These Hebraic New Testament posts are intended to illustrate the Hebraic character of the New Testament.  I have read about some of these patterns, but only after I have actually gone and looked for them myself and documented them do I really start to notice them.  Once I recognize them I start to see them everywhere.

Although I find languages to be interesting in themselves, my purpose for looking at this topic is primarily as a tool for looking at the New Testament through the lens of the Old Testament.  Once we see the Hebraic character of the New Testament, we are motivated to look to the Old Testament for texts that help us better understand the New Testament.

I have not discovered any site on the Internet that documents and illustrates these Hebraic patterns.  It is my hope that these posts will be useful to those who are interested in this topic.

(All texts that follow are from the King James Version.)


Some New Testament Texts Containing The "Began To" Pattern


Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach (ηρξατο ο Ιησους κηρυσσειν – erxato o Iesous keryssein), and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matt 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say (ηρξατο ο Ιησους λεγειν  – erxato o Iesous legein) unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Matt 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck (ηρξαντο τιλλειν – erxanto tillein) the ears of corn, and to eat.

Matt 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful (ηρξατο λυπεισθαι – erxato lypeisthai) and very heavy.

Mark 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish (ηρξατο κηρυσσειν – erxato keryssein) it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Mark 5:17 And they began to pray (ηρξαντο παρακαλειν – erxanto parakalein) him to depart out of their coasts.

Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth (ηρξατο αυτους αποστελλειν – erxato autous apostellein) by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach (ηρξατο διδασκειν – erxato didaskein) them many things.

Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question (ηρξαντο συζητειν – erxanto syzetein) with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

Mark 10:32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell (ηρξατο αυτοις λεγειν – erxato autois legein) them what things should happen unto him,

Mark 10:47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out (ηρξατο κραζειν – erxato krazein), and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Mark 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out  (ηρξατο εκβαλλειν – erxato ekballein) them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

Mark 14:65 And some began to spit (ηρξαντο τινες εμπτυειν – erxanto tines emptyein) on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Mark 14:71 But he began to curse (ηρξατο αναθεματιζειν – erxato anathematizein) and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

Mark 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire (ηρξατο αιτεισθαι – erxato aiteisthai) him to do as he had ever done unto them.

Mark 15:18 And began to salute (ηρξαντο ασπαζεσθαι – erxanto aspazesthai) him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason (ηρξαντο διαλογιζεσθαι – erxanto dialogizesthai), saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Luke 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash (ηρξατο βρεχειν – erxato brechein) his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Luke 9:12 And when the day began to wear away (ηρξατο κλινειν – erxato klinein), then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat (αρξηται τυπτειν – arxetai typtein) the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without (αρξησθε εξω εσταναι – arxesthe exo estanai), and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock (αρξωνται εμπαιζειν – arxontai empaizein) him,

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want (ηρξατο υστερεισθαι – erxato ystereisthai).

Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse (ηρξαντο δε κατηγορειν – erxanto de kategorein) him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash (ηρξατο νιπτειν – erxato niptein) the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.


Examples of The "Began To" Pattern in the Septuagint and Hebrew Text


Deut 3:24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew (ηρξω δειξαι – erxo deixai / החלות להראות – hachilota l'har'ot) thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?

Josh 3:7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt (αρχομαι υψωσαι – archomai ypsosai / אחל גדלך – achel gadelkha) you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

Judg 13:5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver (αρξεται σωζειν – arxetai sozein / יחל להושׁיע – yahel l'hoshi'a) Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Judg 20:39 whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike (ηρκται του τυπτειν – erktai tou typtein / החל להכות – hechel l'hakot) and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

Jer 25:29 For behold, I begin to bring (αρχομαι κακωσαι – archomai kakosai / מחל להרע – mechel l'hara) calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’


List of Some New Testament Texts with the "Began To" Pattern


Matt 4:17; 11:7, 20; 12:1; 14:30; 16:21–22; 18:24; 24:49; 26:22, 37, 74; Mark 1:45; 4:1; 5:17, 20; 6:2, 7, 34; 8:11, 31–32; 10:28, 32, 41, 47; 11:15; 12:1; 13:5; 14:19, 33, 65, 69, 71; 15:8, 18; Luke 3:8; 4:21; 5:21; 7:15, 24, 38, 49; 9:12; 11:29; 12:1, 45; 13:25–26; 14:18, 29–30; 15:14, 24; 19:45; 21:28; 22:23; 23:2, 30; John 13:5; Acts 1:1; 2:4; 11:15; 18:26; 24:2; 27:35; 2 Cor 3:1


List of Some Old Testament Texts with the "Began To" Pattern


Gen 4:26; 6:1; 10:8; 11:6; Lev 21:9; Num 25:1; Deut 2:25, 31; 3:24; 16:9; Josh 3:7; Judg 10:18; 13:5, 25; 16:19; 20:31, 39–40; 1 Sam 14:35; 22:15; 2 Kgs 10:32; 15:37; Jer 25:29; Ezek 20:21; Jonah 3:4; Mal 1:12; Esth 6:13; 9:23; Ezra 3:6; Neh 4:7; 1 Chr 1:10; 27:24; 2 Chr 3:1–2; 31:7, 10; 34:3