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Scan through the following texts taking notice of the words that are highlighted. Does it strike you as redundant? Would any of us say something like this in contemporary English? Is the English strange?
Matt 13:3 And he spake (ελαλησεν – elalesen) many things unto them in parables, saying (λεγων – legon), Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Matt 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake (ελαλησεν – elalesen) unto them, saying (λεγων – legon), Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake (ελαλησεν – elalesen) unto them, saying (λεγων – legon), All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Luke 12:16 And he spake (ειπε – eipe) a parable unto them, saying (λεγων – legon), The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 14:3 And Jesus answering spake (ειπε – eipe) unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying (λεγων – legon), Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
Luke 15:3 And he spake (Ειπε – Eipe) this parable unto them, saying (λεγων – legon),
Luke 20:2 And spake (ειπον – eipon) unto him, saying (λεγοντες – legontes), Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
Notice how the pattern disappears in many modern paraphrases and translations. It is not a normal pattern in English— the translators decided to remove it.
Matt 13:3 NLT – He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer went out to plant some seed.
Matt 14:27 NLT – But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It's all right," he said. "I am here! Don't be afraid."
Matt 28:18 NLT – Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Luke 12:16 NIV – And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
Luke 14:3 NIV – Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"
Luke 15:3 ESV – So he told them this parable:
Luke 20:2 ESV – and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”
I have intentionally chosen examples that look especially redundant in English, combining spake and saying. The word that I would like to focus on today is saying. Here are some other texts that use the word saying to begin a quotation.
Matt 3:14 But John forbad him, saying (λεγων – legon), I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Matt 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying (λεγουσα – legousa), This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matt 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying (λεγων – legon),
Matt 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying (λεγων – legon), Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Matt 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying (λεγοντες – legontes), It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Mark 3:33 And he answered them, saying (λεγων – legon), Who is my mother, or my brethren?
Mark 8:16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying (λεγοντες – legontes), It is because we have no bread.
As with the other patterns we have examined in this series, this pattern is more common in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts and Revelation. It is also common in John. The first three gospels and Revelation are especially Hebraic in their use of language. Following is a graph of occurrences of the saying pattern in the books of the New Testament.
We can see this pattern in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament).
Gen 8:15 And God spake (ειπεν – eipen / וידבר – vay'daber) unto Noah, saying (λεγων – legōn /לאמר – lemor),
Gen 9:8 And God spake (ειπεν – eipen / ויאמר – vayomer) unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying (λεγων – legon /לאמר – lemor),
Exod 6:10 And the LORD spake (Ειπεν – Eipen) unto Moses, saying (λεγων – legōn),
Exod 6:12 And Moses spake (¸ελαλησεν – elalesen) before the LORD, saying (λεγων – legon), Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?
This is a very common pattern in the Old Testament:
Exod 25:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exod 30:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exod 30:17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exod 30:22 Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exod 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exod 31:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Here are some variations on the pattern from the Old Testament:
Gen 23:14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
Gen 39:14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
Gen 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
Lev 1:1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Num 23:26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?
Josh 9:22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
1 Sam 26:14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
1 Kgs 12:3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
2 Kgs 7:10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
Zech 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zech 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zech 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zech 6:8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
And these are similar variations from the New Testament:
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Luke 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
There are more than 1000 instances of this pattern in the whole Bible and more than 350 instances can be seen in the New Testament. The instances in the Old Testament are translations from Hebrew— the redundant "he called, answered and said, saying..." style (the example is exaggerated) is especially Hebraic.
I can't claim any expertise in Greek literature, but I have not found any Classical Greek translations online that sound like this.
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