The image we normally think of when we hear this passage is one of little candley flames appearing above their heads. Given that the next verse uses glwssa to mean language, rather than the organ of the tongue, there is an alternate reading of this passage possible, given some flexibility in the Greek verb oraw and s0me regularity in the adverb wsei.
Oraw can mean perceive as well as see. Combined with the pronoun autois, in or among them, it could be translated as they perceived among them languages being distributed like fire. The adverb wsei is usually applied to the word glwssa in this passage in English translation. This implies a missing copula, as in tongues [which were] like fire. As there is a verb present, diamerizw in the participle for which glwssa is the subject, languages being distributed, the wsei puros could be taken to be modifying the participle, indicating the manner in which the languages were being distributed, rather than some aspect of the languages or tongues themselves.
Imagine then the wind, filling the room, accompanied by the sudden impartation of another language to each person in the room. The realization sweeps through, spreading like wildfire, burning in their hearts, blazing in their consciousness. This realization settles firmly upon each of them, setting the stage for the dramatic events to follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment