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Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Τί θέλεις; Λέγει αὐτῷ, Εἰπὲ ἵνα καθίσωσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο υἱοί μου, εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου, ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Ho

the
Art-NMS
Strongs 1161  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
de
δὲ
and
Conj
Strongs 2036  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
eipen
εἶπεν
said
V-AIA-3S
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
autē
αὐτῇ
herself
PPro-DF3S
Strongs 5101  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Ti
Τί
who
IPro-ANS
Strongs 2309  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
theleis
θέλεις
Do you desire
V-PIA-2S
Strongs 3004  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Legei
Λέγει
is saying
V-PIA-3S
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
autō
αὐτῷ
to himself
PPro-DM3S
Strongs 2036  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Eipe
Εἰπὲ
Tell
V-AMA-2S
Strongs 2443  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hina
ἵνα
so that
Conj
Strongs 2523  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kathisōsin
καθίσωσιν
might sit
V-ASA-3P
Strongs 3778  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
houtoi
οὗτοι
these
DPro-NMP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hoi
οἱ
the
Art-NMP
Strongs 1417  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
dyo
δύο
two
Adj-NMP
Strongs 5207  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
huioi
υἱοί
sons
N-NMP
Strongs 1473  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
mou
μου
of myself
PPro-G1S
Strongs 1520  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
heis
εἷς
one
Adj-NMS
Strongs 1537  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ek
ἐκ
from out
Prep
Strongs 1188  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
dexiōn
δεξιῶν
right
Adj-GNP
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
sou
‹σου›
of You
PPro-G2S
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 1520  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
heis
εἷς
one
Adj-NMS
Strongs 1537  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ex
ἐξ
from out
Prep
Strongs 2176  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
euōnymōn
εὐωνύμων
good-disguised
Adj-GNP
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
sou
σου
of you
PPro-G2S
Strongs 1722  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
en
ἐν
within
Prep
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus

τῇ
the
Art-DFS
Strongs 932  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
basileia
βασιλείᾳ
queen/kingdom
N-DFS
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
sou
σου
of you
PPro-G2S
RBT Hebrew Literal:
εὐώνυμος/The Left: Disguised as "Good named" but Unlucky, bad omen
And the one said to herself, "What do you desire?" She is saying to himself, "Speak so that these ones, the Two Sons of myself might sit down, one from out of right-side ones and one from out of "good named bad luck"39b ones of yourself within the Queen of Yourself."
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And he said to her, What wilt thou? She says to him, Say that these my two sons might sit, the one on thy right hand, and one on thy left, in thy kingdom.
LITV Translation:
And He said to her, What do you desire? She said to Him, Say that these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right, and one on Your left in Your Kingdom.
ESV Translation:
And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Footnotes

39b

Left: Disguised as "Good Name"

εὐώνυμος meaning "well named" was not actually favorable or good, but the term εὐώνυμος was used to pretend it was, through euphemism. In classical Greek, the proper word for "left" is ἀριστερός (aristeros). This word is used without the euphemistic connotations associated with εὐώνυμος ("of good name"). While εὐώνυμος was often used to avoid the negative connotations of "left," ἀριστερός is the straightforward term for the left side, often used in practical contexts, such as directions, body parts, and positioning.

  • ἀριστερός in Homer, Herodotus, and other classical authors simply refers to the left-hand side or direction.
  • It could describe something on the left side of the body or on the left wing of an army formation.

In contrast, δεξιός (dexios) refers to the "right" side and often had positive connotations, such as being associated with strength, favor, or good omens. Hence we do not render the word εὐώνυμος as "left".

To translate it literally "good-named" doesn't capture the euphemism.

An accurate translation would be something like "ominous (but called favorable)" or "ill-omened (euphemistically termed favorable)." This would convey the fact that the omen was actually inauspicious, but the term εὐώνυμος was used to disguise it as something positive.

Other translations could be:

  • "Unlucky (called favorable)"
  • "Ill-omened (euphemistically termed auspicious)"
  • "Sinister (but named well)"