Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 20.12.1

Flavius Josephus was the Jewish historian, writing in Greek, whose work is used to support several questionable presumptions about the historical Jesus. However, like the Bible itself, translation of Josephus are often made to support a certain point of view. This article looks at one such quote, Antiquities of the Jews 20.12.1, tthat is used to suggest that Jews in the time of Jesus did not speak Greek.

Though my particular focus in Jesus's use of Greek, here I use some of the same techniques and tools to analyze this Josphus quote.  Since I usually translate spoken Greek, not written Greek, this Greek seems really convoluted.

Links are provided to the complete section of the Greek and English versions to provide a larger context, because I look only at the most relevant Greek and its  English translation by William Whiston. However, I find Whiston's translation completely unconvincing.

Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 20.12.1

The English translation by Whinson is:

  • for our nation does not encourage those that learn the languages of many nations, and so adorn their discourses with the smoothness of their periods; because they look upon this sort of accomplishment as common, not only to all sorts of free-men, but to as many of the servants as please to learn them.

Few of the key word that you see in this translation are actually found in the Greek. There is, for example, no "our nation." There is the word "us." I have no idea what the "smoothness of their periods" means, but I find nothing like it in the Greek. Certain phrases seem completely backwards, for example the phrase "not encourage," is not in the Greek. In ancient Greek, the negatives negate the next word or the entire clause if the word is a verb, but here none of the negatives come before verbs.

A literal translation of the Greek is  shown below. I have not tried to convert it into simpler English because I honestly don't know what it means. None of the pronoun are easily connected to the nouns. They have shown the most common meaning for the forms used in the order they appear and,as much as possible, in their proper form, that is, an active verb is shown as an active verb, a participle as a particle, etc.  I may have not chosen the right meaning for the Greek words, but in analyzing the Greek below in detail, I provide all possible meanings and the detailed forms of the words so I invite readers to make their own translated. Send me your versions and justification and I will post them. My goals is simple to show that this verse isn't the best evidence for saying that the Jews in the time of Christ didn't speak Greek.

  • For us, consequently, not those, they are being accepted of the multitudes of races, a language learning thoroughly by the common being to be accustomed to the practice, this thing alone not fit for a freeman these happening other things also for those house slaves those willing.

Analysis of Each Greek Word

παρ᾽ (prep) "With" is para, which means "beside", "from the side of", "from beside,", "from", "issuing from", "near", "by", "with", "along", "past", "beyond", "parallel (geometry)", "like (metaphor)", "a parody of (metaphor)", "precisely at the moment of (time)," and "throughout (time)." -- The Greek preposition translated "from," primarily means "besides" and "beyond." It also has a number of specialized meanings.

ἡμῖν (pron 1st pl masc dat ) "Our" is hemon, which is the plural possessive (genitive) form of the first-personal pronoun.

γὰρ (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

οὐκ (partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective. Since it comes before a word, not a negative, it doesn't negate the clause, just the word.

ἐκείνους (adj pl masc acc) "Those" is ekeinos, which means "the person there", "that person", "that thing", "in that case", "in that way", "at that place," and "in that manner."

ἀποδέχονται ( verb 3rd pl pres ind mp ) "Encourage" is from apodechomai, ("from-accep"t) which  means "accept," "accept as a teacher," "receive favorably,": "admit in the mind," etc. The form is passive or middle voice, "they art accepted" or "they accept for themselves."

τοὺς (article pl masc gen ) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

πολλῶν ( adj pl masc gen ) "Many" is polus, which means "many (in number)", "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far", "very much", "a great way," and "long."

ἐθνῶν ( noun pl neut gen ) "Nations" is ethnos, which means "a number of people living together", "company", "body of men," "tribe", "a people", "nation," and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations." --

διάλεκτον ( noun sg fem acc ) "Languages is from dialekton (through-words) "conversation," "discourse," "common language," "talk," "speech," "language of a country," "way of speaking,"  and "accent." This is not the common word for "languages" meaning the tongues of other countries, which is glossa,  The root here is the Greek word for "word," lexis. It shares this root with the name of the common tongue,  κοινόλεκτος, which means "common words."

ἐκμαθόντας ( part pl aor act masc acc ) "That learn" is from ekmathontas, which means "learning thoroughly," "examine closely," or "learn by heart." This is an adjective modifying the earlier "many" or "greats."

διὰ (prep) "Through" is dia which means "through", "in the midst of", "in a line (movement)", "throughout (time)", "by (causal)", "among," and "between." -- The word translated as "through" means "through," in the midst of," or "by (a cause)."

τὸ (article sg neut acc ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -

κοινὸν  (adj sg neut acc) "Common" is from koine, which means "common," "public," and "general." This is the word that is used to describe the "common" use of Greek as a trade tongue as opposed to the "proper" Greek of the Greeks and classics. 

εἶναι  (verb pres inf act ) Untranslated is eimi, which means "to be", "to exist", "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen",  and "is possible." The form is an infinitive, which when preceded by an article (almost hte case here) acts like our English gerund as a noun, "the being" or "the common being." 

νομίζειν  (verb pres inf act)  Untranslated is nomisein, which means  "to use customarily," "to practice," and, in the infinitive used here, "to be accustomed to."  Its root is a word that means "norms."

τὸ (article sg neut acc/nom ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

ἐπιτήδευμα (noun sg neut acc/nom) Untranslated is epitedeuma which means "pursuit," "business," "custom," and "habit."

τοῦτο ( adj sg neut acc/nom ) "That" is touto, which means "from here", "from there", "this [thing]," or "that [thing]." -- The word translated as "this" means "from here" or "this/that thing."

μόνον  ( adj sg neut acc/nom) "Only" is monos, which means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]", "unique", "one above all others," and "on one condition only."

οὐκ (partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

ἐλευθέροις (adj pl masc dat) "Free-men" is from eleuepos, which means "free." "open to all," "legally permissible," and, in this dative form, "fit for a freeman." 

τοῖς (article pl masc dat ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

τυχοῦσιν (part pl aor act masc dat) "Accomplishments" is from tychousin, which means "happen to be at (a place), "happen to," "befall," "gain one's purpose," and "succeed,"

ἀλλὰ (adj pl neut nom/acc) "All sorts" is allos, which means "another", "one besides", "of another sort", "different", "other than what is true", "as well", "besides," {with numerals: "yet", "still", "further"), "of other sort", "other than what is", "untrue", "unreal", "other than right", "wrong", "bad", "unworthy," [with an article] "the rest", "all besides," and [in series] "one...another."

καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

τῶν (article pl masc dat ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

οἰκετῶν  (noun pl masc gen) "Servants" is from oiketos, which means "household slave" or "housemen." 

τοῖς (article pl masc dat ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." -

θέλουσι, (part pl pres act masc dat) "As please" is from thelousi, which means  "to be willing", but as a participle, it means "willing," and "gladly."

An Analysis of the Whiston Translation

To be honest, this analysis frustrates me because there is no little correlation between the Greek and its translation. I could have done a better job, but to what end? This translation is so far from what is said, whatever it might me, that it cannot be used as evidence for anything. Again, if anyone can improve on my poor job here, please let me know and I will improve.

Code for translation issues:  WF - Wrong Form of word.  WW - Wrong Word used. MW - Missing Word.  IW - Inserted Word not in Greek source. IP - Inserted Phrase not in source. WM  - Wrong Mood active, passive, or middle,.  WT - Wrong Tense of verb. WN - Wrong Number of verb, plural or singular.

for --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

untranslated-- (MW) This untranslated word comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.

our -- (WF)The "our" is the plural possessive first-person pronoun. However, the form is not a possessive one, a genitive, but it is a dative so "to us" or "for us" etc.

nation -- (IW) There is no Greek words that can be translated as "nation" in the Greek source.

does --  This is a helping verb indicating the present tense of the following verb.

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence to captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Here it precedes the "those."

encourage -- The word translated as "encourage" means "accept." It is in the third-person plural and either passive or the middle voice. "They are being accepted" or "they accept for themselves.'

those -- The word translated as "those that" is an adjective that highlights its noun as in a specific place from a word that means "there." This is negated so "not those."  It is in the form of an object.

that learn -- (WF) "That learn" is  a verb that means "learning thoroughly," "examine closely," or "learn by heart."  It is in the form of an adjective, "learning thoroughly." The form matches the "those" but with four words separating them.

the -- (IW) There is no Greek words that can be translated as "the" before the word translated as "languages" in the Greek source. It could be justified if the following Greek word was plural, but it isn't.

languages -- (WN) "Languages is a Greek word that means "conversation," "discourse," "common language," "talk," "speech," "language of a country," "way of speaking,"  and "accent." This word is not plural, but singular It is the Greek word that is the source of our word "dialect." It is not the word almost always used to mean the languages of a country. However, it has the same root as the word from the common language.

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of", "which is", "than" (in comparisons), or  "for", "concerning" or "about" with transitive nouns. 

untranslated -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size. The gender does not match the following word so that word starts a new genitive clause. This word does not modify the next word because the forms don't match.

untranslated -- (MW) This word "of"  should appear from the genitive case of the following word that required the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession, but it can also mean "belonging to," "part of", "which is", "than" (in comparisons), or  "for", "concerning" or "about" with transitive nouns. 

nations, -- The word translated as "Gentiles" means "a group of people living together," a nation, a tribe, or a cast of people. Later it came to mean "barbarous nations" similar to our idea of ethnic people. It is in the same form as the "them" above, so "to them" or "for them."

and -- (IW) There is no Greek words that can be translated as "and" anywhere near here in the Greek source.

so adorn their discourses with the smoothness of their periods; because they look upon- (IP) There is no Greek words that can be translated as this phrase anywhere near here in the Greek source. "Discourse" is a better translation of the word translated as "languages." There is no verb "adorn," no adjective "smoothness, no verb "look", no "upon", no "with" and no "periods."  Below are the word that are untranslated that appear in the verb in this general area.

untranslated -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek verb "to be" in the infinitive so "to be" or as a noun, "existing."

untranslated -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek verb that means  "to use customarily," "to practice," and, in the infinitive used here, "to be accustomed to."  Its root is a word that means "norms." It is in an infinitive form "to be accustom to."

untranslated -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek noun that means "pursuit," "business," "custom," and "habit."

this - The word translated as "this" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

sort of -- (IP) There is no Greek words that can be translated as this phrase anywhere near here in the Greek source.

accomplishment -- (WW, WF) This is from a verb means "happen to be at (a place), "happen to," "befall," "gain one's purpose," and "succeed. It is in the form of an adjective, "happening)

as - (IW) There is no Greek words that can be translated as "and" anywhere near here in the Greek source.

untranslated -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

common, -- (WF) "Common" is an adjective  means "common," "public," and "general." This is the word that is used to describe the "common" use of Greek as a trade tongue as opposed to the "proper" Greek of the Greeks and classics.  It is used as a noun, preceded, by an untranslated article.

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence to captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.  However, it does not precede the "only." It follows it. It precedes "freemen" and seems to negate it.

only -- "Only" is the Greek word that means "alone," "solitary," "only," "single," "unique," "made in one piece," "without [someone]," "only [something]", "unique", "one above all others," and "on one condition only."

to to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.

all sorts of -- (WF) this could be from a Greek word that means "another", "one besides", "of another sort", but it doesn't have the word all and it is in the wrong form to apply to freemen.

untranslated -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence to captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Here it precedes the "those."

free-men, -- This is an adjective means "free." "open to all," "legally permissible," and, in this dative form, "fit for a freeman." It is not proceeded by an article but by a negative.

but -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English, but the translator must decide which preposition to use: a "to" as an indirect object, a "with" for instruments, an "in" for locations, an "as" for purposes, an "of" for possession, a "by" for agents, an "as" for comparisons, "at" or "on" a time, and an "in" for area of affect.

as many of - (IP) There is no Greek words that can be translated as this phrase anywhere near here in the Greek source.

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article,." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

servants -- "Servants" is a noun that means "household slave" or "housemen." 

as please -- (WF) "As please" is a word means  "to be willing", but as a participle, it means "willing," and "gladly."

to  learn them. - (IP) There is no Greek words that can be translated as this phrase anywhere near here in the Greek source.