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Origen · Fragments from the Commentary on Ezekiel §32.6-32.23

Allegory of Pharaoh and the Dimensions of the Pit

Passage 2 of 3 · Greek

Summary

In the interpretation of Ezekiel 32, the author argues for an allegorical understanding of Pharaoh's actions, and explains the depth and length of the burial by referring to the double meaning of a Hebrew word.

§32.62.
2.
Cod. f. 229 a.
Cod. f. 229 a.
XXXII. 6.
XXXII. 6.
Καὶ τοῦτο ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα τὴν ἀλληγορίαν δείκνυσι τῆς Γραφῆς· ὁ γοῦν Φαραὼ σωματικῶς οὐκ ἂν ἀπὸ τῶν προχωρημάτω αὐτοῦ ποτίσαι τὴν γῆν, ἀλλʼ ἡ σκυβαλώδης ἔκκρισις τοῦ ἀντικειμένου ποτίζει τὰ γήϊνα.
And this especially shows the allegory of the Scripture; for Pharaoh, at any rate, would not bodily water the earth from his excretions, but the dung-like excretion of the Adversary waters earthly things.
§32.233.
3.
Cod. f. 222 b.
Cod. f. 222 b.
XXXII. 23.
XXXII. 23.
Ὁ Ἑβραῖος ἐν μήκει λάκκου ἔχει· τὸ γὰρ ἰαρὴχ κατὰ τὴν Ἐβραίων φωνὴν δασέως προφερόμενον, καὶ μηρὸν, καὶ μῆκος σημαίνει· τὸ δὲ αὐτῆς πρὸς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἔχει τὴν ἐπίδοσιν· λάκκον οὖν καλεῖ τῆς ταφῆς τὸ βάθος· μῆκος δὲ, τῆς ταφῆς τὴν ἔκτασιν.
The Hebrew has "in the length of the pit"; for "yarekh" (ἰαρὴχ), being pronounced with a rough breathing according to the language of the Hebrews, signifies both "thigh" and "length"; and the "of her" has its reference to the synagogue; therefore he calls the depth of the burial "pit", and the extension of the burial "length".

Notes

  1. 32.6ἐν τοῖς μάλιστα — An idiomatic adverbial expression meaning "especially" or "above all."
  2. 32.6οὐκ ἂν ... ποτίσαι — The combination of the particle ἂν with the aorist infinitive ποτίσαι, expressing a potential or counterfactual result (equivalent to an optative or past indicative with ἂν in a direct statement).
  3. 32.23τὸ δὲ αὐτῆς — The neuter singular article τό nominalizes the quoted genitive pronoun αὐτῆς ("of her"), representing "the word 'of her'."

Cite this passage

Origen, Fragments from the Commentary on Ezekiel §32.6-32.23. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg2042.tlg061.humanitext-grc1:32.6-32.23

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