Thread: Palm Sunday
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Old 03-18-2008, 01:06 PM   #7
Solon
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Nice find, Archaea.

I think you make a good point with the repetition of kurios. It's a legal word that means master, but also carries a notion of ownership. For instance, in ancient Greece a slaveowner was called the slave's kurios and all (respectable) Athenian women were always under the legal protection and jurisdiction of a male kurios - father, husband, brother, etc.

Whether or not this conversation happened in Greek is unknowable, but Luke definitely wants to characterize the conversation the way that Archaea identifies:

"Hold it right there. We're the kurioi of that colt."

"Oh yeah, well the BIG KURIOS needs it."

Also, polon can mean a young foal, ass, or similar animal. Riding a mule or donkey into Jerusalem was a symbol of kingship for the ancient Hebrews. (see 1 Kings 1.33 and Zechariah 9.9)
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