1. of the Greek, Hebrew and Latin languages.
2. languages are preserved by God alone.
The tongue is the instrument of speech.
1. of the Greek, Hebrew and Latin languages.
(Cordatus No. 991. 992. 997. 998. 955. 956. 1615. 1616. 1617. 1618.)
The wisdom of the Greeks, compared to the wisdom of the Hebrews, is quite animalistic, because without the knowledge of the true God there can be no true wisdom. The purpose of their wisdom is virtue, but the wisdom of the Jews is to trust and fear God, and yet the Greek wisdom is very pleasing to the world. That is why Daniel calls all the kingdoms of the earth beasts.
The Greeks spoke with the best and sweetest words, the Hebrew language
but stands out for such simplicity and majesty that it cannot be imitated. The evangelist John almost imitates it. For what do you think that these are words: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God etc.? He expresses the highest majesty with the simplest words. If an imitator of Plautus or Virgil were to write such things, he would have used only strange stuff of words, as those did who spoke of the being [de ente] and of the essence [essentia], of the heavenly and divine impetus [impetu].
they do not designate anything understandable.
The Hebrew language is the best and richest in root words and is a pure language. It does not go begging, it has its own color. Not so the Greek, Latin and German languages, they all go begging and have many compound words, like the German words: Mitlaufen, fortlaufen, eilendlaufen, weglaufen etc.
The word heart has a very multiple use among the Germans: He has no heart, Das Herz sagt mirs, Sein Herz brennt ihm, i.e. he is angry; for each of these the Hebrew has a special word in the Hebrew language.
All languages are intermingled; for, since the regions are adjacent to each other, they borrow individual words from each other. The Bohemian language is largely Scythian, the Hebrew language was corrupted after the Babylonian [captivity], and the same thing happened to the Hebrews as to the Italians, who made Italian out of Latin. Thus those have mixed their language with the Chaldean. And although I can speak neither Greek nor Hebrew, I want to meet a Greek and a Hebrew fairly.
The languages in themselves do not make a theologian, but are a means of help, because one must know the thing before the languages can express it. And I speak a kind of general language and not a special one, therefore I can be understood in Lower and Upper Germany. I speak according to the Saxon chancellery, whose language all princes of Germany borrow [for use]. Maximilian and Frederick have thus brought the entire empire to a certain way of speaking, have thus drawn all language into one another.
The Hebrew language is completely despised out of godlessness, or perhaps because one despairs of learning it [artis]. Although the phrases and the constructiones cannot be taught, they can be communicated grammatically, although the sentence connection can be taught grammatically.
1) In the original: thematibus. Both ancient grammarians call the root word in contrast to derived and compound words. (Wrampelmeyer.)
changes the meaning of the words. As when I say, Do after me, this is an expression that refers only to imitation [imitative]. But if I say: I will do it before, then do it after me, this is an expression that refers to what precedes [processive dictum]. Thus the connection changes the words, and I have by comparison of different passages
more than by [strict] observation of the grammar. Without this language there can be no knowledge of the Scriptures, for even the New Testament, although it is written in Greek, is full of Hebrew idiom [hebraismis]. That is why it has been said that the Hebrews drink from springs, the Greeks from books, and the Latins from puddles. I am not a Hebrew as far as grammar is concerned, nor do I want to be one, because I do not want to be bound by rules, but I move freely, in this language. For whoever has the gifts for languages, he cannot immediately translate from one language into the other, and to interpret is a special gift of God.
The seventy interpreters (septuaginta) did not know the Hebrew language, therefore their translation is nothing, although they have words and phrases, and we prefer the translation of Jerome to them, although we confess that he does not judge right who calls Jerome a good Hebrew; he does him violence. But he has something to excuse him, namely, that this language was so corrupted after the Babylonian captivity that it could not be restored.
If Moses and the prophets came back now, they would not understand their own language; so corrupt is this language, like everything else that is truly God's, and the Latin language is so corrupt that even Cicero would not understand what is written after his time, if he revived.
Lyra was the best Hebrew before others and a diligent interpreter of the Old Testament. If I were to lay on this language anew, I would consult the grammarians, especially the best, such as DavidA Kimchi and Moses Kimchi, who have been the purest. After that, I would read Moses.
because of its special meaning, then David, then the proverbs, and finally the prophets who speak figuratively.
2. languages are obtained from God alone.
(Cordatus No. 1619.)
Great are the gifts of languages; therefore they are not respected by people, and so it is absolutely necessary that they be exalted only by God, and [even then] they (like all arts) have appeared only among a few and private persons, and so they appear now.
The tongue is the instrument of speech.
(The first paragraph of this ยง in Lauterbach, 1 Dec. 1538, p. 184.)
Luther said of the wonderful work of God on the human tongue, which could produce articulate and intelligible sounds and words, although different nations have different dialects. The Greeks produce their X [r] only through the throat with a certain breath, so that it became very difficult for Demosthenes to pronounce the letter X, but at last he overcame the natural defect through practice. For through too much moisture of the brain the
Tongue heavy (as perceived in drunkards) and too much dryness weakens the tongue. God has given nature its tool.
No language has so many fancy, figurative words as the Hebrew. In the epistle of St. Peter there is not a single simple word. Moses and David wrote badly and plainly. Solomon is different. The Greeks have a lot of propria, own, clear words. To speak properly and intelligibly is a special gift of God; figurative and foggy speeches are rarely used and should be finely sweet.
Since we were translating the Bible, spoke D. M. Luther, I gave them, who helped me, these rules: First, the Holy Scriptures speak of divine works and things. Second, if a saying and opinion agrees with the New Testament, accept it. Thirdly, that one has respect for the grammaticam.
(The following at Cordatus No. 488.)
When translating, I always keep this rule, that one does not violate grammar. And whoever understands this correctly recognizes that the letter gives [the right meaning], not the spirit.