The Use of Greek at Qumran: Manuscript and Epigraphic Evidence for a Marginalized Language.

Abstract Treatments of language use at Qumran have tended to marginalize the evidence for Greek language use among the Covenanters, on the basis of the observation that far more of the surviving texts are written in Hebrew or Aramaic. This paper examines the meager evidence for Greek use at the site...

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Published in:Dead Sea Discoveries Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 177 - 198
Main Author: Richey, Matthew
Format: Article
Published: Brill Academic Publishers Jul2012
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: The Use of Greek at Qumran: Manuscript and Epigraphic Evidence for a Marginalized Language.
      aug:
        au: Richey, Matthew
        affil: Boston College, Email: richeym@bc.edu, URL: http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink
      su:
        Greek inscriptions
        Scrolls
        Greek language
        Covenanters
        Qumran Site (West Bank)
      sug:
        subj:
          Greek inscriptions
          Scrolls
          Greek language
          Covenanters
          Qumran Site (West Bank)
      keyword:
        4Q350
        ancient sociolinguistics
        Copper Scroll
        Palestinian Greek
        Qumran epigraphy
      ab: Abstract Treatments of language use at Qumran have tended to marginalize the evidence for Greek language use among the Covenanters, on the basis of the observation that far more of the surviving texts are written in Hebrew or Aramaic. This paper examines the meager evidence for Greek use at the site-including the sole Greek documentary text, 4Q350, recently published epigraphic evidence, and the enigmatic Greek letters of the Copper Scroll (3Q15)-in an attempt to recognize the importance of Greek for everyday intramural business and for maintaining economic contact with exterior communities. Manuscript and epigraphic survivals demonstrate that the Covenanters' use of Greek can be characterized as primarily occurring in the context of day-to-day economic transactions, business, and trade. The evidence suggests that, like the Bar Kokhba rebels, the Covenanters attempted to 'purify' their discourse and way of life, but economic realities nevertheless encouraged periodic communication in the Greek language.
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    language: English
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