Semitic Influence In Revelation

Abstract

"In a previous article I suggested that the use of than in the book of Revelation was under significant Semitic influence.' This significance extended beyond the simple fact that recourse to Hebrew and Aramaic grammar seemed able to explain the otherwise surprisingly high incidence of this preposition in the book, for in certain cases allowance for Hebrew/Aramaic idiom also had important consequences for the translation of the verse involved. The present study extends my earlier discussion. Here, however, I survey several different prepositional phrases, rather than focusing upon one particular preposition. Thus, while in the first article I endeavored to show that the extent of Semitic influence upon prepositions in Revelation is more than surface deep, the present study suggests that it is ubiquitous"