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ArchivesRe: Magdalen(e/a)
in reply to a message by viveza
This is a very interesting theory indeed. I checked a couple of dictionaries (e.g. Walter Bauer, Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament) and encyclopedias, and none of the claimed, that MAGDALENE actually meant “from Magdala,” but rather “probably ‘from M.’.” H.Schumacher, Die Namen der Bibel has „exalted“ as a second possible meaning.
I don’t know, whether the added N could somehow indicate the geographic origin, the only parallel I could think of is Kyrenaios (Acts 11:20), from Cyrene, but this name has already got the N. So let Greek experts speak here. (I would be surprised though, if scholars had been misled for centuries, if this wasn’t a linguistic option)
On the other hand, I can’t think of any title containing such an N, the only example given in the text quoted here is Peter, Petros, Kepha(s) in Aramaic. So what exactly does “in the same manner” mean here? What’s the explanation for the additional N? Plus we have no indication that Jesus attributed any title or byname to this Mary (Maria, Mariam and Mariamma are indeed interchangeable; Mariamne seems to be a misspelling of the latter in later manuscripts of Josephus’s works). And if he did, why wouldn’t he use “Migdal,” the Hebrew word for tower? In the Greek New Testament, this would probably appear as “Pyrgos,” possibly “Pyrgé.” (Just like James, Peter, and John are referred to as “the pillars” in Galatians 2:9, “styloi” in Greek and “ammudim/ammudin” in Hebrew/Aramaic. This was not a name, though.)
The Migdal-Eder connection unfortunately does not answer the N-question either, I am afraid. First of all, I cannot find any reference to Magdal-Eder, only Migdal (same in Micah 4:8). Migdal-Eder can be the technical term for a tower used to take refuge to when attacked by bandits. It can be a place name (Genesis 25:31), a city in the south of Judah, possibly near Bethlehem. For that reason some see a connection to the coming of the Messiah. In Micah 4:8 Migdal-eder seems to be a symbolic address of Jerusalem as the “flock tower” (parallel to “fortress”; Young’s Literal Translation has “tower of Eder,” a personal name). I haven’t been able to find any evidence for Migdal-eder as a title for a person. Maybe others know more here…
Magdala? I have never heard of the theory that the place was (re?)named Magdala by 2nd cent. Christians. Sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory – but who knows. Josephus seems to refer to the place only as Tarichea(i), in the New Testament the place itself is not mentioned. Only later manuscripts replace Magadan (Matthew 15:39) with Magdala. There seems to be some agreement that Taricheai is identical with Migdal Nunaya (fish tower) and maybe with migdal tsebaya (dye tower), older names of the place. Migdal (rather: Migdol) was a place name in the Old Testament, obviously referring to different places. The change from Migdol to Magdolum seems to occur in Latin manuscripts, but I don’t know much about that.
Mary from Bethany? – From all I have read, the identification of Mary Magdalene, the woman who anoints Jesus (Lk 7:36-50), and Mary of Bethany starts fairly early in the interpretation of the New Testament, but seems to have no exegetical ground whatsoever. Although I have to admit it has successfully stimulated some novelists and their sales figures.
So I am a little sceptical to the theory - but who knows.
I don’t know, whether the added N could somehow indicate the geographic origin, the only parallel I could think of is Kyrenaios (Acts 11:20), from Cyrene, but this name has already got the N. So let Greek experts speak here. (I would be surprised though, if scholars had been misled for centuries, if this wasn’t a linguistic option)
On the other hand, I can’t think of any title containing such an N, the only example given in the text quoted here is Peter, Petros, Kepha(s) in Aramaic. So what exactly does “in the same manner” mean here? What’s the explanation for the additional N? Plus we have no indication that Jesus attributed any title or byname to this Mary (Maria, Mariam and Mariamma are indeed interchangeable; Mariamne seems to be a misspelling of the latter in later manuscripts of Josephus’s works). And if he did, why wouldn’t he use “Migdal,” the Hebrew word for tower? In the Greek New Testament, this would probably appear as “Pyrgos,” possibly “Pyrgé.” (Just like James, Peter, and John are referred to as “the pillars” in Galatians 2:9, “styloi” in Greek and “ammudim/ammudin” in Hebrew/Aramaic. This was not a name, though.)
The Migdal-Eder connection unfortunately does not answer the N-question either, I am afraid. First of all, I cannot find any reference to Magdal-Eder, only Migdal (same in Micah 4:8). Migdal-Eder can be the technical term for a tower used to take refuge to when attacked by bandits. It can be a place name (Genesis 25:31), a city in the south of Judah, possibly near Bethlehem. For that reason some see a connection to the coming of the Messiah. In Micah 4:8 Migdal-eder seems to be a symbolic address of Jerusalem as the “flock tower” (parallel to “fortress”; Young’s Literal Translation has “tower of Eder,” a personal name). I haven’t been able to find any evidence for Migdal-eder as a title for a person. Maybe others know more here…
Magdala? I have never heard of the theory that the place was (re?)named Magdala by 2nd cent. Christians. Sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory – but who knows. Josephus seems to refer to the place only as Tarichea(i), in the New Testament the place itself is not mentioned. Only later manuscripts replace Magadan (Matthew 15:39) with Magdala. There seems to be some agreement that Taricheai is identical with Migdal Nunaya (fish tower) and maybe with migdal tsebaya (dye tower), older names of the place. Migdal (rather: Migdol) was a place name in the Old Testament, obviously referring to different places. The change from Migdol to Magdolum seems to occur in Latin manuscripts, but I don’t know much about that.
Mary from Bethany? – From all I have read, the identification of Mary Magdalene, the woman who anoints Jesus (Lk 7:36-50), and Mary of Bethany starts fairly early in the interpretation of the New Testament, but seems to have no exegetical ground whatsoever. Although I have to admit it has successfully stimulated some novelists and their sales figures.
So I am a little sceptical to the theory - but who knows.
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