Help about Heb 9:23

Greek Koine and Biblical and Medieval Greek
1

Hello!

I’m using a Bible program to read the Bible in greek. It is the e-sword:
http://www.e-sword.net

The greek text has some letters showing what kind of word is there… Like V-PPI-3S. I imagine that this means that the word is a verb in present passiv indicative, third person singular… I want to know if there is a table of the meanings of all these codes…

But the main question is about Heb 9:23. There is a verb, katharizesthai, that is translated as “should be purified” in the King James, but the verb is an infinitive present verb. I tried to find more details about the infinitive, but I didn’t find anything that could explain this translation.

Anybody here can help me?

Thanks!

2

It is just a matter of translation. Not every infinitive gets translated as an infinitive. There is not really any difference in meaning between It is necessary that they should be purified and It is necessary for them to be purified. (Actually, the addition of should makes is maybe a little weaker.)

3

Hi, Bert!

Thanks for the help. I’m asking this because in portuguese this verb is translated to a kind of past.
Hum, it is necessary top an infinitive to appear with another verb?

Thanks again!

4

No, it is not necessary but it is very common for an infinitive to complement another verb.
I am starting to walk.
It is necessary to study.
He is getting ready to eat.
She is beginning to get tired.

5

Re: Hebrews 9:23 (King James Version)

9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things
in the heavens should be purified with these; but the
heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

The purification of the animal sacrifices under the OT law
was a pattern of things representing the true
Blood Sacrifice in Heaven, which was a better Sacrifice,
the Sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

6

I realise it is not for me to criticise other posters, but what does this have to do with infinitives Joja?