Variant tanslation of 'Gnothi Seauton'

Greek Learning Greek
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Hi

I am having a dispute with a colleague about the possible ways of translating ‘Gnothi Seauton’, the inscription above the Delphic oracle, usually translated as ‘know thyself’.

This is usually taken to mean ‘you’ are the object, the thing to be known, and the injunction is to know you, yourself.

My friend says that the Greek can also be translated to mean that you should know ‘for’ yourself. As in A asks if there is a red ball in the next room, and B says go and look and then you will ‘know yourself’.

Is this second way of translating possible from the two words ‘Gnothi Seauton’?

I am not asking for what we think it ‘really’ means, only do the two Greek words admit of such a translation, in addition to the usual one?

Many thanks

– Mike

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Nope. The addition of a preposition (κατά, I think) would bring it to that meaning, but not as it stands.

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Thanks for both your replies. I suspected that was the case (excuse the pun), but could not be sure.

– Mike