09-21-2010, 08:02 AM
It's quite possible that the translator mixed up the two words Nasrath and Nazir: In Judges 13:5, ryzn [nazir] is variably transliterated to Greek as nazir [nazir] and naziraion [nazirayan]. I can see the scenario where one may get confused between [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]trcn[/font] [nasrath] and [font="Estrangelo (V1.1)"]ryzn[/font] [nazir] phonetically. Though it should be said that in modern times, people have much greater trouble distinguishing between Nazareth and Nazirite (especially with KJV spelling it Nazarite) mostly arising from the erroneous z [zeta] usage in transliterating Nasrath, and this should not be as evidence for the error in the first place (i.e. circular reasoning).
I'd say though that it's more likely to be a simple consonant shift. In studying the conversion of names between Aramaic and Greek, I've learned that you can't fully depend on any rule to bring harmony to ancient transliterations; there will always be the unexplained variants.
Here's a sample:
wxry [Y'reicho] (Jericho) becomes Iericw [Yerikho], though x [cheth] usually is made silent in Greek transliteration. Same for Ahaz (Strong's H3405), Haran (H2771). Nahor (H5152), Pesach (H6453), Rahab (H7343), and Rachel (H7354). This evidence of a minority breaking of standards here showcases the amount of trust we can give to strange variants such as this one of which you've inquired.
If you'd like me to post up any other non-standard transliterations I've found, please ask.
I'd say though that it's more likely to be a simple consonant shift. In studying the conversion of names between Aramaic and Greek, I've learned that you can't fully depend on any rule to bring harmony to ancient transliterations; there will always be the unexplained variants.
Here's a sample:
wxry [Y'reicho] (Jericho) becomes Iericw [Yerikho], though x [cheth] usually is made silent in Greek transliteration. Same for Ahaz (Strong's H3405), Haran (H2771). Nahor (H5152), Pesach (H6453), Rahab (H7343), and Rachel (H7354). This evidence of a minority breaking of standards here showcases the amount of trust we can give to strange variants such as this one of which you've inquired.
If you'd like me to post up any other non-standard transliterations I've found, please ask.