Τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ ἐπεκράτει σφόδρα σφοδρῶς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐπεκάλυψεν πάντα τὰ ὄρη τὰ ὑψηλά ἃ ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (Genesis 7:19 LXX)
וְהַמַּ֗יִם גָּ֥בְר֛וּ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיְכֻסּ֗וּ כָּל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ הַגְּבֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
The Flood’s Crescendo in Two Tongues
Genesis 7:19 is one of the most intense verses in the Flood narrative, narrating the climax of chaos overtaking creation. The Hebrew text uses repetition, superlatives, and relative clauses to dramatize the overwhelming nature of the waters. The Greek Septuagint renders this passage with powerful participles and expanded syntax, capturing the weight of the event but subtly shifting the emphasis in grammar and scope. In this article, we will journey through the translation choices that reshape both the theological mood and grammatical structure from Hebrew into Greek.
Intensifiers in Both Languages: מְאֹד מְאֹד vs. σφόδρα σφοδρῶς
The double intensifier מְאֹד מְאֹד (“very very”) in Hebrew is striking in its poetic force. The Greek renders it with a noun-adverb pair: σφόδρα σφοδρῶς — both from the same root but in different forms, the first a neuter accusative adjective used adverbially, the second a true adverb. This unusual redundancy in Greek mimics the intensification technique of the Hebrew but does so using Hellenistic rhetorical devices, suggesting an intentional stylistic equivalence rather than a literal word-for-word match.
Verbal Force: From גָּבְרוּ to ἐπεκράτει
The Hebrew verb גָּבְרוּ is a Qal perfect 3mp active verb meaning “they prevailed” or “they became strong.” The LXX translates this using the imperfect verb ἐπεκράτει (3rd singular), shifting both aspect and number. This choice aligns better with Greek narrative flow and imparts a continuous sense of dominance rather than a completed one. The subject changes from plural (“the waters… they prevailed”) to a more syntactically natural singular (“the water… prevailed”) in Greek.
Rewriting Relative Clauses: Taming Hebrew Subordination
Hebrew’s layered structure — “the high mountains which were under all the heavens” — uses the relative particle אֲשֶׁר. The LXX translates this with a relative clause headed by ἃ and concluded with ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ. Notably, it eliminates the Hebrew intensifier כָּל (“all”), reducing “all the heavens” to simply “the heaven.” This choice reflects a common LXX technique: condensing distributive emphasis for smoother Greek flow, but at the cost of *universal inclusivity* that Hebrew emphasizes.
Hebrew-Greek Morphological Comparison
| Hebrew Word | Greek Translation | Grammatical Notes | Translation Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| וְהַמַּיִם | τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ | Definite noun with conjunction → definite article + resumptive δὲ | Structural coordination |
| גָּבְרוּ | ἐπεκράτει | Qal perfect 3mp active → imperfect 3sg active | Aspect and number adjustment |
| מְאֹד מְאֹד | σφόδρα σφοδρῶς | Hebrew repetition → adjective + adverb of same root | Rhetorical mirroring |
| וַיְכֻסּוּ | ἐπεκάλυψεν | Wayyiqtol 3mp passive → aorist active 3sg | Voice and number shift |
| כָּל־הֶהָרִים הַגְּבֹהִים | πάντα τὰ ὄρη τὰ ὑψηλά | Construct chain + adjective → article + noun + adjective | Adjective position adapted to Greek rules |
| אֲשֶׁר־תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם | ἃ ἦν ὑποκάτω τοῦ οὐρανοῦ | Relative clause with superlative range → relative + existential clause | Clause restructuring and article simplification |
Theological Weight in Grammatical Details
The Greek rendering chooses clarity over intensity. The double “very” of מְאֹד מְאֹד becomes rhetorical flourish. The Hebrew perfect active גָּבְרוּ becomes an imperfect in Greek, portraying a continuous state of domination rather than a completed event. The omission of כָּל in “all the heavens” slightly softens the cosmic scale of the original. These nuances show how Greek translation choices gently contour the theological topography — not altering the core message, but adjusting the texture of divine agency and totality.
Reflections at the Threshold
Genesis 7:19, in both tongues, speaks of judgment through flood — of overwhelming force and universal reach. Yet, grammar reveals nuance: Hebrew’s repetition builds emotional intensity; Greek’s precision lends narrative control. Between the waters that גָּבְרוּ and those that ἐπεκράτει lies a world of philological transformation. In seeing how translators shaped the deluge through language, we glimpse the sacred artistry of inspired translation.
