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Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Τί θέλεις; Λέγει αὐτῷ, Εἰπὲ ἵνα καθίσωσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο υἱοί μου, εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου, καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου, ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου.
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Ho

the
Art-NMS
Strongs 1161  [list]
Λογεῖον
de
δὲ
and
Conj
Strongs 2036  [list]
Λογεῖον
eipen
εἶπεν
said
V-AIA-3S
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
autē
αὐτῇ
herself
PPro-DF3S
Strongs 5101  [list]
Λογεῖον
Ti
Τί
who
IPro-ANS
Strongs 2309  [list]
Λογεῖον
theleis
θέλεις
Do you desire
V-PIA-2S
Strongs 3004  [list]
Λογεῖον
Legei
Λέγει
is saying
V-PIA-3S
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
autō
αὐτῷ
to himself
PPro-DM3S
Strongs 2036  [list]
Λογεῖον
Eipe
Εἰπὲ
Tell
V-AMA-2S
Strongs 2443  [list]
Λογεῖον
hina
ἵνα
so that
Conj
Strongs 2523  [list]
Λογεῖον
kathisōsin
καθίσωσιν
might sit
V-ASA-3P
Strongs 3778  [list]
Λογεῖον
houtoi
οὗτοι
these
DPro-NMP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
hoi
οἱ
the
Art-NMP
Strongs 1417  [list]
Λογεῖον
dyo
δύο
two
Adj-NMP
Strongs 5207  [list]
Λογεῖον
huioi
υἱοί
sons
N-NMP
Strongs 1473  [list]
Λογεῖον
mou
μου
of myself
PPro-G1S
Strongs 1520  [list]
Λογεῖον
heis
εἷς
one
Adj-NMS
Strongs 1537  [list]
Λογεῖον
ek
ἐκ
from out
Prep
Strongs 1188  [list]
Λογεῖον
dexiōn
δεξιῶν
right
Adj-GNP
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
sou
‹σου›
of You
PPro-G2S
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 1520  [list]
Λογεῖον
heis
εἷς
one
Adj-NMS
Strongs 1537  [list]
Λογεῖον
ex
ἐξ
from out
Prep
Strongs 2176  [list]
Λογεῖον
euōnymōn
εὐωνύμων
good-disguised
Adj-GNP
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
sou
σου
of you
PPro-G2S
Strongs 1722  [list]
Λογεῖον
en
ἐν
within
Prep
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον

τῇ
the
Art-DFS
Strongs 932  [list]
Λογεῖον
basileia
βασιλείᾳ
queen/kingdom
N-DFS
Strongs 4771  [list]
Λογεῖον
sou
σου
of you
PPro-G2S
RBT Translation:
εὐώνυμος/The Left: Disguised as "Good named" but Unlucky, bad omen
And the one said to herself, "What do you desire?" She is saying to himself, "Speak so that these ones, the Two Sons of myself might sit down, one from out of right-side ones and one from out of "good named bad luck"39a ones of yourself within the Queen of Yourself."
LITV Translation:
And He said to her, What do you desire? She said to Him, Say that these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right, and one on Your left in Your Kingdom.
ESV Translation:
And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Footnotes

39a

Left: Disguised as "Good Name"

εὐώνυμος meaning "well named" was not actually favorable or good, but the term εὐώνυμος was used to pretend it was, through euphemism. In classical Greek, the proper word for "left" is ἀριστερός (aristeros). This word is used without the euphemistic connotations associated with εὐώνυμος ("of good name"). While εὐώνυμος was often used to avoid the negative connotations of "left," ἀριστερός is the straightforward term for the left side, often used in practical contexts, such as directions, body parts, and positioning.

  • ἀριστερός in Homer, Herodotus, and other classical authors simply refers to the left-hand side or direction.
  • It could describe something on the left side of the body or on the left wing of an army formation.

In contrast, δεξιός (dexios) refers to the "right" side and often had positive connotations, such as being associated with strength, favor, or good omens. Hence we do not render the word εὐώνυμος as "left".

To translated it literally "good-named" doesn't capture the euphemism.

An accurate translation would be something like "ominous (but called favorable)" or "ill-omened (euphemistically termed favorable)." This would convey the fact that the omen was actually inauspicious, but the term εὐώνυμος was used to disguise it as something positive.

Other translations could be:

  • "Unlucky (called favorable)"
  • "Ill-omened (euphemistically termed auspicious)"
  • "Sinister (but named well)"