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Mat_6:7. Δέ ] indicating a transition to the consideration of another abuse of prayer.
βαττολογεῖν ] (Simplic. ad Epict. p. 340) is not to be derived, with Suidas, Eustathius, Erasmus, from some one of the name of Battus (passages in Wetstein), who, according to Herod. v. 155, was in the habit of stammering, but, as already Hesychius correctly perceived ( κατὰ μίμησιν τῆς φωνῆς ), is to be regarded as a case of onomatopoeia (comp. Βάτταλος as a nickname of Demosthenes, βατταρίζω , βατταρισμός , βατταριστής ), and means, properly speaking, to stammer, then to prate, to babble, the same thing that is subsequently called πολυλογία . B à have the form βατταλογ .; see Tisch. 8.
οἱ ἐθνικοί ] Whose prayers, so wordy and full of repetitions (hence, fatigare Deos), were well known. Terent. Heautont. v. i. 6 ff. In Rabbinical writers are found recommendations sometimes of long, sometimes of short, prayers (Wetstein). For an example of a Battological Jewish prayer, see Schoettgen, p. 58 f., comp. Mat_23:15; and for disapproval of long prayers, see Ecc_5:1, Sir_7:14.
ἐν τῇ πολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν ] in consequence of their much speaking; they imagine that this is the cause of their being heard. As to the thing, consider the words of Augustine: “Absit ab oratione multa locutio, sed non desit multa precatio, si fervens perseveret intentio;” the former, he adds, is “rem necessariam superfluis agere verbis,” but the multum precari is: “ad eum, quem precamur, diuturna et pia cordis excitatione pulsare” (Ep. 130. 20, ad probam).