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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Galatians 4:20 - 4:20
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20. ἤθελον δὲ. “The δέ catches up the passing thought of παρεῖναι (Gal 4:18) before it escapes” (Lightfoot); “but I would (if it were possible).” ἤθελον in itself may express a practicable or an impracticable wish (see Blass, Gram. § 63. 5). The context alone decides. Here it seems to be impracticable. He cannot come, and he has no immediate prospect of being able to do so. It seems to come under the heading of conative imperfects (cf. Moulton, Proleg., 1906, p. 128).
παρεῖναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς (Gal 4:18 note) ἄρτι (Gal 1:9 note). I know how helpful I should be, and what a change it would make in our relation to each other.
καὶ ἀλλάξαι τὴν φωνήν μον. Apparently the usual meaning given to the words is right; change my voice of blame, heard in this Epistle, to one of praise and congratulation, as I am sure would be the case if I could but see you.
ὅτι. Because, as things are, and judging them at a distance.
ἀποροῦμαι ἐν ὑμῖν, “I am at a loss about you.” Cf. Gen 32:7 (8) ἐφοβεῖτο δὲ Ἰακὼβ σφόδρα, καὶ ἠπορεῖτο. Moulton and Milligan quote from a papyrus of the 2nd cent. A.D. ὑπὸ δανειστῶν ὤλλντο καὶ ἠπόρει, “he was [being] ruined by creditors and at his wits’ end” (Expositor, VII. 6, 1908, p. 189).