Expert: Maria - 11/1/2005

Question
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
In "Biblia Sacra Vulgata" I find Gen. 1:2 given as

    "..et spiritus Dei ferbatur super aquas..."

which, in the KJV comes out as

    "...and the spirit of God moved upon the
     face of the waters..."

My questions:

1.
  Altho, the conjugation of ferebatur is given
  as a past passive form, in the case of Gen.
  1:2, does it not carry more or less the
  sense of a middle past?

2. Am I right in thinking that the middle voice
  is pretty much gone in vulgar latin, and that
  when its sense is required, generally the
  passive voice is called upon?
Answer -
Hello,

“Ferebatur”( Greek, ‘epephéreto') is a past passive form (passive imperfect tense, in Latin) and literally means ”was brought”  over the waters (super aquas).

Therefore it can be rendered as “moved over the waters” or “moved upon the face of the waters..." .

Any other interpretation is not my job.

Best,
Maria

Thanks very much for your prompt response.  I am not sure, however, if you understood my question.  I have no interest in raising issues of interpretation and theology.  Just looking at the Latin, in and of itself, I have trouble seeing how the past passive imperfect fits well with there being a clear subject and no clear object.  I still wonder, therefore, if sometimes forms such as "ferebatur" can serve as a middle voice.

Since the spanish translation in "Reina Version" is "se movia", with, I believe a middle voice sense, it seems natural to ask my question.


Answer
Hello,

I've understood your question and I've answered it.

Anyway I point out that in Latin “spiritus”(the spirit) is the SUBJECT of the passive imperfect FEREBATUR (was brought).

As for FEREBATUR used as a  middle voice in the sense of “moved”, it is a consequence of the passive voice in this case.

Kind regards,
Maria