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Greek Orthodox, What is the proper English translation of κεχαριτωμένη, and what is the origin of the term?

I know that it is obviously Koine Greek. Also from what I have been able to determine, within the Greek Bible, it [κεχαριτωμένη] seems to only be used once, and is only used for Θεοτόκος. Is this correct.

Thanks.

Update:

@Captain Kirk, The King James Version is a poor source to use. When one reads the Preface of the 1611 KJV "HE," "SHE," and the third version which was a combination of the two, would realize that the Translators were very liberal with their translation (as that is what they claim), and that there were some Hebrew and Greek Lexicon which they didn't know how to translate properly (something else which they explain in an indirect manner).

A good example of improper translation is the word Pesel (פֶסֶל), which in Latin sculptile which properly translates to "a graven thing" or "a Thing Graven," and the Greek was ἔιδωλον which is idol. Where did image come from?

פֶסֶל and sculptile only recently came to have a meaning of graven images, that is during the reformation time (in other words, the Protestants translated it Images for the first time to suite their own beliefs), before that it only meant "Graven Thing." So why did the KJV translators (and this is to include, the Bishop Bible

Update 2:

@Zena E, please, do not try insult my intelligence, the Immaculate Conception does not mean that Blessed Mary was conceived in any unnatural means, St. Joachim and St. Anne conceived her by natural means, Immaculate Conception means that God redeemed her from the moment of her conception. Mary's sinlessness is completely based on the anticipated sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In other words, she was conceived without Original Sin. You need to get a better understanding of what the "Immaculate Conception" really is. I don't know why so many get the Immaculate Conception and the incarnation of Christ mixed up.

The Biblical Greek is Koine Greek, it is not Proto-Greek, or Mycenaean Greek, or Ancient Greek, or Modern Greek. It is Koine. And I believe that Koine and Byzantine Greek are very similar.

Also your answer is a bit confusing, you seem to be giving half answers or incomplete answers and are going into other subjects other than what my question is. I personally know exactly what κ

Update 3:

κεχαριτωμένη means as I have researched what some Early Greek Fathers had to say about it i.e., St. Chrysostom and St. Athanasius to name a couple.

As the Greek Orthodox uses, more or less, the Greek Bible, I am interested in how the Greek Church views and understands κεχαριτωμένη at this present time. Hence I was asking for those who are Greek Orthodox.

So my question is: What is the proper English translation of κεχαριτωμένη, and what is the ORIGIN of the term? AND is it only used once in the Greek Bible and for the Virgin Mary alone?

4 Answers

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  • 10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    It is most frequently translated somewhat loosely "full of grace", though it can mean several other things, as others have pointed out.

    The word appears in the megalynarion (hymn of magnification to the Virgin Mary} in the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil [1[4]], and in the Kathismata of Plagal of the 4th Mode of Orthros/Matins (II Kathisma, 3rd verse) [2][3].

    In [1], the word is translated by "O full of grace". English only here.

    In [2],

    Κεχαριτωμένη is translated as "O Lady full of grace". Side-by-side Greek/English

    In [3] (available in print only), it is "[you] who are full of grace".

    In [4] (also print), an interlinear (not singable) translation is "Most Graceful One".

    Blessings.

    /Orthodox

    Source(s): [1] http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/basi... search "O full of grace" [2] http://www.ematins.org/bilingual/Jun19.pdf p. 16 Visited June 20, 2011 [3] Orthros for Sunday June 19, 2011 "Orthros 2011 Volume A". Narthex Press, Northridge CA [4] The Byzantine Liturgy: Hymnology and Order, Bogdanos, Greek Orthodox Diocese of Denver Choir Federation, 1993 ISBN 1-884432-00-X
  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    The Bible says that Mary was χαριτόω charitoō. According to Thayer's, χαριτόω charitoō can mean that a person is honored with a blessing.

  • 10 years ago

    yes

  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    full of grace

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