Memorizing the greek OT

[Henoch]

Guys do you memorize the greek new testament or the hebrew old testament often in the original tongues
Coz it looks like translations can be harder to memorize sometimes
For example ἁρπαγμος is just one greek word
But translations translate it in so many different ways it can be hard to remember
I mean if the Turks can memorize the book of their false prophet in Arabic even while not speaking the language shouldn't greek memorization be very doable

 

[CasualWestminsterEnjoyer]

I've memorized whole chapters in the past in Greek or Hebrew.

Obviously one has to know Greek and Hebrew for that to be worthwhile, and it has the downside that it makes it much harder to cite the text from memory, because one not only has to remember it, but also translate it on the spot. That's the main reason I don't do it anymore.

 

[paranymph]

Sure, why not? It helps with learning the language. In seminary, one assignment was to memorize Jonah 1 in Hebrew.
Of course, the languages work differently than English, so there are some texts that are more difficult to memorize.

 

[Solparvus]

You can do it, and it helps language study, but I would recommend you work hard to bump up your proficiency in Greek to a high level by other means too. For example read through the whole New Testament a few times at least (you probably need more), and I would add some audio listening practice to go along with it. Lots of it. You want to get to a point where reading and hearing are naturalized, and you can easily profit by sight and sound. There's plenty of good recordings on YouTube for Greek and Hebrew.

Why do I say that? If you're at a point where Greek still sounds like a jumble of indistinct sounds, it's going to be hard to have the Word profit you in your heart. Reading and hearing are natural ways in which to do it for modern languages. Can't help with the speaking part.

Of course it can work the other way: memorizing would help with the reading and listening. However, I've found in language learning that volumes of exposre are crucial to really "get" the language. Read and listen often too.

 

[Henoch]

I've memorized whole chapters in the past in Greek or Hebrew.

Obviously one has to know Greek and Hebrew for that to be worthwhile, and it has the downside that it makes it much harder to cite the text from memory, because one not only has to remember it, but also translate it on the spot. That's the main reason I don't do it anymore.

Good point!
I did memorize the 1st 4 chapters of Romans and some psalms in hebrew a while back and yes it's hard to quote in English(spontaneous translation is difficult) It indeed can be hard to translate but I wonder if memorizing the greek text can aid in memorizing a translation(or even multiple translations - like in a place like the southernmost tip of India where I live there are multiple Tamil English Malayalam and Hindi speakers and almost everyone is bilingual) so I was wondering if the greek/hebrew text could also be a base to memorize multiple bible versions
[automerge]1740747213[/automerge]

You can do it, and it helps language study, but I would recommend you work hard to bump up your proficiency in Greek to a high level by other means too. For example read through the whole New Testament a few times at least (you probably need more), and I would add some audio listening practice to go along with it. Lots of it. You want to get to a point where reading and hearing are naturalized, and you can easily profit by sight and sound. There's plenty of good recordings on YouTube for Greek and Hebrew.

Why do I say that? If you're at a point where Greek still sounds like a jumble of indistinct sounds, it's going to be hard to have the Word profit you in your heart. Reading and hearing are natural ways in which to do it for modern languages. Can't help with the speaking part.

Of course it can work the other way: memorizing would help with the reading and listening. However, I've found in language learning that volumes of exposre are crucial to really "get" the language. Read and listen often too.

Mhm I agree that comprehensible input is very essential
I found reading the apostolic church fathers and the patristics like Chrysostom(Migne's helps a lot coz theres a facing latin translation)to be helpful to make my greek syntax more fluent
Also a bit of Plato and Attic wouldn't hurt either!

 

[Solparvus]

Good point!
I did memorize the 1st 4 chapters of Romans and some psalms in hebrew a while back and yes it's hard to quote in English(spontaneous translation is difficult) It indeed can be hard to translate but I wonder if memorizing the greek text can aid in memorizing a translation(or even multiple translations - like in a place like the southernmost tip of India where I live there are multiple Tamil English Malayalam and Hindi speakers and almost everyone is bilingual) so I was wondering if the greek/hebrew text could also be a base to memorize multiple bible versions
[automerge]1740747213[/automerge]

Mhm I agree that comprehensible input is very essential
I found reading the apostolic church fathers and the patristics like Chrysostom(Migne's helps a lot coz theres a facing latin translation)to be helpful to make my greek syntax more fluent
Also a bit of Plato and Attic wouldn't hurt either!

I very much want to get into the early church fathers in the originals. That will be very good for my own Greek.