Sunday, June 14, 2009

On Metatron

It is more likely to come from the Aramaic (rarely Hebrew) root nun-ṭet-resh,
with the prefix mi- or me- and the suffix -on, with reduplication. Have a look
at miṭra mem-ṭet-resh-alef in Jastrow. Though actually this could be a borrowing
from metra a measure. Deriving it from Greek is difficult. First, there is no
other instance of derivation of an angelic name from Greek, as far as I know. (I
might be wrong). Against this it could be argued that angelic names don't end in
-on, and that this angel is unique. Second, Greek tau is nearly transcribed with
Hebrew Tav, not Ṭet.


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