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by mecha_ghidorah 790 days ago
> "Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. "

I really wish I understood the original language for this because both sides of this or sound essentially synonymous to me, so I don't really get the "either" part of it.

3 comments

Great question! I am not an ancient greek scholar, but it could be a way to add emphasis. Like how “Truly, truly” was used to emphasize.
I think it's much simpler. It could be a misapplication of the "don't repeat words" rule.

No one can have ↑↑. Either ↓↑ or ↑↓.

Seemed like a good test for ChatGPT!

In these texts, the words used are:

• μισήσει (misei): will hate

• ἀγαπήσει (agapēsei): will love

• ἀνθέξεται (anthexetai): will be devoted to, hold to, or cling to

• καταφρονήσει (kataphronēsei): will despise or look down upon

These Greek terms reflect a range of emotions and attachments similar to their English counterparts. The term ἀνθέξεται implies a sense of holding on or support, perhaps with a sense of duty or obligation, while καταφρονήσει suggests a more intellectual or volitional form of disdain or disregard, compared to the direct and potent emotional charge of μισήσει (hate) and ἀγαπήσει (love).