NUMBER, 48, 49

48. Singular for Plural. Sometimes in imitation of Hebrew idiom we find the singular used in the sense of the plural. When the article is employed along with a singular noun, we have the Generi Use of the Article (44), but the presence of the article is not necessary.

Ex. 8:6 ἀνεβιβάσθη ὁ βάτραχος (= frogs), 8:18 ἐξαγαγεῖν τὸν σκνῖφα, 10:13 καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος ὁ νότος ἀνέλαβεν τὴν ἀκρίδα, 10:14 οὐ γέγονεν τοιαύτη ἀκρίς.

Jdg. 7:12 ὡσεὶ ἀκρὶς εἰς πλῆθος (cp. Judith 2:20 ὡς ἀκρίς), 21:16 ἠφανίσθη ἀπὸ Βενιαμεὶν γυνή.

4 K. [2 Kings] 2:12 ἅρμα Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἱππεὺς αὐτοῦ.

Ezk. 47:9 ἔσται ἐκεῖ ἰχθὺς πολὺς σφόδρα.

This throws light on an otherwise startling piece of grammar -

Jdg. 15:10 εἶπαν ἀνὴρ Ἰούδα.

49. Singular Verb with more than One Subject. In accordance with Hebrew idiom a singular verb often introduces a plurality of subjects, e.g.-

4 K. [2 Kings] 18:26 καὶ εἶπεν Ἐλιακεὶμ . . . καὶ Σόμνας καὶ Ἰώας, 18:37 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ἐλιακεὶμ κτλ.

This may happen also in Greek apart from Hebrew.

Xen. Anab. 2.4.16 Ἔπεμψέ μεἈριαῖος καιἊρτάοζος.