Eli’s “Heavy Eyes” in LXX 1 Kingdoms 3:2 and Euripides’ Alcestis

What is it about?

The language of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, is often seen as unnatural. This paper discusses the use of the Greek verb βαρύνω at Septuagint 1 Kingdoms 3:2. It argues that this is a highly natural phrase used in ancient Greek to express blindness and failing vision. It demonstrates the value of the Septuagint in developing our understanding of the wider history of the Greek language.

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