ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF
EBLIGION AND ETHICS A AND
—
The meaning of this phrase is 21^ 22" as the beginning and the end' (^ apxv Ko-'- t^ tAos). The conception is to be traced to such passages as Is 41^ 44^ 48^-. And it A
n.
expressed in
I.
Rev
'
it is once used of the Shekinah in the Talmud,* but as applied to God it occurs first in the Peshitta,
is
Avhich in each case renders
A and
by oZo
.^Vn
the tliought was taken from the 3. It is noticeable that wherever the expresrather than from the Septuagint, for in sion occurs in the Apocalypse it is written r6 the former each of the three passages expresses "AXcpa Kal rb "ii, i.e. the first letter is Avritten out finality (p"i~?<)) which is in accordance Avith Kev 2F in full, Avhile the second is represented only by its 2213 while in the Septuagint the Greek equivalent, there must have been some reason for this,
sign though differing in each case, emphasizes the idea of and it is to be accounted for in the possibly rbv els further {to. itrepx^/J-eva, /jLera ravra, something It is generally held that parts following way. The point, though a small one, is signifialCbva). of the Apocalypse were originally written in cant, as it affords a piece of subsidiary evidence Hebrew in this case the form of the expression
for a Hebrew original of the Apocalypse (see would be im ']'7n. Now, the Hebrew characters, as below). used in the 1st cent., might well have appeared to 2. The origin of the phrase is to be sought in the Greek translator as representing the 'Alcph pre-Christian times. Among the Jews, the first written in full, and the Tau as the letter Omega. and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, n n, were '^M the similarity in 1st cent, script used to express totality thus in Yalkut Ruhcni, Thus, 'y,'K; letter might Avritten first in both languages of the fol. 3. 2, where the words of Gn P 'the heavens' intended second one was the that it is said that have are commented na, (n"c;y.i dn) suggested upon, The phrase Avas thus imitated Avhich includes all the letters, implies that all the for an Omega. direct from the HebreAv manner of ATiting the lieavens are meant, their beginning and their end k from to is Adam sinned it said that n, again, equivalent expression. This Avould also account meaning that he Avas guilty of every sin or, once for the fact that in the vast majority of instances more, Abraham kept the Torah from n to n, i.e. (certainly in all the earliest) the symbol Avas he kept the whole Law.* There is a well-known AATitten Aco, i.e. an uncial Alpha and a cursive Rabbinical saying, The seal of God is 'Emeth Omega. and in Jerus. Sank. i. ISa, ^Emeth (n7^ = truth') 4. Use of the symbol in the Christian Church. is said to be the name of God, who includes all great variety of objects have been found Avith the beginning (n), the middle (o is ap- this symbol inscribed upon them it figures on things proximately the middle letter of the Hebrew tombstones, as Avell as on other monujiients, on n^K might then well mosaics, frescoes, and bricks, also on vases, cups, alphabet), and the end (n). correspond to the 6 wv, 6 r]v, 6 ipxofj-evos, who is, lamps, and on rings it appears also on coins, its who was, who is to come,' of Rev P. Logically, earliest occurrence on these being of the time of indeed, the order should be 6 ^v, etc.; but to a Constans and Constantius, the sons of Constantine Hebrew (as the original Avriter of the book must the Great. t These all belong to different ages and have been) 6 ibv, as being equivalent to nin' (.Jahweh), different countries ; in its earliest known form Avould probably on that account come first. The (Rome, A.D. 295)t it appears as co et A,' but this Hebrew nx, being a well-knoAvn formula expres- is exceptional, and is perhaps of Gnostic origin. sive of entirety, may therefore have been the The symbol in its usual form is found on objects It is, however, necessary to
prototype of AQ. Particula riN quoque est nomen Schechinae, q.d. Elzech. state that the phrase n and n is never (in pre128 Et audivi TK vocem loquentem mecum (Schoettgen, op. Christian times) used of God in the way that Ail It is interesting to note that I'Tiqx (' the last ') is, cit. p. 1086).
- See
in Midrashic literature, used as a name of the Messiah, and is also Talk. Rub. fol. 17. 4, fol. 48. 4, quoted in Schoettidentified with the Vxu (' Redeemer ') of Job 1925. ffen'3 Ilorce Hebraicce et Talmudicee, i. pp. 1086, 1087, and
would appear that
Hebrew
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'
A
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'
'
'
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I'oma 696, Sank. 64a, Jerus. Yeb. xii. 13a, Jerus. Sank. quoted in JE i. pp. 438, 439 also Sanh. boa.
VOL.
I.
—
I
i.
18a,
t
'
DACL, art. Afi.' A und n.' PRE'^,
See Cabrol's
t Cf.
art.
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