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Κρῆτες καὶ Ἄραβες, ἀκούομεν λαλούντων αὐτῶν ταῖς ἡμετέραις γλώσσαις τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Θεοῦ.
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 2453  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Ioudaioi
Ἰουδαῖοί
Casters
Adj-NMP
Strongs 5037  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
te
τε
both
Conj
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 4339  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
prosēlytoi
προσήλυτοι
converts
N-NMP
Strongs 2912  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Krētes
Κρῆτες
Cretans
N-NMP
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 690  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Arabes
Ἄραβες
Arabs
N-NMP
Strongs 191  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
akouomen
ἀκούομεν
we hear
V-PIA-1P
Strongs 2980  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
lalountōn
λαλούντων
those who are chattering
V-PPA-GMP
Strongs 846  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
autōn
αὐτῶν
of themselves
PPro-GM3P
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tais
ταῖς
the
Art-DFP
Strongs 2251  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hēmeterais
ἡμετέραις
[in] our own
PPro-DF1P
Strongs 1100  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
glōssais
γλώσσαις
tongues
N-DFP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ta
τὰ
the
Art-ANP
Strongs 3167  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
megaleia
μεγαλεῖα
great things
Adj-ANP
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tou
τοῦ
the
Art-GMS
Strongs 2316  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
Theou
Θεοῦ
God
N-GMS
RBT Translation:
"The Cretan Ignores the Sea"
both Casters ("Judeans") and newcomers, Cretans and People of the West/Evening ("Arabians"), we are hearing those who are talking of themselves in our Own tongues the Mega Things of the God!10
Cretans"It is a pure joy..."
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.
LITV Translation:
Cretans and Arabians; in our own languages we hear them speaking the great deeds of God?

Footnotes

10

The term Arab (Hebrew ערב, ʿArab) appears in biblical and extra-biblical sources as a proper name designating a people and region east of Israel, traditionally associated with the desert steppes of North Arabia. Etymologically, it is linked to the root ערב (ʿārav), meaning "to grow dark," "to mix/mingle," or "to be evening," and by extension, figuratively, “sterility” or a barren land, reflecting the desert environment of the Arabian Peninsula (Brown-Driver-Briggs; Strong’s #6152, #6150). Note also עָרֹב arob plague of stinging flies, a.k.a. blood sucking mosquitos (Strong's #6157) and עֹרֵב oreb raven.

This root also connects to "place of sunset" the “evening” or “west,” (See מַעֲרָב ma`arab west, west side, setting, Strong's #4628)

The stereotype of the Κρῆτες (Cretans) in ancient Greek literature is encapsulated in the proverb ὁ Κρὴς τὸν πόντον ἀγνοεῖ (“the Cretan ignores the sea”), which implies that Cretans feign ignorance or pretend unawareness, particularly regarding maritime matters. This proverbial expression reflects a broader cultural image of Cretans as cunning or deceptive, prone to dissimulation and slyness. Such portrayals appear in various classical sources and suggest an ambivalent perception by mainland Greeks, often attributing to Cretans a reputation for craftiness and occasional mendacity. This stereotype, while possibly grounded in ethnographic observation, functions as a literary trope emblematic of Cretan character in Greek tradition.

Classical authors like Aristotle noted Cretans as somewhat quarrelsome and untrustworthy, while Euripides and others sometimes depicted them as cunning or sly.

"One from out of themselves, their own prophet of themselves, said, Cretans, ever liars, evil wild beasts, inactive bellies." (Titus 1:12 RBT)