Odd foundations

Because of the wet weather in Sydney I was rereading the Parables of the Houses built on Rock n Sand and comparing Luke n Matthews Versions.

Lukes version 6: 46 - 49  is shorter than Matthews 

Luke uses the word themelion  for house foundations 

Words like themelion show why its useful to learn some classical first before koine new testament greek or have a good word guide

Now if you were reading the greek first what would you think themelion means?

The lion ending implies its an object.

Theme suggests its from titheemi place 

Its the placing or placement of a house in a location.

Yould think Greek would use a word derived from histeemi but no from titheemi ! 

Then I went to Matthew 7:24-28 and was atonished to realise on reading the Greek that Matthew used a pluperfect verb form 

Tethemeliooto ! 

Now I wish I knew Aramaic so I see how the text differs 

However that though interesting and telling us something about levels of greek usage can be a distraction from the important message in both passages 

Build on solid foundations of rock not sand so you can endure catastrophes physical or spiritual and perhaps also understand local conditions 

If Jesus had been talking to nomads or traders who crossed the desert he might have used tent pegging as an image ? 

Like the prophets n the psalmists while being inventive n poetic he also draws on things he and his disciples knew to illustrate his parables.

Build wisely and be practical.

Listen and act.

Reread the Parable of the Houses whether its in English or Greeka n d the Gospel of Matthew or Luke.

Though I find it odd and  intriguing a nbd yes delightful that a foundation is also a placed thing in Greek.