... μερισμου ψυχης τε και πνευματος αρμων τε και μυελων και κριτικος ενθυμησεων και εννοιων καρδιας [TR - Beza, Stephanus, Elzevir and Scrivener all identical]
... dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Heb 4:12 KJV]
... dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart; [Heb 4:12 YLT]
The KJV seems to ignore both uses of τε and only appears to translate και, 'and'.
Robert Young adds 'both' in the first instance, then says 'also' for the second ('both' and 'also' having slightly different meanings) and in the second instance he attaches 'also' only to 'joints' whereas he could have said 'also joints and marrow' covering both items.
I understand that τε is a conjunction like και and that both words may be used to link clauses and sentences. However I understand that often και may be used to link words, whilst only rarely is τε so used.
Moreover, I understand that τε ... και (both ... and) is somewhat weaker than και ... και.
All that being the case, what is the force of using τε και together in this sentence, which seems to have given translators just a bit of difficulty ?
How does the use of the combined conjunctions affect the appreciation of the concepts :
- soul and spirit
- joints and marrow
- thoughts and intents
Particularly, I am looking at the contrast of soul/joint (mechanical-functional, see 'chariot')/thought . . . . . and spirit/marrow (living tissue)/intent.
That the soul, functionally, thinks ; and the spirit, livingly, intends.
I am aware that the first τε is disputed but my question is not about the matter of dispute and my question focuses wholly on the TR and the way in which translators have translated it.