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Matthew 22:8-9
8 Then he said to his servants, "The wedding feast [ho gamos] is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast [tous gamous] as many as you find. ESV
Why does the singular, ho gamos, become plural, tous gamous? Is there a progression being alluded to? If so what might that progression be?
How might the ESV justify translating both in the singular?
In those days, a Jewish wedding ceremony could last for days, Young's Literal Translation, Judges 14:
And Samson saith to them, 'Let me, I pray you, put forth to you a riddle; if ye certainly declare it to me in the seven days of the banquet, and have found it out, then I have given to you thirty linen shirts, and thirty changes of garments;
Now fastforward to Matthew 22:
1And Jesus answering, again spake to them in similes, saying, 2‘The reign of the heavens was likened to a man, a king, who made marriage-feasts for his son,
the entire series of feasts, plural
3and he sent forth his servants to call those having been called to the marriage-feasts, and they were not willing to come. 4‘Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Say to those who have been called: Lo, my dinner I prepared, my oxen and the fatlings have been killed, and all things [are] ready, come ye to the marriage-feasts; 5and they, having disregarded [it], went away, the one to his own field, and the other to his merchandise; 6and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, did insult and slay [them]. 7‘And the king having heard, was wroth, and having sent forth his soldiers, he destroyed those murderers, and their city he set on fire; 8then saith he to his servants, The marriage-feast indeed is ready,
i.e., the 1st of the marriage-feasts, singular
and those called were not worthy, 9be going, then, on to the cross-ways, and as many as ye may find, call ye to the marriage-feasts. 10‘And those servants, having gone forth to the ways, did gather all, as many as they found, both bad and good, and the marriage-feast apartment was filled with those reclining.
i.e., singular "marriage-feast" is used as an adjective.
ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάμος ἀνακειμένων
was filled marriage-feast with guests
New King James Version translates γάμος as "wedding":
So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
The noun "hall" is implied by the Greek article.
11‘And the king having come in to view those reclining, saw there a man not clothed with clothing of the marriage-feast,
Singular, the one that was ongoing now.
12and he saith to him, Comrade, how didst thou come in hither, not having clothing of the marriage-feast? and he was speechless. 13‘Then said the king to the ministrants, Having bound his feet and hands, take him up and cast forth to the outer darkness, there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth; 14for many are called, and few chosen.’
How might the ESV justify translating both in the singular?
Today, English-speaking countries are not familiar with wedding ceremonies that go on for days. Singular marriage-feast would simplify the translation and understanding.
The "problem" in Jesus' parable about the wedding banquet of Matt 22:1-14 occurs in several places:
Thus, at first sight, it appears that the singular and plural are used almost interchangeably.
However, when examined very closely, it is possible to discern a very slight difference in meaning. The singular appears to refer to wedding, while the plural refers to the banquets that celebrate the wedding. Thus, if being punctilious, I might render the above as follows:
However, I would not be too strict about such a fine distinction. Further, I notice that BDAG says that the singular and plural of gamos are used almost interchangeably, with the distinction I observe above (if that can be pressed.)
