Re: Fiat Lux

From: "Matthew Kehrt" <matrix14@...>
> Fiat lux = 'Let there be light' in Latin.
> I am confused how this statement works.  Lux is obviously light, but
> what is fiat?  It seems to be a command of some sort.  Does Latin then
> have a verb for 'to allow to be'?  Or is there some sort of 'allowative'
> mood or voice?  Maybe fiat is an interjection, a la 'lo'.
> Then again, it could be that the Vulgate translates this phrase utterly
> wrong.
I think it's just a limitation of the English language.  The LXX has
"genhqhtw fws", where 'fws' is light and 'genhqhtw' is a third-person
imperative form of 'gignomai', which means to be born (from IE *g'en1-).

And we haven't really got non-second-person imperative forms...


    *Muke!

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