The spirit is…rejoicing? but the flesh is weak: Exploring an unusual translation of Matthew 26.41 in al-Biqāʿī’s tafsīr

Abstract

The following paper will focus on the Arabic phrase mustabshira found in Matthew (Mt) 26.41b, a reading which is unique to the Arabic version of the Gospels transmitted by al-Biqāʿī in his tafsīr. In order to reconcile the Arabic rendering mustabshira (‘to rejoice’ or ‘bring glad tidings’) with ‘willing’ (Gr. provqumon) ad Mt 26.41, several manuscripts for the Greek, Arabic, Coptic, Latin and Syriac versions of Matthew’s Gospel will be consulted.