John 2:4
4 And Jesus said to her, “And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? My hour is not yet come.” Douay-Rheims
The manner of uttering them, likely, most tender, the tone of voice, would remove all appearance of acerbity.
The word, “woman,” (γυναι) is frequently used as a term of respect, signifying Mistress, Lady, as appears from its use, in this sense, by Pagan authors. (Xenophon, Cyroped, vii. 3, 4; Homer, Odyss. 221, 555, etc.) Even the most respectable Protestant commentators are in accord with us, on this point. Our Lord himself, who loved his beloved Mother with such filial tenderness, addresses the term to her, on the most affecting occasion, when hanging on the cross, on the point of breathing His last, on taking His final farewell, He says, in the presence of His beloved disciple, John, “WOMAN, behold thy Son” (John 19:26).
The phrase, τι μοι και σοὶ—“Quid mihi et tibi,” literally translated, would be, “what to me and to thee?” leaving the verb, “is,” out altogether. Hence, the words are not faithfully rendered, either in the Douay or Authorized Version. It might have been better to translate the words literally from the Greek, without adding or taking away from them; and then, leave the meaning to be determined, from either the context or any other available source of interpretation. The phrase is sometimes used in the Old Testament as well as in the New. The instances being so well known, it is unnecessary to quote them here at any length. In no one instance, can it be shown that they convey censure or reproof of any kind.
John MacEvilly (Abp.)
