For the Theological Foundations of Substantive-Functional Semanticsof the Georg. Word-concept Mrevli (მრევლი)

Abstract

In the original semantics of Geo. mrevli “flock”, the old Geor-gian lexical units mre(i), mre-qofa “defeater”, reva/revna "to overpower; to mix, to join; to touch; to defeat", cf.: the word m-rev-el-i "defeater" with the affixes m – el, mdzle "defeater" (literally: "one who defeats") and mdzle-qofa "to overpower" (Sulkhan-Saba, Niko Chubinashvili, Ilia Abuladze, Zurab Sarjveladze) are clearly visible.

On the other hand, Geo. mrevli is a unity welded by the efforts of men, which paves the way to being united in Christ and, thus, it helps us in this supreme divine work. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ means when he comforts Saint Peter the Apostle: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

It is no coincidence that our gracious Georgian wordsmith added suli "soul" to ertoba "unity" and with old Georgian lexemes − ertsul "harmonious; harmoniously; together with soul and heart; with one accord", ertsuleba "unity; unanimity" − he expressed the evil-defeating power of the divine unity of spiritual beings created by God (cf.: old Geo. suli "the soul of men, the image and likeness of God; verbal soul, rational being; man, human being; mind; heart" and old geo. sulieri "alive; living").

Based on the analysis of the Georg. word-concept mrevli, it becomes possible to read the functional semantics in detail: "The unity of sinners, who, with God"s help will overcome the enemy – invisible or visible".