Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:8

μὴ σκληρύνητε. Comp. Acts 19:9. Usually God is said to harden man’s heart (Exodus 7:3, &c.; Isaiah 63:17; Romans 9:18), an anthropomorphic way of expressing the inevitable results of neglect and of evil habit. But that this is man’s own doing and choice is always recognised (Deuteronomy 10:16; 2 Kings 17:14, &c.).

ὡς ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ. Lit., “in the embitterment.” Heb. כִּמְרִיבָה. The LXX. here seem to have read Marah (which means “bitter” and which they render by Πικρία in Exodus 15:23) for Meribah which, in Exodus 17:1-7, they render by Λοιδόρησις “reproach.” This is not however certain, for though the substantive does not occur again, the verb παραπικράζω is frequently used of provoking God to anger. For the story of Meribah, see Numbers 20:7-13.

τοῦ πειρασμοῦ, “of the temptation,” i.e. at Massah; Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 6:16, though the allusion might also be to Numbers 14.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:8

Old Testament

New Testament