THEREFORE (τοιγαρουν). Triple compound inferential participle (τοι, γαρ, ουν) like the German _doch denn nun_, a conclusion of emphasis, old particle, in N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:8. There should be no chapter division here, since Hebrews 12:1-3 really is the climax in the whole argume... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING UNTO (αφορωντες εις). Present active participle of αφοραω, old verb to look away, "looking away to Jesus." In N.T. only here and Philippians 2:23. Fix your eyes on Jesus, after a glance at "the cloud of witnesses," for he is the goal. Cf. Moses in Hebrews 11:26 (απεβλεπεν).THE AUTHOR (τ... [ Continue Reading ]
CONSIDER (αναλογισασθε). First aorist middle imperative of αναλογιζομα, old word to reckon up, to compare, to weigh, only here in the N.T. See κατανοησατε in Hebrews 3:1. Understanding Jesus is the key to the whole problem, the cure for doubt and hesitation.ENDURED (υπομεμενηκοτα). Perfect acti... [ Continue Reading ]
RESISTED (αντικατεστητε). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive) of the double compound αντικαθιστημ, old verb to stand in opposition against in line of battle, intransitively to stand face to face (αντ) against (κατα), here only in the N.T.UNTO BLOOD (μεχρις αιματος). "Up to blood." As... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE FORGOTTEN (εκλελησθε). Perfect middle indicative of εκλανθανω, to cause to forget, old verb, here only in the N.T. with genitive case as usual.REASONETH WITH YOU (υμιν διαλεγετα). Present middle indicative of διαλεγομα, old verb to ponder different (δια-) things, to converse, with dativ... [ Continue Reading ]
SCOURGETH (μαστιγο). Present active indicative of μαστιγοω, old verb from μαστιξ (whip). This is a hard lesson for God's children to learn and to understand. See Hebrews 5:7 about Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE ENDURE (υπομενετε). Present active indicative or present active imperative and so just "endure for chastening."DEALETH WITH YOU (υμιν προσφερετα). Present middle indicative of προσφερω, but this sense of bearing oneself towards one with the dative here only in the N.T., though often in... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE ARE WITHOUT CHASTENING (ε χωρις εστε παιδειας). Condition of first class, determined as fulfilled. Note position of εστε (are) between the preposition χωρις and παιδειας (ablative case).HAVE BEEN MADE (γεγονασιν). Perfect active indicative of γινομα.PARTAKERS (μετοχο). Partners (Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
FURTHERMORE (ειτα). The next step in the argument (Mark 4:17).WE HAD (ειχομεν). Imperfect indicative of customary action, "we used to have."TO CHASTEN US (παιδευτας). Predicate accusative after ειχομεν, "as chasteners." Old word from παιδευω, as agent (-της). Only once in LXX (Hosea 5:2) and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY (ο μεν). Demonstrative ο in contrast (μεν).CHASTENED (επαιδευον). Imperfect active, used to chasten.AS SEEMED GOOD TO THEM (κατα το δοκουν αυτοις). "According to the thing seeming good to them." Δοκουν is present active neuter singular articular participle of δοκεω.BUT HE (ο δε). Demon... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PRESENT (προς το παρον). A classical phrase (Thucydides), προς with the accusative neuter singular articular participle of παρειμ, to be beside.NOT JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS (ου χαρασ, αλλα λυπης). Predicate ablative (springing from) or predicate genitive (marked by). Either makes sense, but... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE (διο). Because of the chastening.LIFT UP (ανορθωσατε). First aorist active imperative of ανορθοω, old compound (from ανα, ορθος) to make straight, in N.T. here and Luke 13:13; Acts 15:16.HANG DOWN (παρειμενας). Perfect passive participle of παριημ, old verb to let pass, to relax, in... [ Continue Reading ]
STRAIGHT PATHS (τροχιας ορθας). Track of a wheel (τροχος, James 3:6 from τρεχω, to run), here only in N.T. "Straight (ορθας) wheel tracks."BE NOT TURNED OUT OF THE WAY (ινα μη εκτραπη). Negative final clause with ινα μη and second aorist passive of εκτρεπω, old verb to turn out, to twist, to pu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOW AFTER PEACE (ειρηνην διωκετε). Give peace a chase as if in a hunt.WITH ALL MEN (μετα παντων). Like Paul's use of διωκω with ειρηνην in Romans 14:19 and his to εξ υμων (so far as proceeds from you) in Hebrews 12:18. This lesson the whole world needs including Christians.SANCTIFICATION ... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING CAREFULLY (επισκοπουντες). Present active participle of επισκοπεω, to have oversight, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 5:2. Cf. επισχοπος (bishop).LEST THERE BE ANY MAN (μη τις). Negative purpose clause with ε (present active subjunctive) omitted.FALLETH SHORT OF (υστερων απο). Present a... [ Continue Reading ]
PROFANE (βεβηλος). Trodden under foot, unhallowed (1 Timothy 1:9).FOR ONE MESS OF MEAT (αντ βρωσεως μιας). Idea of exchange, "for one act of eating" (1 Corinthians 8:4).SOLD (απεδετο). Second aorist middle indicative from Genesis 25:31; Genesis 25:33, and with irregular form for απεδοτο (regu... [ Continue Reading ]
YE KNOW (ιστε). Regular form for the second person of οιδα rather than the _Koine_ οιδατε.HE WAS REJECTED (απεδοκιμασθη). First aorist passive indicative of αποδοκιμαζω, old verb to disapprove (Matthew 21:42).PLACE OF REPENTANCE (μετανοιας τοπον). Μετανοια is change of mind and purpose, not so... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE NOT COME (ου προσεληλυθατε). Perfect active indicative of προσερχομα. There is no word here in the Greek for "a mount" like ορε in verses Hebrews 12:20; Hebrews 12:22 (and Exodus 19:12; Deuteronomy 4:11), but it is clearly understood since the dative participles agree with it unless they b... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO BLACKNESS (γνοφω). Dative case of γνοφος (late form for earlier δνοφος and kin to νεφος, cloud), here only in N.T. Quoted here from Exodus 10:22.DARKNESS (ζοφω). Old word, in Homer for the gloom of the world below. In the Symmachus Version of Exodus 10:22, also in Judges 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY COULD NOT ENDURE (ουκ εφερον γαρ). Imperfect active of φερω, "for they were not enduring (bearing)."THAT WHICH WAS ENJOINED (το διαστελλομενον). Present passive articular participle of διαστελλω, old verb to distinguish, to dispose, to order. The quotation is from Exodus 19:12. The peo... [ Continue Reading ]
FEARFUL (φοβερον). As in Hebrews 10:27; Hebrews 10:31, only in Heb. in N.T.THE APPEARANCE (το φανταζομενον). Present passive articular participle of φανταζω, old verb from φαινω, to make visible, here only in N.T. "The manifestation."I EXCEEDINGLY FEAR AND QUAKE (εκφοβος ειμ κα εντρομος). "I a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT (αλλα). Sharp contrast to verse Hebrews 12:18 with same form προσεληλυθατε.UNTO MOUNT ZION (Σιων ορε). Dative case of ορος, as with the other substantives. In contrast to Mount Sinai (verses Hebrews 12:18-21). Paul has contrasted Mount Sinai (present Jerusalem) with the Jerusalem above (hea... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (πανηγυρε). Old word (from πας and αγυρισ, αγειρω). Here only in N.T. Πανηγυριζω occurs in Isaiah 66:10 for keeping a festal holiday. Possibly to be connected with αγγελων, though not certain.CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN (εκκλησια πρωτοτοκων). Probably an additional item besid... [ Continue Reading ]
TO JESUS (Ιησου). This great fact is not to be overlooked (Philippians 2:10). He is there as Lord and Saviour and still "Jesus."THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT (διαθηκης νεας μεσιτη). As already shown (Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 8:8; Hebrews 8:9; Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 9:15) and now glori... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE (βλεπετε). Earnest word as in Hebrews 3:12. Driving home the whole argument of the Epistle by this powerful contrast between Mount Zion and Mount Sinai. The consequences are dreadful to apostates now, for Zion has greater terrors than Sinai, great as those were.THAT YE REFUSE NOT (μη παραιτ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHOOK (εσαλευσεν τοτε). Old verb as in Matthew 11:7.HE HATH PROMISED (επηγγελτα). Perfect middle indicative of επαγγελλω and it still holds. He quotes Haggai 2:6.WILL I MAKE TO TREMBLE (σεισω). Old and strong verb (here future active) σειω, to agitate, to cause to tremble as in Matthew 2... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS WORD (το δε). He uses the article to point out " ετ απαξ" which he explains (δηλο, signifies, present active indicative of δηλοω).THE REMOVING (την μεταθεσιν). For this word see Hebrews 7:12; Hebrews 11:5. For the transitory nature of the world see 1 Corinthians 7:31; 1 John 2:17. "The... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE (διο). Ground for loyalty to Christ and for calm trust in God.THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN (ασαλευτον). Old compound with alpha privative and the verbal adjective from σαλευω just used. In N.T. only here and Acts 27:41.LET US HAVE GRACE (εχωμεν χαριν). Present active volitive subjunctive o... [ Continue Reading ]
A CONSUMING FIRE (πυρ καταναλισκον). From Deuteronomy 4:24. Present active participle of καταναλισκω, old compound verb, here only in the N.T. This verse is to be coupled with Hebrews 10:31.... [ Continue Reading ]