1.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Wherefore . Greek. toigaroun, a very emph. word of inference; Occurs only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:8 . Resume from Hebrews 10:39 .
seeing. &c . = we also having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us.
compassed about = surrounding. Greek. perikeimai. See Acts 28:20 .
cloud = throng. Greek. nephos. Only here. The usual word for "cloud" is nephele.
witnesses . Greek. martus. See John 1:7 . Whose lives witness to the power of faith. Not "spectators", for then the word would be autoptes (Luke 1:2 ) or epoptes (2 Peter 1:16 ).
let us lay aside = laying aside. See Rom 18:12 .
weight . Greek. onkos. Only here.
sin . App-128 .
doth so easily beset . Greek. enperistatos. Only here.
with = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Hebrews 12:1 .
patience = patient continuance. See Romans 2:7 .
race . Greek. agon. See Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:30 . Always translated fight, conflict, &c, except here. The word means the place of assembly, and then the games witnessed, and then any contest, a lawsuit, &c.
set before . Greek. prokeimai. Compare Hebrews 6:18 .
2.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking = Looking away from (these witnesses). Greek. aphorao. App-133 . Compare Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:23 .
Jesus . App-98 .
Author . See Hebrews 2:10 and Acts 3:15 .
Finisher = Perfecter. Greek. teleiotes. Only here. Compare App-125Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 1:2 .
faith . Greek. pistis . App-150 . He stands at the head of the train of faith's heroes, and alone brought faith to perfection. Omit our.
endured = patiently endured. See Hebrews 10:32 .
the = a.
the shame = shame.
is set . All the texts read, "hath sat".
at = on. Greek. en. App-104 .
God . App-98 . The charge is to look away from the witnesses of the past to Him Who is the faithful and true Witness (Revelation 3:14 ).
3.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
consider . Greek. analogizomai. Only here.
That = That hath.
contradiction . Greek. antilogia. See Hebrews 6:16 . Compare Luke 2:34 , where the verb antilego occurs.
of = by. Greek. hupo . App-104 .
lest = in order that (Greek. hina) not (Greek. me) .
be wearied . Greek. kamno . Only here, James 5:15 .Revelation 2:3 .
and faint = fainting. Greek. ekluo . See Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:9 .
minds = souls. App-110 .
4.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
not yet . Greek. oupo.
resisted . Greek. antikathistemi. Only here.
unto . Greek. mechris. Compare Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:8 .
striving . Greek. antagonizomai. Only here.
sin . App-128 . The Lord's example is set before them. Hitherto they had to endure spoliation and shameful treatment, but not martyrdom. This is in favour of the early date of the Epistle ( App-180 ). The words "not yet" suggest a time before the persecution under Nero, which began A.D. 65 and lasted till his death A.D. 68.
5.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
forgotten . Greek. eklanthanomai. Only here.
exhortation . Greek. paraklesis. See Romans 12:8 and App-134 .
speaketh . Greek. dialegomai. See Acts 17:2 .
unto = to.
children, son . Greek. huios. App-108 .
despise . Greek. oligoreo. Only here. See Proverbs 3:11 , Proverbs 3:12 .
chastening . Greek. paideia. See Ephesians 6:4 .
LORD . App-98 .
nor . Greek. mede .
rebuked . Greek. elencho.
6.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
loveth . Greek. agapao. App-135 . See Revelation 3:19 .
chasteneth Greek. paideuo. See 1 Corinthians 11:32 .
scourgeth . Greek. mastigoo. See John 19:1 .
7.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
If . Greek. ei , but the texts read eis , i.e. Ye are suffering patiently for ( eis ) discipline.
dealeth . Greek. prosphero. Occurs in Hebrew twenty times; translated "offer", except here. In this verse it is passive and means to do business with, deal with.
the = a.
not . App-105 .
8.
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
if . Greek. ei . App-118 .
without . Greek. choris. See Hebrews 4:15 .
chastisement = chastening, as verses: Hebrews 12:5 , Hebrews 12:7 , Hebrews 12:11 . are = have become.
partakers . Greek. metochos. See Hebrews 1:9 .
bastards . i.e. fictitious. Greek. nothos. Only here.
9.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Furthermore = Moreover.
have . Omit.
which, &c . = as correctors. Greek. paideutes. Only here and Romans 2:20 .
gave . . . reverence . Greek. entrepomai. See 1 Corinthians 4:14 .
them . Omit.
be in subjection . Greek. hupotasso. See Hebrews 2:5 .
Father . App-98 .
spirits . App-101 . Compare Numbers 16:22 .Job 33:4 .Ecclesiastes 1:12 , Ecclesiastes 1:7 . Isaiah 42:5 .Zechariah 12:1 . Here not "angels" as some interpret, but the new-created spirits of His "sons".
live . App-170 .
10.
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
for . Greek. pros . App-104 .
after their own pleasure = according as (Greek. kata) it seemed good to them.
that = to the end (Greek. eis) that.
be partakers . Greek. metalambano. See Hebrews 6:7 .
holiness . Greek. hagiotes. Only here. Not the word in Hebrews 12:14 .
11.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
no chastening . Literally all chastening seemeth not (Greek. ou) .
joyous = of joy. App-17 .
grievous = of grief.
peaceable . Greek. eirenikos. Only here and James 3:17 .
righteousness . Greek. dikaiosune. App-191 .
exercised . See Hebrews 5:14 .
thereby = by (Greek. dia . App-104 .Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:1 ) it.
12.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
lift up . Greek. anorthoo. See Luke 13:13 . Elsewhere Acts 15:16 .
hang down . Greek. pariemai. Only here.
feeble = palsied. Greek. paraluomai. See Luke 5:18 .
13.
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
straight . Greek. orthos. Only here and Acts 14:10 .
paths . Greek. trochia. Only here.
be turned out of the way . Greek. ektrepomai. See 1 Timothy 1:6 .
healed . Greek. iaomai. See Luke 6:17 .
14.
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Follow = Pursue. The force of the Greek dioko is seen in Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:14 (press toward).
with . Greek. meta . App-104 .
holiness . Greek. hagiasmos. See Romans 6:19 .
no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.
shall see . Greek. opsomai. App-133 . (a.)
the Lord . App-98 .
15.
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Looking diligently . Greek. episkopeo. Only here and 1 Peter 5:2 .
lest . Greek. me . App-105 .
any . Greek. tis . App-123 .
man = one.
fail . Greek. hustereo. Compare Hebrews 4:1 ; Hebrews 11:37 .
of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
grace . App-184 .
bitterness . Greek. pikria. See Acts 8:23 .
springing = germinating. Greek. phuo . Only here and Luke 8:6 , Luke 8:8 .
trouble . Greek. enochleo. Only here. See Acts 15:19 .
thereby . Greek. dia tautes . Some texts read di autes, the same as Hebrews 12:11 .
be defiled . Greek. miaino. See John 18:28 .
16.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
profane . Greek. bebelos. See 1 Timothy 1:9 .
morsel of meat . Greek. brosis. See Romans 14:17 .
sold . Greek. apodidomi. Same as "yield", Hebrews 12:11 .
his . The texts read "his own".
birthright . Greek. prototokia. Only here.
17.
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
know . Greek. oida . App-132 .
afterward . Greek. metepeita . Only here. Add "also".
when he would have = wishing to. Greek. thelo . App-102 .
inherited . Greek. kleronomeo. See Hebrews 1:4 .
rejected . Greek. apodokimazo. Only here and 1 Peter 2:4 , 1 Peter 2:7 , after the Gospels. Compare dokimazo, Hebrews 3:9 .
repentance . Greek. metanoia. App-111 . Repentance means a change of mind, and Esau sought to change his (father's) mind.
though he sought . . . carefully = having sought carefully. Greek. ekzeteo. See Hebrews 11:6 .
18.
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
mount . The texts omit.
that might, &c . = that was touched. Greek. pselaphao. The reference is to Exodus 19:16-19 .
and . This and other five "ands" in verses: Hebrews 12:18 , Hebrews 12:19 exemplify the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ).
nor = and.
blackness = a thick cloud. Greek. gnophos . Only here.
darkness . Greek. skotos, but the texts read zophos. See 2 Peter 2:4 , 2 Peter 2:17 . Jude 1:6 , Jude 1:13 .
tempest . Greek. thuella. Only here.
19.
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
sound . Greek. echos. See Acts 2:2 .
words . Greek. rhema. See Mark 9:32 .
intreated . Greek. paraiteomai. Same as "refuse" in Hebrews 12:25 . See Luke 14:18 (make excuse).
word . Greek. logos . App-121 .
spoken = added.
20.
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
if . Greek. ean . App-118 .
beast . Greek. therion, not zoon.
touch . See Hebrews 11:28 .
or thrust through, &c . All the texts omit. No doubt this is because of the complex Ellipsis. In Exodus 19:13 we read, "There shall not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live". The work on "Figures of Speech" makes it clear thus: "And if so much as [a man, or] a beast touch the mountain [if a man] he shall be stoned or [if a beast] thrust through with a dart".
21.
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
terrible . Greek. phoberos. See Hebrews 10:27 , Hebrews 10:31 .
sight = spectacle. Greek. phantazo. Only here. See Acts 25:23 .
Moses . See Hebrews 3:2 .
exceedingly fear and quake = am fearful (Greek. ekphobos. Compare Mark 9:6 ) and quaking (Greek. entromos. See Acts 7:32 ).
22.
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
the living God . See Hebrews 3:12 .
heavenly . Greek. epouranios. Compare Hebrews 3:1 .
Jerusalem . Compare Galatians 1:4 , Gal 1:26 . Revelation 3:12 ; Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:10 .
innumerable company = myriads.
23.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
general assembly . Greek. paneguris. Only here.
church . App-186 .
firstborn = firstborn ones. Greek. prototokos. See Hebrews 11:28 .
written . Greek. apographo. Only here and Luke 2:1 , Luke 2:3 , Luke 2:5 .
heaven . Plural See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
Judge . Greek. krites. Compare App-122 .
spirits . App-101 .
just men . Greek. dikaios. App-191 .
made perfect = perfected. See Hebrews 11:40 . App-125 . The standpoint is from "the glory" as in Romans 8:30 .
24.
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Mediator . Greek. mesites. See Hebrews 9:15 .
the = a.
covenant . See Matthew 26:28 .
blood of sprinkling (Greek. rhantismos) . The phrase only here and 1 Peter 1:2 (sprinkling of blood).
speaketh . Greek. laleo. App-121 .
than . Greek. para. App-104 . Compare Hebrews 1:4 . In Hebrews 12:18-24 seven statements are set forth as to the Old Covenant dispensation, followed by ten of the New. Together se venteen (see App-10 ).
25.
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
See . Greek. blepo. App-133 .
refuse . Same word as "intreat", Hebrews 12:19 .
spake . Greek. chrematizo. See Hebrews 8:5 ; Hebrews 11:7 .
earth . Greek. ge . App-129 .
if we = who.
turn away . Greek. apostrepho, as Acts 3:26 .
26.
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
shook . Greek. saleuo. As Matthew 24:29 .
once . See Hebrews 6:4 .
shake . Greek. seio . See Haggai 2:6 , Haggai 2:7 . Occurs: Matthew 27:51 ; Matthew 28:2 ; &c. Compare seismos, earthquake.
also heaven = the heaven (singular Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 ) also.
27.
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
signifieth Greek. deloo. See 1 Corinthians 1:11 .
removing . Greek. metathesis . Compare Hebrews 7:12 ; Hebrews 11:5 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina .
cannot be = are not (Greek. me) to be.
remain . Greek. meno. See p. 1511.
28.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
which cannot be moved = immovable. Greek. asaleutos. Only here and Acts 27:41 .
whereby = by (Greek. dia . App-104 .Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:1 ) which.
serve . Greek. latreuo. App-190 .
acceptably . Greek. euarestos. Only here. The adjective in Hebrews 13:21 .
reverence . Greek. aidos. Only here and 1 Timothy 2:9 . The texts read deos, awe.
godly fear . Greek. eulabeia. See Hebrews 5:7 , the only other occurance.
29.
For our God is a consuming fire.
consuming fire . From Deuteronomy 4:24 . Compare Exodus 21:17 . Psalms 50:3 ; Psalms 97:3 . 2 Thessalonians 1:8 ; &c.
consuming . Greek. katanalisko. Only here. Intensive of analisko (Luke 9:54 .Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:15 . 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ).