This is the conclusion of a continuing look into Psalm 22 as the music in Jesus’ heart as He endured the cross. The Psalm turns to Israel here, Jesus’ brethren according to the flesh.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
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Psalm 22:23, 24 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Psalm 22:23, 24 (NET) |
Psalm 21:24, 25 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:24, 25 (English Elpenor) |
| Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. | You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him. | You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Iakob together glorify him; let all the offspring of Israel fear him, | Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye seed of Jacob, glorify him: let all the seed of Israel fear him. |
| For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid (הִסְתִּ֣יר) his face (פָּנָ֣יו) from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. | For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed. He did not ignore him [Note 57: Heb “he did not hide (sāṯar, הסתיר) his face (pānîm, פניו) from him”]; when he cried out to him, he responded. | because he did not despise or scorn the petition of the poor, nor did he turn away (ἀπέστρεψεν) his face (τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ) from me, and when I cried to him, he listened to me. | For he has not despised nor been angry at the supplication of the poor; nor turned away (ἀπέστρεψε) his face (τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ) from me; but when I cried to him, he heard me. |
The Hebrew word translated afflicted (Tanakh, KJV) and oppressed (NET) was עָנִ֗י (ʿānî). It was translated πτωχοῦ (a form of πτωχός) in the Septuagint, poor in English. Blessed are the poor (πτωχοὶ, another form of πτωχός) in spirit, Jesus said in the sermon on the mount, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.1
The clause neither hath he hid his face from him on Jesus’ lips or in his heart tends to invalidate a popular idea from my religious upbringing, “that as Jesus hung on the cross, bearing the sin of the world, His holy and pure Father looked away because He couldn’t stand the sight of all that sin.”2 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity,3 was the Scripture used to justify this idea.
In context, however, in the English translation of the Masoretic text this was Habakkuk’s preface to an accusation that God not only looked at evil but did nothing about what He saw. The English translation of the Septuagint seems a bit less like an accusation, a little more like a question addressed to God about troubling things Habakkuk saw.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
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Habakkuk 1:13 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Habakkuk 1:13 (NET) |
Habakkuk 1:13 (NETS) |
Habakkuk 1:13 (English Elpenor) |
| Thou art of purer eyes than to behold (מֵֽרְא֣וֹת) evil, and canst not look (וְהַבִּ֥יט) on iniquity: wherefore lookest (תַבִּיט֙) thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? | You are too just [Note 40: Heb “(you) are too pure of eyes”] to tolerate [Note 41: Heb “to see (rā’â, מראות)”] evil; you are unable to condone [Note 42: Heb “to look (nāḇaṭ, והביט) at”] wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people [Note 43: Heb “Why do you look (nāḇaṭ, תביט) at treacherous ones”]? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are? | A pure eye is not for seeing (ὁρᾶν) evil things, and you cannot look (ἐπιβλέπειν) upon sufferings. Why do you look (ἐπιβλέπεις) on those who despise? Will you keep silence while the impious swallows up the just? | [His] eye is too pure to behold (ὁρᾶν) evil [doings], and to look (ἐπιβλέπειν) upon grievous afflictions: wherefore dost thou look (ἐπιβλέπεις) upon despisers? wilt thou be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just? |
Jesus praised God as He endured the cross.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
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Psalm 22:25, 26 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Psalm 22:25, 26 (NET) |
Psalm 21:26, 27 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:26, 27 (English Elpenor) |
| My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. | You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers. | From you comes my commendation in a great assembly; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. | My praise is of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. |
| The meek (עֲנָוִ֨ים) shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. | Let the oppressed (ʿānāv, ענוים) eat and be filled. Let those who seek his help praise the Lord. May you live forever! | The needy (πένητες) shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek him shall praise the Lord; their hearts shall live forever and ever! | The poor (πένητες) shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their heart shall live for ever. |
Here the Hebrew word translated meek (Tanakh, KJV) and oppressed (NET) was עֲנָוִ֨ים (ʿānāv). It was translated πένητες (a form of πένης) in the Septuagint, needy (BLB) and poor (Elpenor) in English. And God is able4 to make all grace overflow to you, Paul wrote, so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor (πένησιν, another form of πένης); his righteousness remains forever.”5
The Psalm concludes with a beautiful recounting of the joy set out for Jesus.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
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Psalm 22:27-31 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Psalm 22:27-31 (NET) |
Psalm 21:28-32 (NETS) |
Psalm 21:28-32 (English Elpenor) |
| All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. | Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him. Let all the nations worship you. | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the paternal families of the nations shall do obeisance before him, | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before him. |
| For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. | For the Lord is king and rules over the nations. | because kingship is the Lord’s, and it is he who is master over the nations. | For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he is the governor of the nations. |
| All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul [Table]. | All the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives. | All the fat ones of the earth ate and did obeisance; all who descend into the earth shall fall down before him. And my soul lives for him [Table], | All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and worshipped: all that go down to the earth shall fall down before him: my soul also lives to him. |
| A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. | A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord. | and my offspring will serve him; the coming generation will be announced to the Lord, | And my seed shall serve him: the generation that is coming shall be reported to the Lord. |
| They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. | They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished. | and they shall announce his righteousness to a people to be born, because the Lord acted. | And they shall report his righteousness to the people that shall be born, whom the Lord has made. |
When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.6
According to a note (24) in the NET 2 Corinthians 9:9 was a quotation from Psalm 112:9.
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Masoretic Text |
Septuagint |
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Psalm 112:9 (Tanakh/KJV) |
Psalm 112:9 (NET) |
Psalm 111:9 (NETS) |
Psalm 111:9 (English Elpenor) |
| He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor (לָאֶֽבְיוֹנִ֗ים); his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. | He generously gives to the needy (‘eḇyôn, לאביונים); his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored. | He scattered; he gave to the needy (πένησιν); his righteousness endures forever and ever; his horn will be exalted in glory. | He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor (πένησιν); his righteousness endures for evermore: his horn shall be exalted with honour. |
A table comparing the Greek of 2 Corinthians 9:9 and that of Psalm 112:9 (111:9) in the Septuagint follows:
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2 Corinthians 9:9 (NET Parallel Greek) |
Psalm 112:9 (Septuagint BLB) |
Psalm 111:9 (Septuagint Elpenor) |
| ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκεν τοῖς πένησιν, ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα | ἐσκόρπισεν ἔδωκεν τοῗς πένησιν ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος | ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος |
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2 Corinthians 9:9 (NET) |
Psalm 111:9 (NETS) |
Psalm 111:9 (English Elpenor) |
| He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever. | he gave to the needy; his righteousness endures forever and ever | he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for evermore |
Tables comparing Psalm 22:23; 22:24; Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 22:25; 22:26; 112:9; 22:27; 22:28; 22:30 and 22:31 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Psalm 22:23 (21:24); 22:24 (21:25); Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 22:25 (21:26); 22:26 (21:27); 112:9 (111:9); 22:27 (21:28); 22:28 (21:29); 22:30 (21:31) and 22:31 (21:32) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing 2 Corinthians 9:8 in the NET and KJV follow.
| Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. | Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. | You loyal followers of the Lord, praise him. All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him. |
| οἱ φοβούμενοι κύριον αἰνέσατε αὐτόν ἅπαν τὸ σπέρμα Ιακωβ δοξάσατε αὐτόν φοβηθήτωσαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ σπέρμα Ισραηλ | οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον, αἰνέσατε αὐτόν, ἅπαν τὸ σπέρμα ᾿Ιακώβ, δοξάσατε αὐτόν, φοβηθήτωσαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ σπέρμα ᾿Ισραήλ |
| You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Iakob together glorify him; let all the offspring of Israel fear him, | Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye seed of Jacob, glorify him: let all the seed of Israel fear him. |
| For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. | For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. | For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed. He did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded. |
| ὅτι οὐκ ἐξουδένωσεν οὐδὲ προσώχθισεν τῇ δεήσει τοῦ πτωχοῦ οὐδὲ ἀπέστρεψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ κεκραγέναι με πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰσήκουσέν μου | ὅτι οὐκ ἐξουδένωσεν οὐδὲ προσώχθισε τῇ δεήσει τοῦ πτωχοῦ, οὐδὲ ἀπέστρεψε τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ κεκραγέναι με πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰσήκουσέ μου |
| because he did not despise or scorn the petition of the poor, nor did he turn away his face from me, and when I cried to him, he listened to me. | For he has not despised nor been angry at the supplication of the poor; nor turned away his face from me; but when I cried to him, he heard me. |
| Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? | Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? | You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are? |
| καθαρὸς ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ μὴ ὁρᾶν πονηρά καὶ ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ πόνους οὐ δυνήσῃ ἵνα τί ἐπιβλέπεις ἐπὶ καταφρονοῦντας παρασιωπήσῃ ἐν τῷ καταπίνειν ἀσεβῆ τὸν δίκαιον | καθαρὸς ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ μὴ ὁρᾶν πονηρά, καὶ ἐπιβλέπειν ἐπὶ πόνους οὐ δυνήσῃ· ἵνα τί ἐπιβλέπεις ἐπὶ καταφρονοῦντας; παρασιωπήσῃ ἐν τῷ καταπίνειν ἀσεβῆ τὸν δίκαιον |
| A pure eye is not for seeing evil things, and you cannot look upon sufferings. Why do you look on those who despise? Will you keep silence while the impious swallows up the just? | [His] eye is too pure to behold evil [doings], and to look upon grievous afflictions: wherefore dost thou look upon despisers? wilt thou be silent when the ungodly swallows up the just? |
| My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. | My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. | You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers. |
| παρὰ σοῦ ὁ ἔπαινός μου ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ μεγάλῃ τὰς εὐχάς μου ἀποδώσω ἐνώπιον τῶν φοβουμένων αὐτόν | παρὰ σοῦ ὁ ἔπαινός μου ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ μεγάλῃ, τὰς εὐχάς μου ἀποδώσω ἐνώπιον τῶν φοβουμένων αὐτόν |
| From you comes my commendation in a great assembly; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. | My praise is of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. |
| The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. | The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. | Let the oppressed eat and be filled. Let those who seek his help praise the Lord. May you live forever! |
| φάγονται πένητες καὶ ἐμπλησθήσονται καὶ αἰνέσουσιν κύριον οἱ ἐκζητοῦντες αὐτόν ζήσονται αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος | φάγονται πένητες καὶ ἐμπλησθήσονται, καὶ αἰνέσουσι Κύριον οἱ ἐκζητοῦντες αὐτόν· ζήσονται αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν εἰς αἰῶνα αἰῶνος |
| The needy shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek him shall praise the Lord; their hearts shall live forever and ever! | The poor shall eat and be satisfied; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their heart shall live for ever. |
| He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. | He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. | He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored. |
| ἐσκόρπισεν ἔδωκεν τοῗς πένησιν ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ ὑψωθήσεται ἐν δόξῃ | ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος, τὸ κέρας αὐτοῦ ὑψωθήσεται ἐν δόξῃ |
| He scattered; he gave to the needy; his righteousness endures forever and ever; his horn will be exalted in glory. | He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for evermore: his horn shall be exalted with honour. |
| All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. | All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. | Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him. Let all the nations worship you. |
| μνησθήσονται καὶ ἐπιστραφήσονται πρὸς κύριον πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιόν σου πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν | μνησθήσονται καὶ ἐπιστραφήσονται πρὸς Κύριον πάντα τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν |
| All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the paternal families of the nations shall do obeisance before him, | All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindred of the nations shall worship before him. |
| For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. | For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. | For the Lord is king and rules over the nations. |
| ὅτι τοῦ κυρίου ἡ βασιλεία καὶ αὐτὸς δεσπόζει τῶν ἐθνῶν | ὅτι τοῦ Κυρίου ἡ βασιλεία, καὶ αὐτὸς δεσπόζει τῶν ἐθνῶν |
| because kingship is the Lord’s, and it is he who is master over the nations. | For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he is the governor of the nations. |
| A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. | A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. | A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord. |
| καὶ τὸ σπέρμα μου δουλεύσει αὐτῷ ἀναγγελήσεται τῷ κυρίῳ γενεὰ ἡ ἐρχομένη | καὶ τὸ σπέρμα μου δουλεύσει αὐτῷ· ἀναγγελήσεται τῷ Κυρίῳ γενεὰ ἡ ἐρχομένη |
| and my offspring will serve him; the coming generation will be announced to the Lord, | And my seed shall serve him: the generation that is coming shall be reported to the Lord. |
| They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. | They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. | They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished. |
| καὶ ἀναγγελοῦσιν τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ λαῷ τῷ τεχθησομένῳ ὅτι ἐποίησεν ὁ κύριος | καὶ ἀναγγελοῦσι τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ λαῷ τῷ τεχθησομένῳ, ὃν ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος |
| and they shall announce his righteousness to a people to be born, because the Lord acted. | And they shall report his righteousness to the people that shall be born, whom the Lord has made. |
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2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV) |
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| And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: |
| δυνατεῖ δὲ ὁ θεὸς πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν ἔχοντες περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν | δυνατος δε ο θεος πασαν χαριν περισσευσαι εις υμας ινα εν παντι παντοτε πασαν αυταρκειαν εχοντες περισσευητε εις παν εργον αγαθον | δυνατος δε ο θεος πασαν χαριν περισσευσαι εις υμας ινα εν παντι παντοτε πασαν αυταρκειαν εχοντες περισσευητε εις παν εργον αγαθον |
1 Matthew 5:3 (NET)
3 Habakkuk 1:13a (KJV)
4 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δυνατεῖ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δυνατος.
5 2 Corinthians 9:8, 9 (NET)
6 John 19:30 (NET)
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