Nothing True, Part 6

Posted on April 3, 2024 by admin

Eliphaz continued his criticism of Job’s lament:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 4:10 (Tanakh/KJV)	Job 4:10 (NET)	Job 4:10 (NETS)	Job 4:10 (English Elpenor)
The roaring (שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת) of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.	There is the roaring (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגת) of the lion and the growling of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken.	The strength (σθένος) of the lion and the voice of the lioness and the pride of dragons was extinguished;	The strength (σθένος) of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.

The only way I know how to understand that there was “nothing true” in Eliphaz’s argument is to compare it to other Scriptures. I’ll spend some time here on שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת (šᵊ’āḡâ) (see table below).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Job 3:24 (Tanakh/KJV) Table	Job 3:24 (NET)	Job 3:24 (NETS) Table	Job 3:24 (English Elpenor)
For my sighing (אַנְחָתִ֣י) cometh before I eat, and my roarings (שַֽׁאֲגֹתָֽי) are poured out like the waters.	For my sighing (‘ănāḥâ, אנחתי) comes in place of my food, and my groanings (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגתי) flow forth like water.	For sighing (στεναγμός) comes before my food, and I cry, gripped (συνεχόμενος) by fear (φόβῳ).	For my groaning (στεναγμός) comes before my food, and I weep being beset (συνεχόμενος) with terror (φόβῳ).

Here, in the Masoretic text it becomes clear that Eliphaz used essentially the same word, שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת (šᵊ’āḡâ), for the roaring of the lion that Job used for his own roarings or groanings: שַֽׁאֲגֹתָֽי (šᵊ’āḡâ). Though the Septuagint doesn’t necessarily corroborate שַֽׁאֲגֹתָֽי (šᵊ’āḡâ) here, Job was in pretty good company.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 22:1 (Tanakh/KJV) Table	Psalm 22:1 (NET)	Psalm 21:1, 2 (NETS) Table	Psalm 21:1, 2 (English Elpenor)
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring (שַֽׁאֲגָתִֽי)?	For the music director, according to the tune “Morning Doe”; a psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגתי) in prayer, but help seems far away.	Regarding completion. Over the support at dawn. A Psalm. Pertaining to Dauid. God, my God, attend to me; why did you forsake me? Far away from my deliverance are the words of my transgressions (τῶν παραπτωμάτων μου).	[For the end, concerning the morning aid, a Psalm of David.] O God, my God, attend to me: why hast thou forsaken me? the account of my transgressions (τῶν παραπτωμάτων μου) is far from my salvation.

Here, in the Masoretic text David used שַֽׁאֲגָתִֽי (šᵊ’āḡâ), my roaring (Tanakh, KJV) and I groan (NET). Again, the translators of the Septuagint had a different interpretation: τῶν παραπτωμάτων μου, of my transgressions (BLB, Elpenor). In another essay I suggested this difference as a reason for Jesus’ preference for the Hebrew or Aramaic when praying this Psalm (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 32:3 (Tanakh/KJV)	Psalm 32:3 (NET)	Psalm 31:3 (NETS)	Psalm 31:3 (English Elpenor)
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring (בְּ֜שַֽׁאֲגָתִ֗י) all the day long.	When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain (šᵊ’āḡâ, בשאגתי) all day long.	Because I kept silence, my bones grew old from my crying (τοῦ κράζειν με) all day long.	Because I kept silence, my bones waxed old, from my crying (τοῦ κράζειν με) all the day.

Here in another psalm of David, בְּ֜שַֽׁאֲגָתִ֗י (šᵊ’āḡâ), through my roaring (Tanakh, KJV) and while I groaned in pain (NET), was translated τοῦ κράζειν με in the Septuagint, from my crying (BLB, Elpenor). The verb κράζειν is an infinitive form of κράζω: “to cry out, call out, call aloud; to bray (sound of a donkey); to croak.” I doubt it implies tears as much as complaint.

The NET translators’ understanding, that keeping silence is a refusal to confess sin, is intriguing. The roaring of the lion…[is] broken¹ would seem then to use Job’s own word שַֽׁאֲגֹתָֽי (šᵊ’āḡâ)² against him, Eliphaz’s implication being that God was “breaking” Job’s refusal to confess his sin through intense suffering. The Hebrew word translated are broken (Tanakh, KJV, NET) was נִתָּֽעוּ (nāṯaʿ), used only here in the Masoretic text. It was translated ἐσβέσθη, a singular form of σβέννυμι in the Septuagint.

I typed “is נתעו singular or plural” into the search bar in Microsoft Bing and got “The Hebrew word נתעו is plural” as a response, but ἐσβέσθη gave me pause. Is נִתָּֽעוּ (nāṯaʿ) plural because the word translated the teeth (וְשִׁנֵּ֖י) in the Masoretic text is plural, or because the roaring…and the voice…and the teeth…are broken? Clearly, the rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood the final clause of Job 4:10 as a reference to γαυρίαμα, a singular noun: “arrogance, pride, exultation, boasting; something that awakens a sense of pride.”

Still, if Eliphaz implied that Job suffered from his refusal to confess sin or his arrogance, he was wrong about the Lord and wrong about Job (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). Does this qualify as nothing true³? I’ll keep going.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 5:29 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 5:29 (NET)	Isaiah 5:29 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:29 (English Elpenor)
Their roaring (שְׁאָגָ֥ה) shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.	Their roar (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגה) is like a lion’s; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they drag it away and no one can come to the rescue.	They rush (ὁρμῶσιν) like lions but stand by like a lion’s whelp, and he will seize and roar like a beast, and he will cast them out, and there will be no one who can rescue.	They rage (ὁρμῶσιν) as lions, and draw nigh as a lion’s whelps: and he shall seize, and roar as a wild beast, and he shall cast [them] forth, and there shall be none to deliver them.

Here is yet another Greek word ὁρμῶσιν for שְׁאָגָ֥ה (šᵊ’āḡâ), plus different pronouns. It will take a longer look to work this out.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 5:24, 25 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 5:24, 25 (NET)	Isaiah 5:24, 25 (NETS) Table	Isaiah 5:24, 25 (English Elpenor)
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore, as stubble will be burned by a coal of fire and burned up by a weakened flame, so their root will be like fine dust and their blossom go up like dust; for they did not want the law of the Lord Sabaoth but have provoked the oracle of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore as stubble shall be burnt by a coal of fire, and shall be consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be as chaff, and their flower shall go up as dust: for they rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and insulted the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.	So the Lord is furious with his people; he lifts his hand and strikes them. The mountains shake, and corpses lie like manure in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.	And the Lord Sabaoth was enraged with anger against his people, and he laid his hand on them and struck them; the mountains were provoked, and their carcasses became like dung in the middle of the road. In all these things his wrath has not turned away, but his hand is still high.	Therefore the Lord of hosts was greatly angered against his people, and he reached forth his hand upon them, and smote them: and the mountains were troubled, and their carcasses were as dung in the midst of the way: yet for all this his anger has not been turned away, but his hand is yet raised.

This is addressed, not to a man refusing to confess a secret sin but, to a nation that has cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.⁴ His first strike was against the mountains: and the mountains were troubled, and their carcasses were as dung in the midst of the way.⁵ This poetic description of relatively distant volcanic eruptions or nearer earthquakes⁶ and rock slides probably killed people, but the blocks and bombs, detritus and debris were mostly the size of dung, maybe manure piles.

In other words, the Lord made it difficult for the people to continue in their ways (Isaiah 1:2-20) through their streets. But everyone “knows” that volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and rock slides are “natural” phenomena that have “nothing to do with communication” from their Creator. So, Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.⁷

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 5:26 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 5:26 (NET)	Isaiah 5:26 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:26 (English Elpenor)
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss (וְשָׁ֥רַק) unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:	He lifts a signal flag for a distant nation, he whistles (šāraq, ושרק) for it to come from the far regions of the earth. Look, they come quickly and swiftly.	Therefore, he will raise a signal among the nations that are far away and whistle (συριεῖ) for them from the end of the earth. And behold, they are coming, quickly, swiftly!	Therefore shall he lift up a signal to the nations that are afar, and shall hiss (συριεῖ) for them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they are coming very quickly.

This is too provocative to pass by without comment. The translators of the NET and NETS couldn’t bring themselves to have the Lord hiss. Both וְשָׁ֥רַק (šāraq) and συριεῖ, a form of συρίζω, can be translated whistle (NETS) or he whistles (NET). To the reader of Job (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6) the word hiss in the poetic prophecy of Isaiah implies the means by which the Lord lifts a signal flag for a distant nation: He gave leave for Satan to do what he is ever eager to do to the Lord’s people. But at first glance, the Lord’s promise through Zechariah to gather his redeemed people seems to call this interpretation into question.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Zechariah 10:8 (Tanakh/KJV)	Zechariah 10:8 (NET)	Zechariah 10:8 (NETS)	Zechariah 10:8 (English Elpenor)
I will hiss (אֶשְׁרְקָ֥ה) for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.	I will signal (šāraq, אשרקה) for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before.	I will signal (σημανῶ) for them and receive them, for I shall redeem them, and they will be as numerous as they were.	I will make a sign (σημανῶ) to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.

The rabbis who translated the Hebrew text into Greek chose σημανῶ (a form of σημαίνω) here, rather than a form of συρίζω which might be understood as hiss. It appears that they focused on ends in Isaiah 5:26—נֵ֚ס (nēs), an ensign (Tanakh, KJV) or a signal flag (NET); σύσσημον, a signal (Septuagint)⁸—rather than means.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 5:27-30 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 5:27-30 (NET)	Isaiah 5:27-30 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:27-30 (English Elpenor)
None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:	None tire or stumble, they don’t stop to nap or sleep. They don’t loosen their belts or unstrap their sandals to rest.	They will not hunger nor grow weary nor slumber nor sleep, nor will they loosen their girdles from their waist, nor will the thongs of their sandals be broken;	They shall not hunger nor be weary, neither shall they slumber nor sleep; neither shall they loose their girdles from their loins, neither shall their shoe-latchets be broken.
Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:	Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are prepared. The hooves of their horses are hard as flint, and their chariot wheels are like a windstorm.	their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent; their horses’ hoofs were reckoned as solid rock, the wheels of their chariots as a tempest.	Whose arrows are sharp, and their bows bent; their horses’ hoofs are counted as solid rock: their chariot-wheels are as a storm.
Their roaring (שְׁאָגָ֥ה) shall be like a lion, they shall roar (יִשְׁאַ֨ג) like young lions: yea, they shall roar (וְיִנְהֹם֙), and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.	Their roar (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגה) is like a lion’s; they roar (šā’aḡ, ישאג) like young lions. They growl (nāham, וינהם) and seize their prey; they drag it away and no one can come to the rescue.	They rush (ὁρμῶσιν) like lions but stand by (παρέστηκαν) like a lion’s whelp, and he will seize and roar (βοήσει) like a beast, and he will cast them out, and there will be no one who can rescue.	They rage (ὁρμῶσιν) as lions, and draw nigh (παρέστηκαν) as a lion’s whelps: and he shall seize, and roar (βοήσει) as a wild beast, and he shall cast [them] forth, and there shall be none to deliver them.
And in that day they shall roar (וְיִנְהֹ֥ם) against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.	At that time they will growl (nāham, וינהם) over their prey, it will sound like sea waves crashing against rocks. One will look out over the land and see the darkness of disaster, clouds will turn the light into darkness.	And he will roar (βοήσει) because of them on that day, like the sound of a surging sea. And they will look to the land, and behold, harsh darkness in their dismay.	And he shall roar (βοήσει) on account of them in that day, as the sound of the swelling sea; and they shall look to the land, and, behold, [there shall be] thick darkness in their perplexity.

In the Masoretic text this sounds like the Babylonian conquest of Judah and Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1-21). In the Septuagint it seems like a reference to the Assyrians failed attempt (2 Kings 19:35-37) to take Jerusalem after they captured the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 17). So, while that might qualify as The roaring of the lion [e.g., the Assyrian army]…[is] broken⁹ (if Eliphaz actually meant to say that the roaring is broken), it would still refer to an army rather than an individual. Ezekiel, however, referred to an individual.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 19:7-9 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 19:7-9 (NET)	Ezekiel 19:7-9 (NETS)	Ezekiel 19:7-9 (English Elpenor)
And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring (שַֽׁאֲגָתֽוֹ).	He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגתו).	And he would feed in his rashness and devastated their cities, and he annihilated the land and its fullness, with a voice of his roaring (ὠρύματος αὐτοῦ).	And he prowled in his boldness and laid waste their cities, and made the land desolate, and the fullness of it, by the voice of his roaring (ὠρυώματος αὐτοῦ).
Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.	The nations—the surrounding regions—attacked him. They threw their net over him; he was caught in their pit.	And they gave nations against him from countries all around. And they spread their nets upon him, and he was caught in their destruction.	Then the nations set upon him from the countries round about, and they spread their nets upon him: he was taken in their pit.
And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.	They put him in a collar with hooks; they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him to prison so that his voice would not be heard any longer on the mountains of Israel.	And they put him in a muzzle and in a cage. He came to the king of Babylon, and he brought him into custody so that his voice might not be heard on the mountains of Israel.	And they put him in chains and in a cage, [and] he came to the king of Babylon; and he cast him into prison, that his voice should not be heard on the mountains of Israel.

This reference to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:20-25:7) comes closest to what I hear Eliphaz threatening Job, but he did not accuse Job of this: And he prowled in his boldness and laid waste their cities, and made the land desolate, and the fullness of it, by the voice of his roaring.¹⁰ If someone were to argue that Ezekiel figuratively addressed all of the disobedient kings of Israel as well as their people in the person of one king of Judah, I wouldn’t raise any objections. The final occurrence of שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת (šᵊ’āḡâ) in the Masoretic text follows.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Zechariah 11:3 (Tanakh/KJV)	Zechariah 11:3 (NET)	Zechariah 11:3 (NETS)	Zechariah 11:3 (English Elpenor)
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring (שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת) of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.	Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring (šᵊ’āḡâ, שאגת) of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.	There is a sound of shepherds mourning, because their greatness has suffered misery! There is a sound of lions roaring (ὠρυομένων), because the pride of the Jordan has suffered misery.	[There is] a voice of the shepherds mourning; for their greatness is brought low: a voice of roaring (ὠρυομένων) lions; for the pride of Jordan is brought down.

Whether Zechariah referred to the howling of princes whose land was devastated or the roar of actual lions in a depopulated region matters very little to my understanding of Eliphaz’s accusation. Though his words and images conjure the flavor and aroma of Scriptures, Eliphaz flung them at Job with no knowledge of the actual situation. There was nothing true in his accusations despite his evocative words: nothing true about God and nothing true of Job. And my religious mind was fooled in the past because it lacked the patience to pursue his arguments in detail.

I’ll continue with this in another essay. A table of the various translations of forms of שְׁאָגָה follows.

Translations of Forms of שְׁאָגָה (šᵊ’āḡâ)
Reference	Hebrew	KJV / NET	BLB / Elpenor	NETS / English Elpenor
Job 3:24	שַֽׁאֲגֹתָֽי	my roarings / my groanings	συνεχόμενος φόβῳ	gripped by fear / being beset with terror
Job 4:10	שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת	The roaring / There is the roaring	σθένος	The strength
Psalm 22:1	שַֽׁאֲגָתִֽי	of my roaring / I groan	τῶν παραπτωμάτων μου	of my transgressions / my transgressions
Psalm 32:3	בְּ֜שַֽׁאֲגָתִ֗י	through my roaring / while I groaned in pain	τοῦ κράζειν με	from my crying
Isaiah 5:29	שְׁאָגָ֥ה	Their roaring / Their roar	ὁρμῶσιν	They rush / They rage
Ezekiel 19:7	שַֽׁאֲגָתֽוֹ	of his roaring	ὠρύματος αὐτοῦ / ὠρυώματος αὐτοῦ	of his roaring
Zechariah 11:3	שַֽׁאֲגַ֣ת	of the roaring / to the roaring	ὠρυομένων	of…roaring / of roaring

Tables comparing Job 4:10; Psalm 32:3; Isaiah 5:29; 5:24; 5:25; 5:26; Zechariah 10:8; Isaiah 5:27; 5:28; 5:30; Ezekiel 19:7; 19:8; 19:9 and Zechariah 11:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 4:10; Psalm 32:3 (31:3); Isaiah 5:29; 5:24; 5:25; 5:26; Zechariah 10:8; Isaiah 5:27; 5:28; 5:30; Ezekiel 19:7; 19:8; 19:9 and Zechariah 11:3 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Job 4:10 (Tanakh)	Job 4:10 (KJV)	Job 4:10 (NET)
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.	The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.	There is the roaring of the lion and the growling of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken.

Job 4:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Job 4:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
σθένος λέοντος φωνὴ δὲ λεαίνης γαυρίαμα δὲ δρακόντων ἐσβέσθη	σθένος λέοντος, φωνὴ δὲ λεαίνης, γαυρίαμα δὲ δρακόντων ἐσβέσθη
Job 4:10 (NETS)	Job 4:10 (English Elpenor)
The strength of the lion and the voice of the lioness and the pride of dragons was extinguished;	The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.

Psalm 32:3 (Tanakh)	Psalm 32:3 (KJV)	Psalm 32:3 (NET)
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.	When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.	When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.

Psalm 32:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 31:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ἐσίγησα ἐπαλαιώθη τὰ ὀστᾶ μου ἀπὸ τοῦ κράζειν με ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν	ὅτι ἐσίγησα, ἐπαλαιώθη τὰ ὀστᾶ μου ἀπὸ τοῦ κράζειν με ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν
Psalm 31:3 (NETS)	Psalm 31:3 (English Elpenor)
Because I kept silence, my bones grew old from my crying all day long.	Because I kept silence, my bones waxed old, from my crying all the day.

Isaiah 5:29 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:29 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:29 (NET)
Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.	Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.	Their roar is like a lion’s; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they drag it away and no one can come to the rescue.

Isaiah 5:29 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁρμῶσιν ὡς λέοντες καὶ παρέστηκαν ὡς σκύμνος λέοντος καὶ ἐπιλήμψεται καὶ βοήσει ὡς θηρίου καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ῥυόμενος αὐτούς	ὁρμῶσιν ὡς λέοντες καὶ παρέστηκαν ὡς σκύμνοι λέοντος· καὶ ἐπιλήψεται καὶ βοήσει ὡς θηρίον καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ ρυόμενος αὐτούς
Isaiah 5:29 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:29 (English Elpenor)
They rush like lions but stand by like a lion’s whelp, and he will seize and roar like a beast, and he will cast them out, and there will be no one who can rescue.	They rage as lions, and draw nigh as a lion’s whelps: and he shall seize, and roar as a wild beast, and he shall cast [them] forth, and there shall be none to deliver them.

Isaiah 5:24 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:24 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:24 (NET)
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 5:24 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
διὰ τοῦτο ὃν τρόπον καυθήσεται καλάμη ὑπὸ ἄνθρακος πυρὸς καὶ συγκαυθήσεται ὑπὸ φλογὸς ἀνειμένης ἡ ῥίζα αὐτῶν ὡς χνοῦς ἔσται καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτῶν ὡς κονιορτὸς ἀναβήσεται οὐ γὰρ ἠθέλησαν τὸν νόμον κυρίου σαβαωθ ἀλλὰ τὸ λόγιον τοῦ ἁγίου Ισραηλ παρώξυναν	διὰ τοῦτο ὃν τρόπον καυθήσεται καλάμη ὑπὸ ἄνθρακος πυρὸς καὶ συγκαυθήσεται ὑπὸ φλογὸς ἀνειμένης, ἡ ῥίζα αὐτῶν ὡς χνοῦς ἔσται καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτῶν ὡς κονιορτὸς ἀναβήσεται· οὐ γὰρ ἠθέλησαν τὸν νόμον Κυρίου σαβαώθ, ἀλλὰ τὸ λόγιον τοῦ ἁγίου ᾿Ισραὴλ παρώξυναν
Isaiah 5:24 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:24 (English Elpenor)
Therefore, as stubble will be burned by a coal of fire and burned up by a weakened flame, so their root will be like fine dust and their blossom go up like dust; for they did not want the law of the Lord Sabaoth but have provoked the oracle of the Holy One of Israel.	Therefore as stubble shall be burnt by a coal of fire, and shall be consumed by a violent flame, their root shall be as chaff, and their flower shall go up as dust: for they rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and insulted the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 5:25 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:25 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:25 (NET)
Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.	Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.	So the Lord is furious with his people; he lifts his hand and strikes them. The mountains shake, and corpses lie like manure in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.

Isaiah 5:25 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ κύριος σαβαωθ ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέβαλεν τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς καὶ παρωξύνθη τὰ ὄρη καὶ ἐγενήθη τὰ θνησιμαῖα αὐτῶν ὡς κοπρία ἐν μέσῳ ὁδοῦ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐκ ἀπεστράφη ὁ θυμός ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι ἡ χεὶρ ὑψηλή	καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Κύριος σαβαὼθ ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπέβαλε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς, καὶ παρωξύνθη τὰ ὄρη, καὶ ἐγενήθη τὰ θνησιμαῖα αὐτῶν ὡς κοπρία ἐν μέσῳ ὁδοῦ. καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐκ ἀπεστράφη ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἔτι χεὶρ ὑψηλή
Isaiah 5:25 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:25 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord Sabaoth was enraged with anger against his people, and he laid his hand on them and struck them; the mountains were provoked, and their carcasses became like dung in the middle of the road. In all these things his wrath has not turned away, but his hand is still high.	Therefore the Lord of hosts was greatly angered against his people, and he reached forth his hand upon them, and smote them: and the mountains were troubled, and their carcasses were as dung in the midst of the way: yet for all this his anger has not been turned away, but his hand is yet raised.

Isaiah 5:26 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:26 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:26 (NET)
And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:	And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:	He lifts a signal flag for a distant nation, he whistles for it to come from the far regions of the earth. Look, they come quickly and swiftly.

Isaiah 5:26 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοιγαροῦν ἀρεῖ σύσσημον ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ συριεῖ αὐτοῖς ἀπ᾽ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς καὶ ἰδοὺ ταχὺ κούφως ἔρχονται	τοιγαροῦν ἀρεῖ σύσσημον ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ συριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἰδοὺ ταχὺ κούφως ἔρχονται
Isaiah 5:26 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:26 (English Elpenor)
Therefore, he will raise a signal among the nations that are far away and whistle for them from the end of the earth. And behold, they are coming, quickly, swiftly!	Therefore shall he lift up a signal to the nations that are afar, and shall hiss for them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they are coming very quickly.

Zechariah 10:8 (Tanakh)	Zechariah 10:8 (KJV)	Zechariah 10:8 (NET)
I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.	I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.	I will signal for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before.

Zechariah 10:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Zechariah 10:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
σημανῶ αὐτοῖς καὶ εἰσδέξομαι αὐτούς διότι λυτρώσομαι αὐτούς καὶ πληθυνθήσονται καθότι ἦσαν πολλοί	σημανῶ αὐτοῖς καὶ εἰσδέξομαι αὐτούς, διότι λυτρώσομαι αὐτούς, καὶ πληθυνθήσονται καθότι ἦσαν πολλοί
Zechariah 10:8 (NETS)	Zechariah 10:8 (English Elpenor)
I will signal for them and receive them, for I shall redeem them, and they will be as numerous as they were.	I will make a sign to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.

Isaiah 5:27 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:27 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:27 (NET)
None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:	None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:	None tire or stumble, they don’t stop to nap or sleep. They don’t loosen their belts or unstrap their sandals to rest.

Isaiah 5:27 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:27 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ πεινάσουσιν οὐδὲ κοπιάσουσιν οὐδὲ νυστάξουσιν οὐδὲ κοιμηθήσονται οὐδὲ λύσουσιν τὰς ζώνας αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτῶν οὐδὲ μὴ ῥαγῶσιν οἱ ἱμάντες τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτῶν	οὐ πεινάσουσιν οὐδὲ κοπιάσουσιν οὐδὲ νυστάξουσιν οὐδὲ κοιμηθήσονται, οὐδὲ λύσουσι τὰς ζώνας αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ μὴ ραγῶσιν οἱ ἱμάντες τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτῶν
Isaiah 5:27 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:27 (English Elpenor)
They will not hunger nor grow wewary nor slumber nor sleep, nor will they loosen their girdles from their waist, nor will the thongs of their sandals be broken;	They shall not hunger nor be weary, neither shall they slumber nor sleep; neither shall they loose their girdles from their loins, neither shall their shoe-latchets be broken.

Isaiah 5:28 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:28 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:28 (NET)
Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:	Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:	Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are prepared. The hooves of their horses are hard as flint, and their chariot wheels are like a windstorm.

Isaiah 5:28 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὧν τὰ βέλη ὀξεῖά ἐστιν καὶ τὰ τόξα αὐτῶν ἐντεταμένα οἱ πόδες τῶν ἵππων αὐτῶν ὡς στερεὰ πέτρα ἐλογίσθησαν οἱ τροχοὶ τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτῶν ὡς καταιγίς	ὧν τὰ βέλη ὀξέα ἐστὶ καὶ τὰ τόξα αὐτῶν ἐντεταμένα, οἱ πόδες τῶν ἵππων αὐτῶν ὡς στερεὰ πέτρα ἐλογίσθησαν, οἱ τροχοὶ τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτῶν ὡς καταιγίς
Isaiah 5:28 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:28 (English Elpenor)
their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent; their horses’ hoofs were reckoned as solid rock, the wheels of their chariots as a tempest.	Whose arrows are sharp, and their bows bent; their horses’ hoofs are counted as solid rock: their chariot-wheels are as a storm.

Isaiah 5:30 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 5:30 (KJV)	Isaiah 5:30 (NET)
And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.	And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.	At that time they will growl over their prey, it will sound like sea waves crashing against rocks. One will look out over the land and see the darkness of disaster, clouds will turn the light into darkness.

Isaiah 5:30 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 5:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ βοήσει δι᾽ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὡς φωνὴ θαλάσσης κυμαινούσης καὶ ἐμβλέψονται εἰς τὴν γῆν καὶ ἰδοὺ σκότος σκληρὸν ἐν τῇ ἀπορίᾳ αὐτῶν	καὶ βοήσει δι᾿ αὐτοὺς τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὡς φωνὴ θαλάσσης κυμαινούσης· καὶ ἐμβλέψονται εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ ἰδοὺ σκότος σκληρὸν ἐν τῇ ἀπορίᾳ αὐτῶν
Isaiah 5:30 (NETS)	Isaiah 5:30 (English Elpenor)
And he will roar because of them on that day, like the sound of a surging sea. And they will look to the land, and behold, harsh darkness in their dismay.	And he shall roar on account of them in that day, as the sound of the swelling sea; and they shall look to the land, and, behold, [there shall be] thick darkness in their perplexity.

Ezekiel 19:7 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 19:7 (KJV)	Ezekiel 19:7 (NET)
And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.	And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.	He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.

Ezekiel 19:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 19:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐνέμετο τῷ θράσει αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν ἐξηρήμωσεν καὶ ἠφάνισεν γῆν καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς ἀπὸ φωνῆς ὠρύματος αὐτοῦ	καὶ ἐνέμετο τῷ θράσει αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν ἐξηρήμωσε καὶ ἠφάνισε γῆν καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς ἀπὸ φωνῆς ὠρυώματος αὐτοῦ
Ezekiel 19:7 (NETS)	Ezekiel 19:7 (English Elpenor)
And he would feed in his rashness and devastated their cities, and he annihilated the land and its fullness, with a voice of his roaring.	And he prowled in his boldness and laid waste their cities, and made the land desolate, and the fullness of it, by the voice of his roaring.

Ezekiel 19:8 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 19:8 (KJV)	Ezekiel 19:8 (NET)
Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.	Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.	The nations—the surrounding regions—attacked him. They threw their net over him; he was caught in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 19:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔδωκαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἔθνη ἐκ χωρῶν κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐξεπέτασαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν δίκτυα αὐτῶν ἐν διαφθορᾷ αὐτῶν συνελήμφθη	καὶ ἔδωκαν ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἔθνη ἐκ χωρῶν κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐξεπέτασαν ἐπ’ αὐτὸν δίκτυα αὐτῶν, ἐν διαφθορᾷ αὐτῶν συνελήφθη
Ezekiel 19:8 (NETS)	Ezekiel 19:8 (English Elpenor)
And they gave nations against him from countries all around. And they spread their nets upon him, and he was caught in their destruction.	Then the nations set upon him from the countries round about, and they spread their nets upon him: he was taken in their pit.

Ezekiel 19:9 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 19:9 (KJV)	Ezekiel 19:9 (NET)
And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.	And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.	They put him in a collar with hooks; they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him to prison so that his voice would not be heard any longer on the mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 19:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτὸν ἐν κημῷ καὶ ἐν γαλεάγρᾳ ἦλθεν πρὸς βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς φυλακήν ὅπως μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη τοῦ Ισραηλ	καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτὸν ἐν κημῷ καὶ ἐν γαλεάγρᾳ, ἦλθε πρὸς βασιλέα Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς φυλακήν, ὅπως μὴ ἀκουσθῇ ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ
Ezekiel 19:9 (NETS)	Ezekiel 19:9 (English Elpenor)
And they put him in a muzzle and in a cage. He came to the king of Babylon, and he brought him into custody so that his voice might not be heard on the mountains of Israel.	And they put him in chains and in a cage, [and] he came to the king of Babylon; and he cast him into prison, that his voice should not be heard on the mountains of Israel.

Zechariah 11:3 (Tanakh)	Zechariah 11:3 (KJV)	Zechariah 11:3 (NET)
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.	There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.	Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.

Zechariah 11:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Zechariah 11:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
φωνὴ θρηνούντων ποιμένων ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκεν ἡ μεγαλωσύνη αὐτῶν φωνὴ ὠρυομένων λεόντων ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκεν τὸ φρύαγμα τοῦ Ιορδάνου	φωνὴ θρηνούντων ποιμένων, ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκεν ἡ μεγαλωσύνη αὐτῶν· φωνὴ ὠρυομένων λεόντων, ὅτι τεταλαιπώρηκε τὸ φρύαγμα τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου
Zechariah 11:3 (NETS)	Zechariah 11:3 (English Elpenor)
There is a sound of shepherds mourning, because their greatness has suffered misery! There is a sound of lions roaring, because the pride of the Jordan has suffered misery.	[There is] a voice of the shepherds mourning; for their greatness is brought low: a voice of roaring lions; for the pride of Jordan is brought down.

¹ Job 4:10 (Tanakh, KJV)

² Job 3:24 Table

³ Job 42:7 (NETS) Table

⁴ Isaiah 5:24b (Tanakh, KJV)

⁵ Isaiah 5:25b (English Elpenor)

⁶ Amos 1:1 and Zechariah 14:5 mention an earthquake (see Barnes’ Notes on the Bible) in the time of King Uzziah of Judah (2 Chronicles 26).

⁷ Isaiah 5:25c (NET)

⁸ Isaiah 5:26a

⁹ Job 4:10 (Tanakh, KJV)

¹⁰ Ezekiel 19:7 (English Elpenor)

Who Am I? Part 17

Posted on March 27, 2024 by admin

This is a continuation of my consideration of “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith” by Kristi Burke. Her first Bible passage was “Romans 9…the starting point of my deconstruction journey.”¹ Though she began with verse 16, I started at the beginning of the chapter to gain some context. In another essay I asked: “What gave anyone hope that believing in the Lord Jesus, even before one dies, might save one from KJV hell?” Here, I’ll begin to consider the three Scriptures that came to mind.

When Jesus was crucified: Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him² (Luke 23:39-43 NET).

One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” [Table] But the other rebuked³ him, saying,⁴ “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus,⁵ remember me⁶ when you come in your kingdom.” And Jesus⁷ said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Greek words translated in paradise were ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ (a form of παράδεισος). This phrase would be quite familiar as a reference to the garden (NET: orchard) in Eden to anyone reading the Septuagint. The only other occurrence of this phrase in the New Testament is found in Jesus’ (Revelation 1:12-20) letter to the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:7 NET):

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise⁸ of God.’

The verb is was ἐστιν in the present tense. Paul wrote about a paradise located in the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4 NET):

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third (τρίτου, a form of τρίτος) heaven (οὐρανοῦ, a form of οὐρανός). And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from⁹ the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up into paradise (παράδεισον, another form of παράδεισος) and heard things too sacred (ἄρρητα, a form of ἄῤῥητος) to be put into words,¹⁰ things that a person is not permitted to speak.

More important, perhaps, than the phrase ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ was the phrase μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ: you will be with me¹¹ (literally: “with me you will be”). This clause is preceded by the adverb σήμερον. So, does σήμερον modify λέγω (NET: I tell), which immediately precedes it, or ἔσῃ?

λέγω	ἔσῃ
I tell you the truth today: you will be with me in paradise.	I tell you the truth: with me you will be today in paradise.

The first sounds awkward in English, as if Jesus might not tell the truth yesterday or tomorrow. But I can understand it as (because of your request today) you will be with me in paradise sometime in the future. The verb ἔσῃ is in the future tense. Or, perhaps Jesus meant: “with me you will be (later) today.”

I surveyed every occurrence of σήμερον in the New Testament (see table below). A story Jesus told proved to be very enlightening:

“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’¹²

The Greek word order follows:

Matthew 11:28b (NET)	Matthew 11:28b (NET Parallel Greek)
go and work in the vineyard today	ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι

Here, two verbs were separated by σήμερον: ὕπαγε (a form of ὑπάγω) and ἐργάζου (a form of ἐργάζομαι). Clearly, the man wanted his Son to go today and to work today. I didn’t need to choose between these verbs. But both are in the present tense.

There was only one occurrence of σήμερον in Mark’s Gospel, but one of the verbs it modified is in the future tense:

Jesus said to [Peter], “I tell you the truth, today¹³—this very night¹⁴—before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.¹⁵

And again, the detail follows in a table:

Mark 14:30 (NET)	Mark 14:30 (NET Parallel Greek / NA²⁸/ Byzantine Majority Text)	Mark 14:30 (KJV)	Mark 14:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)
I tell you the truth, today	ἀμὴν λέγω σοι ὅτι σὺ σήμερον	Verily I say unto thee, That this day	αμην λεγω σοι οτι σημερον

By ignoring ὅτι and the word placement of σὺ, the NET translators developed an English translation that is identical to: I tell you the truth, today (ἀμήν σοι λέγω σήμερον) in Luke 23:43. The KJV translation—That this day—accounts for ὅτι. “Truly I tell you, that you today…” is a more literal translation of the NET parallel Greek.

Now that Jesus/Matthew have given me permission to understand that σήμερον can modify two verbs simultaneously, I’m untroubled by its proximity to λέγω (NET: I tell; KJV: I say). My attitude now is, “Of course, Jesus told Peter the truth today, not tomorrow or four weeks ago. Why burden him with such knowledge prematurely?” Nor do the three words interposed between λέγω and σήμερον dissuade me from understanding that the latter modifies the former.

Here is Matthew 11:28 again:

Matthew 11:28b (NET)	Matthew 11:28b (NET Parallel Greek)
go and work in the vineyard today	ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι

If the prepositional phrase ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι (NET: in the vineyard) were interposed between σήμερον and ἐργάζου, I wouldn’t assume that Jesus meant, “Go today in the vineyard and work sometime in the future,” because ἐργάζου is in the present tense.

The Greek word ἀπαρνήσῃ, translated you will deny in Mark 14:30, is in the future tense. But here, Jesus/Mark have made it abundantly clear that the future predicted by ἀπαρνήσῃ is later than now yet still today.

Mark 14:30 (NET)	Mark 14:30 (NET Parallel Greek / NA²⁸)	Mark 14:30 (KJV)	Mark 14:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus / Byzantine Majority Text)
this very night	ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ	even in this night	εν τη νυκτι ταυτη
before a rooster crows twice	πρὶν ἢ δὶς ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι	before the cock crow twice	πριν η δις αλεκτορα φωνησαι
you will deny me three times	τρίς με ἀπαρνήσῃ	thou shalt deny me thrice	τρις απαρνηση με

The future tense doesn’t prohibit a verb from being modified by σήμερον. I found other verbs in other tenses as well.

Luke 4:21a (NET)	Luke 4:21a (NET Parallel Greek)
Today this scripture has been fulfilled	ὅτι σήμερον πεπλήρωται ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη

The verb πεπλήρωται (NET: has been fulfilled) is a form of πληρόω in the perfect tense.

Luke 5:26b (NET)	Luke 5:26b (NET Parallel Greek)
We have seen incredible things today	ὅτι εἴδομεν παράδοξα σήμερον

The verb εἴδομεν (NET: We have seen) is a form of εἴδω in the 2^nd aorist tense.

Luke 19:5b (NET)	Luke 19:5b (NET Parallel Greek)
Zacchaeus, come down quickly because I must stay at your house today	Ζακχαῖε σπεύσας κατάβηθι σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι

The verb κατάβηθι (NET: come down) is also in the 2^nd aorist tense, while δεῖ (NET: must) is in the present tense, and μεῖναι (NET: stay) is in the aorist tense.

I was persuaded that neither the placement of the adverb σήμερον nor the future tense of the verb ἔσῃ prohibited me from understanding Jesus’ words as a promise to the other criminal (Luke 23:43) that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day. For good measure I surveyed the occurrences of ἀμὴν in Luke’s Gospel (see table below).

Only one of six occurrences in the phrase I tell you the truth (KJV: verily I say unto you) was followed by σήμερον. That confirms for me that Jesus and Luke were content to let the phrase stand alone. In other words, though σήμερον clearly modifies λέγω (NET: I tell; KJV: I say) in Luke 23:43, it’s reason for being there was ἔσῃ (NET: you will be; KJV: shalt thou be). If one believes in the Lord Jesus before one dies, today you will be with me in paradise,¹⁶ should give one hope to be saved even from KJV hell (ᾅδης).

I want to take some time here to look a little more into Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10 NET).

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was¹⁷ rich. He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead¹⁸ and climbed up into a sycamore tree¹⁹ to see him because²⁰ Jesus was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up²¹ and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly because I must stay at your house today.” So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. And when the people saw it, they all²² complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half²³ of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” Then Jesus said to him, “Today (σήμερον) salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus described Himself as the Son of Man [who] came to seek and to save the lost (τὸ ἀπολωλός). This is a participle of the verb ἀπόλλυμι in the perfect tense. Luke also wrote (Luke 15:1-4 NET):

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. But the Pharisees²⁴ and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it (τὸ ἀπολωλὸς ἕως εὕρῃ αὐτό)? [Table]

Who are the lost but those who have prepared [themselves] for destruction?²⁵ The Greek words translated for destruction were εἰς ἀπώλειαν, a form of ἀπώλεια, the noun form associated with the verb ἀπόλλυμι.

It’s almost impossible to consider the story of Zacchaeus, a rich man, without recalling Jesus’ words to his disciples (Matthew 19:23b-26 NET):

“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible” [Table].

I hear the story of Zacchaeus and the story of the criminal on the cross as examples of God’s power to do the impossible. Preparing for this essay I found an article by Melissa Henderson on Christianity.com, “Why Did Jesus Tell the Thief ‘Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise’?.” It struck me that, though Ms. Henderson and Ms. Burke each had her own perspective and agenda, both referenced Christianity, that particular brand of human abstraction called Christianity with which I am most familiar.

I’ve compared selected portions of their words in the following table.

Why Did Jesus Tell the Thief ‘Today You Will Be With Me in Paradise’?

Melissa Henderson

5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith

Kristi Burke

As Christians, we know there is an opportunity to acknowledge our sins, repent from those sins, and ask God for forgiveness. The two thieves on the cross each took a different path. One man chose to mock and ridicule and not believe Jesus. The other man chose to believe and have faith. The Bible doesn’t describe how this man came to believe. Did he have an earlier experience with Jesus that wasn’t recorded? Did the man who asked Jesus to remember Him silently confess and ask God to come into his life? Those details aren’t shared…
The thief was ready to change his ways, even at the last moment…
The thief was saved through repentance, not through work. Salvation is a personal decision.

Up until the point that I read and studied and chewed on the words in Romans 9, I believed in a god who created all people, gave them free will and that he wanted all people to be saved but he couldn’t violate their free will to save them. And that it was the most loving thing he could do to give people freedom. And within that freedom they could either choose him and go to heaven or they could reject him and go to hell. And that would be entirely their choice.

Paul and Silas didn’t say, “Believe in a particular brand of human abstraction called Christianity and you will be saved…”²⁶ And Jesus was a bit more forthcoming on “how this man came to believe” than Ms. Henderson shared:

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…²⁷ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God [see table].’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me.²⁸ And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.²⁹

I’ll pick this up in another essay. The tables mentioned above follow:

σήμερον
Reference	Greek	KJV	NET
Matthew 6:11	δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον	Give us this day	Give us today
Matthew 6:30	σήμερον ὄντα	which to day is	which is here today
Matthew 11:23	ἔμεινεν ἂν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον	it would have remained until this day	it would have continued to this day
Matthew 16:3	σήμερον χειμών	[It will be] foul weather to day	[It will be] stormy today
Matthew 21:28	ὕπαγε σήμερον ἐργάζου	go work to day	go and work…today
Matthew 27:8	ἐκλήθη…ἕως τῆς σήμερον	was called…unto this day	has been called…to this day
Matthew 27:19	ἔπαθον σήμερον	I have suffered…this day	I have suffered…today
Matthew 28:15	διεφημίσθη…μέχρι τῆς σήμερον	is commonly reported…until this day	is told…to this day
Mark 14:30	ὅτι σὺ σήμερον…πρὶν ἢ δὶς ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι…ἀπαρνήσῃ	That this day…before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny	today…before a rooster crows twice, you will deny
Luke 2:11	ὅτι ἐτέχθη ὑμῖν σήμερον σωτὴρ	For unto you is born this day…a Saviour	Today your Savior is born
Luke 4:21	ὅτι σήμερον πεπλήρωται	This day is…fulfilled	Today…has been fulfilled
Luke 5:26	ὅτι εἴδομεν παράδοξα σήμερον	We have seen strange things to day	We have seen incredible things today
Luke 12:28	ὄντα σήμερον	which is to day	which is here today
Luke 13:32	ἰάσεις ἀποτελῶ σήμερον	I do cures to day	performing healings today
Luke 13:33	δεῖ με σήμερον…πορεύεσθαι	I must walk to day	I must go on my way today
Luke 19:5	κατάβηθι, σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι	come down; for to day I must abide at thy house	come down…because I must stay at your house today
Luke 19:9	ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία…ἐγένετο	This day is salvation come	Today salvation has come
Luke 22:34	οὐ φωνήσει σήμερον ἀλέκτωρ	the cock shall not crow this day	the rooster will not crow today
Luke 23:43	ἀμήν σοι λέγω σήμερον μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ	Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me	I tell you the truth, today you will be with me
Acts 4:9	εἰ ἡμεῖς σήμερον ἀνακρινόμεθα	If we this day be examined	if we are being examined today
Acts 13:33	υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σε	Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.	You are my Son; today I have fathered you.
Acts 19:40	κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον	we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar	we are in danger of being charged with rioting today
Acts 20:26	μαρτύρομαι ὑμῖν ἐν τῇ σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ	I take you to record this day	I declare to you today
Acts 22:3	καθὼς πάντες ὑμεῖς ἐστε σήμερον	as ye all are this day	just as all of you are today
Acts 24:21	ἐγὼ κρίνομαι σήμερον ἐφ᾿ ὑμῶν	I am called in question by you this day	I am on trial before you today
Acts 26:2	ἐπὶ σοῦ μέλλων σήμερον ἀπολογεῖσθαι	I shall answer for myself this day before thee	about to make my defense before you today
Acts 26:29	πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας μου σήμερον	all that hear me this day	all those who are listening to me today
Acts 27:33	τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην σήμερον ἡμέραν προσδοκῶντες ἄσιτοι διατελεῖτε	This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting	Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense and have gone without food
Romans 11:8	ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς…ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας	God hath given them…unto this day	God gave them…to this very day
2 Corinthians 3:14	ἄχρι γὰρ τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας…μένει	for until this day remaineth	For to this very day…remains
2 Corinthians 3:15	ἀλλ᾿ ἕως σήμερον…κάλυμμα ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῶν κεῖται	But even unto this day…the vail is upon their heart	But until this very day…a veil lies over their minds
Hebrews 1:5	υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σε	Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee	You are my son! Today I have fathered you
Hebrews 3:7	σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε	To day if ye will hear his voice	Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks
Hebrews 3:13	παρακαλεῖτε…ἄχρις οὗ τὸ σήμερον καλεῖται	exhort..while it is called To day	exhort…as long as it is called “Today”
Hebrews 3:15	σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε	To day if ye will hear his voice	Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks
Hebrews 4:7	πάλιν τινὰ ὁρίζει ἡμέραν, σήμερον	Again, he limiteth a certain day	again ordains a certain day, “Today”
Hebrews 4:7	σήμερον ἐὰν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ ἀκούσητε	To day if ye will hear his voice	Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks
Hebrews 5:5	υἱός μου εἶ σύ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σε	Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee	You are my Son! Today I have fathered you
Hebrews 13:8 (no verb)	Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐχθὲς καὶ σήμερον ὁ αὐτὸς	Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day	Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
James 4:13	σήμερον ἢ αὔριον πορευσόμεθα	To day or to morrow we will go	Today or tomorrow we will go

ἀμὴν
Reference	Greek	KJV	NET
Luke 4:24	ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν	Verily I say unto you	I tell you the truth
Luke 12:37	ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν	verily I say unto you	I tell you the truth
Luke 18:17	ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν	Verily I say unto you	I tell you the truth
Luke 18:29	ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν	Verily I say unto you	I tell you the truth
Luke 21:32	ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν	Verily I say unto you	I tell you the truth
Luke 23:43	ἀμήν σοι λέγω σήμερον	Verily I say unto thee, To day	I tell you the truth, today

Tables comparing the Greek of Luke 23:40; 23:42, 43; Revelation 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:3; Mark 14:30; Luke 19:5; 19:2; 19:4; 19:7, 8 and 15:2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Luke 23:40 (NET)	Luke 23:40 (KJV)
But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?	But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

Luke 23:40 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 23:40 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 23:40 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἐπιτιμῶν αὐτῷ ἔφη· οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν θεόν, ὅτι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ κρίματι εἶ	αποκριθεις δε ο ετερος επετιμα αυτω λεγων ουδε φοβη συ τον θεον οτι εν τω αυτω κριματι ει	αποκριθεις δε ο ετερος επετιμα αυτω λεγων ουδε φοβη συ τον θεον οτι εν τω αυτω κριματι ει

Luke 23:42, 43 (NET)	Luke 23:42, 43 (KJV)
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”	And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Luke 23:42 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 23:42 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 23:42 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἔλεγεν· Ἰησοῦ, μνήσθητι μου ὅταν ἔλθῃς \|ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ\| σου	και ελεγεν τω ιησου μνησθητι μου κυριε οταν ελθης εν τη βασιλεια σου	και ελεγεν τω ιησου μνησθητι μου κυριε οταν ελθης εν τη βασιλεια σου

And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:43 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 23:43 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 23:43 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀμήν σοι λέγω, σήμερον μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ	και ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους αμην λεγω σοι σημερον μετ εμου εση εν τω παραδεισω	και ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους αμην λεγω σοι σημερον μετ εμου εση εν τω παραδεισω

Revelation 2:7 (NET)	Revelation 2:7 (KJV)
The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’	He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7 (NET Parallel Greek)	Revelation 2:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Revelation 2:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. Τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἐκ τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς, ὅ ἐστιν ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ τοῦ θεοῦ	ο εχων ους ακουσατω τι το πνευμα λεγει ταις εκκλησιαις τω νικωντι δωσω αυτω φαγειν εκ του ξυλου της ζωης ο εστιν εν μεσω του παραδεισου του θεου	ο εχων ους ακουσατω τι το πνευμα λεγει ταις εκκλησιαις τω νικωντι δωσω αυτω φαγειν εκ του ξυλου της ζωης ο εστιν εν μεσω του παραδεισου του θεου μου

2 Corinthians 12:3 (NET)	2 Corinthians 12:3 (KJV)
And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)	And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

2 Corinthians 12:3 (NET Parallel Greek)	2 Corinthians 12:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	2 Corinthians 12:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον (εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος \|οὐκ οἶδα\|, ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν)	και οιδα τον τοιουτον ανθρωπον ειτε εν σωματι ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν	και οιδα τον τοιουτον ανθρωπον ειτε εν σωματι ειτε εκτος του σωματος ουκ οιδα ο θεος οιδεν

Mark 14:30 (NET)	Mark 14:30 (KJV)
Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today—this very night—before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.	And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Mark 14:30 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 14:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 14:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν λέγω σοι ὅτι σὺ σήμερον – ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ – πρὶν ἢ δὶς ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι τρίς με ἀπαρνήσῃ	και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αμην λεγω σοι οτι σημερον εν τη νυκτι ταυτη πριν η δις αλεκτορα φωνησαι τρις απαρνηση με	και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους αμην λεγω σοι οτι συ σημερον εν τη νυκτι ταυτη πριν η δις αλεκτορα φωνησαι τρις απαρνηση με

Luke 19:5 (NET)	Luke 19:5 (KJV)
And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly because I must stay at your house today.”	And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Luke 19:5 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 19:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 19:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας \|ὁ\| Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι, σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι	και ως ηλθεν επι τον τοπον αναβλεψας ο ιησους ειδεν αυτον και ειπεν προς αυτον ζακχαιε σπευσας καταβηθι σημερον γαρ εν τω οικω σου δει με μειναι	και ως ηλθεν επι τον τοπον αναβλεψας ο ιησους ειδεν αυτον και ειπεν προς αυτον ζακχαιε σπευσας καταβηθι σημερον γαρ εν τω οικω σου δει με μειναι

Luke 19:2 (NET)	Luke 19:2 (KJV)
Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.	And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

Luke 19:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 19:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 19:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης καὶ αὐτὸς πλούσιος	και ιδου ανηρ ονοματι καλουμενος ζακχαιος και αυτος ην αρχιτελωνης και ουτος ην πλουσιος	και ιδου ανηρ ονοματι καλουμενος ζακχαιος και αυτος ην αρχιτελωνης και ουτος ην πλουσιος

Luke 19:4 (NET)	Luke 19:4 (KJV)
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him because Jesus was going to pass that way.	And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Luke 19:4 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 19:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 19:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ προδραμὼν εἰς τὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτὸν ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλεν διέρχεσθαι	και προδραμων εμπροσθεν ανεβη επι συκομωραιαν ινα ιδη αυτον οτι δι εκεινης ημελλεν διερχεσθαι	και προδραμων εμπροσθεν ανεβη επι συκομωραιαν ινα ιδη αυτον οτι δι εκεινης εμελλεν διερχεσθαι

Luke 19:7, 8 (NET)	Luke 19:7, 8 (KJV)
And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”	And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Luke 19:7 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 19:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 19:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθεν καταλῦσαι	και ιδοντες απαντες διεγογγυζον λεγοντες οτι παρα αμαρτωλω ανδρι εισηλθεν καταλυσαι	και ιδοντες παντες διεγογγυζον λεγοντες οτι παρα αμαρτωλω ανδρι εισηλθεν καταλυσαι

But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!”

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Luke 19:8 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 19:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 19:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)
σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν κύριον· ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίσια μου τῶν ὑπαρχόντων, κύριε, \|τοῖς\| πτωχοῖς δίδωμι, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν	σταθεις δε ζακχαιος ειπεν προς τον κυριον ιδου τα ημιση των υπαρχοντων μου κυριε διδωμι τοις πτωχοις και ει τινος τι εσυκοφαντησα αποδιδωμι τετραπλουν	σταθεις δε ζακχαιος ειπεν προς τον κυριον ιδου τα ημιση των υπαρχοντων μου κυριε διδωμι τοις πτωχοις και ει τινος τι εσυκοφαντησα αποδιδωμι τετραπλουν

Luke 15:2 (NET)	Luke 15:2 (KJV)
But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”	And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 15:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 15:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 15:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ διεγόγγυζον οἵ τε Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς λέγοντες ὅτι οὗτος ἁμαρτωλοὺς προσδέχεται καὶ συνεσθίει αὐτοῖς	και διεγογγυζον οι φαρισαιοι και οι γραμματεις λεγοντες οτι ουτος αμαρτωλους προσδεχεται και συνεσθιει αυτοις	και διεγογγυζον οι φαρισαιοι και οι γραμματεις λεγοντες οτι ουτος αμαρτωλους προσδεχεται και συνεσθιει αυτοις

¹ “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith,” Kristi Burke

² Luke 23:32 (NET)

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπιτιμῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επετιμα.

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἔφη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγων.

⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τω (KJV: unto) preceding Jesus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κυριε (KJV: Lord) following remember me. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τῷ παραδείσῳ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεσω του παραδεισου (KJV: the midst of the paradise).

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had χωρὶς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκτος (KJV: out).

¹⁰ Or “things that cannot be put into words.” (NET note 3)

¹¹ Luke 23:43b (NET)

¹² Matthew 21:28 (NET) Table

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the personal pronoun σὺ preceding today. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν (KJV: even in) preceding this very night. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁵ Mark 14:30 (NET)

¹⁶ Luke 23:43b (NET)

¹⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτὸς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτος ην (KJV: he was).

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἰς τὸ ἔμπροσθεν (not translated in the NET) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply εμπροσθεν (KJV: before).

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συκομορέαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συκομωραιαν (KJV: a sycomore tree).

²⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the preposition δι following because. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειδεν αυτον (KJV: and saw him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²² The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had πάντες here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had απαντες.

²³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἡμίσια here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημιση.

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τε preceding Pharisees and καὶ preceding the experts in the law, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had only the latter.

²⁵ Romans 9:22b (NET)

²⁶ Acts 16:31a Table

²⁷ John 6:44a (NET) Table

²⁸ John 6:45 (NET) Table

²⁹ John 12:32 (NET)

Who Am I? Part 16

Posted on March 21, 2024 by admin

I’ll pick up where I left off (Romans 9:22-24 NET):

But what if God, willing (θέλων, a form of θέλω) to demonstrate (ἐνδείξασθαι, a form of ἐνδείκνυμι) his wrath (Romans 1:18-32) and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

God’s demonstration of this contrast between the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy and his wrath on those who prepared themselves for destruction offended Ms. Burke: “I was fed one version of god who was a loving father but I’m learning about this completely different god who intentionally creates people to go to hell.”² If I believed that the Lord’s wish…for all to come to repentance³ was subordinate to the wishes of every individual, I might be troubled by this, too. Apart from the Lord’s intervention—he has prepared beforehand (προητοίμασεν, a form of προετοιμάζω) for glory—we all share an innate propensity to prepare ourselves for destruction. But I believe that God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all⁴ and that Jesus will draw all to Himself.⁵

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”⁶ the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas (Acts 16:31a NET Table):

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”

I can read this verse as written now, believing that I am saved primarily from my own sinfulness. When I believed what I was taught (or imagined I was being taught) in church, I believed that I was saved primarily from hell. I was explicitly instructed to add “before you die” as a condition to faith:

Believe in the Lord Jesus [before you die] and you will be saved [from hell].

I surveyed the 10 occurrences of forms of ᾅδης in the New Testament (see table below). All were translated hell in the KJV. Obviously, to be saved from KJV hell, one must trust the Lord before one dies. And there was a time I thought KJV hell was synonymous with the lake of fire of the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15 NET).

Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened—the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds [Table]. The sea gave up the⁷ dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the⁸ dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire [Table]. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.

There were 66 occurrences of forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text (see table below); 31 of them were translated hell in the KJV. Most forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text were translated with forms of ᾅδης in the Septuagint. Most occurrences of forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) mirror death as we perceive it.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NET)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NETS)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (English Elpenor)
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave (בִּשְׁא֕וֹל), whither thou goest.	Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave (šᵊ’ôl, בשאול), the place where you will eventually go.	Whatever your hand finds to do, as is your might, do! For there is no work and reasoning and knowledge and wisdom in Hades (ἐν ᾅδῃ), where you are going.	Whatsoever thine hand shall find to do, do with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades (ἐν ᾅδῃ) wither thou goest.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 14:11 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 14:11 (NET)	Isaiah 14:11 (NETS)	Isaiah 14:11 (English Elpenor)
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (שְׁא֛וֹל), and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.	Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול), as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.’	But your glory has gone down to Hades (εἰς ᾅδου)—your abundant joy; they will spread decay beneath you, and a worm will be your covering.	Thy glory has come down to Hades (εἰς ᾅδου), and thy great mirth: under thee they shall spread corruption, and the worm shall be thy covering.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 38:18 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 38:18 (NET)	Isaiah 38:18 (NETS)	Isaiah 38:18 (English Elpenor)
For the grave (שְׁא֛וֹל) cannot praise thee, death (מָ֣וֶת) can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit (ב֖וֹר) cannot hope for thy truth.	Indeed Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) does not give you thanks; death (māveṯ, מות) does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit (bôr, בור) do not anticipate your faithfulness.	For those who are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) will not praise you, nor will the dead (οἱ ἀποθανόντες) bless you, nor will those who are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) hope for your mercy.	For they that are in the grave (ἐν ᾅδου) shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead (οἱ ἀποθανόντες) bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades (ἐν ᾅδου) hope for thy mercy.

This very human understanding of death corresponds to the euphemism fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω) as Jesus used it (John 11:11b-15a NET):

“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω). But I am going there to awaken him.” Then the disciples replied,⁹ “Lord, if he has fallen asleep (κεκοίμηται, a form of κοιμάω), he will recover.” (Now Jesus had been talking about his death [θανάτου, a form of θάνατος], but they thought he had been talking about real sleep [τῆς κοιμήσεως τοῦ ὕπνου].)

Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died (ἀπέθανεν, a form of ἀποθνήσκω)…

Paul used κοιμηθησόμεθα (another form of κοιμάω) in a similar way (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 NET):

Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep (κοιμηθησόμεθα), but we will all be changed [Table]—in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead (νεκροὶ, a form of νεκρός) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Now some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection)¹⁰ asked Jesus a trick question about a woman and seven brothers: “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman¹¹ be? For all seven had married her.”¹² First, Jesus corrected their misunderstanding of the coming age (Luke 20:34, 35 NET):

So Jesus¹³ said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.¹⁴ But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.¹⁵

Then Jesus elaborated on the resurrection (Luke 20:36, 37 NET):

In fact, they can no¹⁶ longer die (ἀποθανεῖν, another form of ἀποθνήσκω) because they are equal to angels (ἰσάγγελοι, a form of ἰσάγγελος) and are sons of God,¹⁷ since they are sons of the resurrection. But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob [Table].

Jesus went one step further to affirm something about God and those who have died as we perceive death (Luke 20:38 NET):

Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.

The Greek word translated live was ζῶσιν, a form of ζάω in the present tense. Technically, ζῶσιν might also indicate the subjunctive mood, “for all may live before him,” but I found no English translation other¹⁸ than the indicative mood.

One occurrence (perhaps two) of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl) in the Masoretic text conveys this idea of living (ζώντων) inhabitants.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 14:9, 10 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 14:9, 10 (NET)	Isaiah 14:9, 10 (NETS)	Isaiah 14:9, 10 (English Elpenor)
Hell (שְׁא֗וֹל) from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.	Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones.	Hades (ὁ ᾅδης) beneath was embittered on meeting you; all the mighty who have ruled the earth rose up together against you—those who have roused from their thrones all the kings of the nations.	Hell (ὁ ᾅδης) from beneath is provoked to meet thee: all the great ones that have ruled over the earth have risen up together against thee, they that have raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?	All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us!	All will answer and say to you: “You too were taken even as we were, and you were counted among us!”	All shall answer and say to thee, Thou also hast been taken, even as we; and thou art numbered amongst us.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 32:21 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 32:21 (NET)	Ezekiel 32:21 (NETS)	Ezekiel 32:21 (English Elpenor)
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell (שְׁא֖וֹל) with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.	The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol (šᵊ’ôl, שאול) along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’	And the giants in the depth of the hole (βόθρου) shall say to you, “You are greater than whom? Descend, and lie with the uncircumcised in the midst of those wounded by dagger.”	the giants also shall say to thee, Be thou in the depth of the pit (βόθρου): to whom art thou superior? yea, go down, and lie with the uncircumcised, in the midst of them [that are] slain with the sword.

Jesus described a rich man in Hades calling out to Abraham (Luke 16:23, 24 NET):

And in Hades (τῷ ᾅδῃ), as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side [Table]. So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in anguish in this fire.’

This survey helped me to understand why eternal life wasn’t about living forever when Jesus prayed: Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.¹⁹ More to the point in this essay, given that even Paul wrote of those who have fallen asleep in Christ,²⁰ waiting to rise in the resurrection at the last day,²¹ it focused my attention on the question: What gave anyone hope that believing in the Lord Jesus, even before one dies, might save one from KJV hell?

Three²² Scriptures come to mind. I’ll consider those in another essay. The tables mentioned above follow:

English Translations of Forms of ᾅδης
Reference	Greek	KJV	NET
Matthew 11:23	ᾅδου	to hell	to Hades
Matthew 16:18	ᾅδου	of hell	of Hades
Luke 10:15	ᾅδου	to hell	to Hades
Luke 16:23	ᾅδῃ	hell	Hades
Acts 2:27	ᾅδην	hell	Hades
Acts 2:31	ᾅδην	hell	Hades
Revelation 1:18	ᾅδου	of hell	of Hades
Revelation 6:8	ᾅδης	Hell	Hades
Revelation 20:13	ᾅδης	hell	Hades
Revelation 20:14	ᾅδης	hell	Hades

English Translations of Forms of שְׁאוֹל (šᵊ’ôl)
Reference	Hebrew	KJV	NET	Septuagint (BLB/Elpenor)
Genesis 37:35	שאלה	into the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Genesis 42:38	שאולה	to the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ἅδου
Genesis 44:29	שאלה	to the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Genesis 44:31	שאלה	to the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Numbers 16:30	שאלה	into the pit	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Numbers 16:33	שאלה	into the pit	into the pit	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Deuteronomy 32:22	שאול	hell	Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
1 Samuel (1 Kings) 2:6	שאול	to the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
2 Samuel (2 Kings) 22:6	שאול	of hell	of Sheol	θανάτου / θανάτου
1 Kings (3 Kings) 2:6	שאל	to the grave	death	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
1 Kings (3 Kings) 2:9	שאול	to the grave	death	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Job 7:9	שאול	to the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾄδην
Job 11:8	משאול	than hell	than Sheol	τῶν ἐν ᾅδου / τῶν ἐν ᾃδου
Job 14:13	בשאול	in the grave	in Sheol	ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ
Job 17:13	שאול	the grave	the grave	ᾅδης / ᾅδης
Job 17:16	שאל	of the pit	of death	εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾅδην
Job 21:13	שאול	to the grave	to the grave	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Job 24:19	שאול	the grave	the grave	na / na
Job 26:6	שאול	Hell	The underworld	ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης
Psalm 6:5 (6:6)	בשאול	in the grave	In Sheol	ἐν δὲ τῷ ᾅδῃ / ἐν δὲ τῷ ῞ᾼδῃ
Psalm 9:17 (9:18)	לשאולה	into hell	sent to Sheol	εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην
Psalm 16:10 (15:10)	לשאול	in hell	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδην / εἰς ᾅδην
Psalm 18:5 (17:6)	שאול	of hell	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Psalm 30:3 (29:4)	שאול	the grave	Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Psalm 31:17 (30:18)	לשאול	in the grave	to the grave	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Psalm 49:14 (48:15)	לשאול	in the grave	to Sheol	ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ
Psalm 49:14 (48:15)	שאול	in the grave	Sheol	ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ / ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ
Psalm 49:15 (48:16)	שאול	of the grave	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Psalm 55:15 (54:16)	שאול	into hell	into Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Psalm 86:13 (85:13)	משאול	hell	of Sheol	ἐξ ᾅδου / ἐξ ᾅδου
Psalm 88:3 (87:4)	לשאול	unto the grave	Sheol	τῷ ᾅδῃ / τῷ ᾅδῃ
Psalm 89:48 (88:49)	שאול	of the grave	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Psalm 116:3 (114:3)	שאול	of hell	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Psalm 139:9 (138:8)	שאול	in hell	in Sheol	εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην
Psalm 141:7	שאול	grave’s	of Sheol	τὸν ᾅδην / τὸν ᾅδην
Proverbs 1:12	כשאול	as the grave	like Sheol	ὥσπερ ᾅδης / ὥσπερ ᾅδης
Proverbs 5:5	שאול	on hell	to the grave	εἰς τὸν ᾅδην / εἰς τὸν ᾅδην
Proverbs 7:27	שאול	to hell	to the grave	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Proverbs 9:18	שאול	of hell	of the grave	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Proverbs 15:11	שאול	Hell	Death	ᾅδης / ᾅδης
Proverbs 15:24	משאול	from hell	to Sheol	ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου / ἐκ τοῦ ᾅδου
Proverbs 23:14	משאול	from hell	from death	ἐκ θανάτου / ἐκ θανάτου
Proverbs 27:20	שאול	Hell	Death	ᾅδης / ᾅδης
Proverbs 30:16	שאול	The grave	the grave	ᾅδης / na
Ecclesiastes 9:10	בשאול	in the grave	in the grave	ἐν ᾅδῃ / ἐν ᾅδῃ
Song of Songs 8:6	כשאול	as the grave	as Sheol	ὡς ᾅδης / ὡς ᾅδης
Isaiah 5:14	שאול	hell	Death	ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης
Isaiah 7:11	שאלה	ask it	as Sheol (Note 17)	na / na
Isaiah 14:9	שאול	Hell	Sheol	ὁ ᾅδης / ὁ ᾅδης
Isaiah 14:11	שאול	to the grave	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Isaiah 14:15	שאול	hell	Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδην
Isaiah 28:15	שאול	hell	Sheol	τοῦ ᾅδου / τοῦ ᾅδου
Isaiah 28:18	שאול	hell	Sheol	τὸν ᾅδην / τὸν ᾅδην
Isaiah 38:10	שאול	of the grave	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Isaiah 38:18	שאול	the grave	Sheol	οἱ ἐν ᾅδου / οἱ ἐν ᾅδου
Isaiah 57:9	שאול	hell	Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Ezekiel 31:15	שאולה	to the grave	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Ezekiel 31:16	שאולה	to hell	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Ezekiel 31:17	שאולה	into hell	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Ezekiel 32:21	שאול	of hell	of Sheol	βόθρου / βόθρου
Ezekiel 32:27	שאול	to hell	to Sheol	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Hosea 13:14	שאול	of the grave	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Hosea 13:14	שאול	O grave	O Sheol	ᾅδη / ᾅδη
Amos 9:2	בשאול	into hell	into the netherworld	εἰς ᾅδου / εἰς ᾅδου
Jonah 2:2 (2:3)	שאול	of hell	of Sheol	ᾅδου / ᾅδου
Habakkuk 2:5	כשאול	as hell	as Sheol’s	καθὼς ὁ ᾅδης / καθὼς ᾅδης

According to a note (87) in the NET Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 in Luke 20:37. A table comparing the Greek of his quotation to the Septuagint follows.

Luke 20:37b (NET Parallel Greek) Table	Exodus 3:6a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Exodus 3:6a (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὸν θεὸν Ἀβραὰμ καὶ θεὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ θεὸν Ἰακώβ	θεὸς Αβρααμ καὶ θεὸς Ισαακ καὶ θεὸς Ιακωβ	Θεὸς ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ Θεὸς ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ Θεὸς ᾿Ιακώβ
Luke 20:37b (NET)	Exodus 3:6a (NETS)	Exodus 3:6a (English Elpenor)
the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob	God of Abraam and God of Isaak and God of Iakob	the God of Abraam, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob

Tables comparing Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 14:11; 38:18; 14:9; 14:10 and Ezekiel 32:21 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and tables comparing Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 14:11; 38:18; 14:9; 14:10 and Ezekiel 32:21 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Revelation 20:13; John 11:12; 11:15; Luke 20:33; 20:34, 35 and Luke 20:36 the NET and KJV follow.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Tanakh)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NET)
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.	Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.	Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάντα ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ	πάντα, ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ, ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NETS)	Ecclesiastes 9:10 (English Elpenor)
Whatever your hand finds to do, as is your might, do! For there is no work and reasoning and knowledge and wisdom in Hades, where you are going.	Whatsoever thine hand shall find to do, do with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades wither thou goest.

Isaiah 14:11 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 14:11 (KJV)	Isaiah 14:11 (NET)
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.	Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.	Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.’

Isaiah 14:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 14:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
κατέβη δὲ εἰς ᾅδου ἡ δόξα σου ἡ πολλή σου εὐφροσύνη ὑποκάτω σου στρώσουσιν σῆψιν καὶ τὸ κατακάλυμμά σου σκώληξ	κατέβη εἰς ᾅδου ἡ δόξα σου, ἡ πολλὴ εὐφροσύνη σου· ὑποκάτω σου στρώσουσι σῆψιν, καὶ τὸ κατακάλυμμά σου σκώληξ
Isaiah 14:11 (NETS)	Isaiah 14:11 (English Elpenor)
But your glory has gone down to Hades—your abundant joy; they will spread decay beneath you, and a worm will be your covering.	Thy glory has come down to Hades, and thy great mirth: under thee they shall spread corruption, and the worm shall be thy covering.

Isaiah 38:18 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 38:18 (KJV)	Isaiah 38:18 (NET)
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.	For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.	Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit do not anticipate your faithfulness.

Isaiah 38:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 38:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ᾅδου αἰνέσουσίν σε οὐδὲ οἱ ἀποθανόντες εὐλογήσουσίν σε οὐδὲ ἐλπιοῦσιν οἱ ἐν ᾅδου τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην σου	οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἐν ᾅδου αἰνέσουσί σε, οὐδὲ οἱ ἀποθανόντες εὐλογήσουσί σε, οὐδὲ ἐλπιοῦσιν οἱ ἐν ᾅδου τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην σου
Isaiah 38:18 (NETS)	Isaiah 38:18 (English Elpenor)
For those who are in Hades will not praise you, nor will the dead bless you, nor will those who are in Hades hope for your mercy.	For they that are in the grave shall not praise thee, neither shall the dead bless thee, neither shall they that are in Hades hope for thy mercy.

Isaiah 14:9 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 14:9 (KJV)	Isaiah 14:9 (NET)
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.	Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.	Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones.

Isaiah 14:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 14:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι συνηγέρθησάν σοι πάντες οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἄρξαντες τῆς γῆς οἱ ἐγείραντες ἐκ τῶν θρόνων αὐτῶν πάντας βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν	ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι, συνηγέρθησάν σοι πάντες οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἄρξαντες τῆς γῆς, οἱ ἐγείραντες ἐκ τῶν θρόνων αὐτῶν πάντας βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν
Isaiah 14:9 (NETS)	Isaiah 14:9 (English Elpenor)
Hades beneath was embittered on meeting you; all the mighty who have ruled the earth rose up together against you—those who have roused from their thrones all the kings of the nations.	Hell from beneath is provoked to meet thee: all the great ones that have ruled over the earth have risen up together against thee, they that have raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Isaiah 14:10 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 14:10 (KJV)	Isaiah 14:10 (NET)
All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?	All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?	All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us!

Isaiah 14:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 14:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάντες ἀποκριθήσονται καὶ ἐροῦσίν σοι καὶ σὺ ἑάλως ὥσπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν ἡμῖν δὲ κατελογίσθης	πάντες ἀποκριθήσονται καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι· καὶ σὺ ἑάλως, ὥσπερ καὶ ἡμεῖς, ἐν ἡμῖν δὲ κατελογίσθης
Isaiah 14:10 (NETS)	Isaiah 14:10 (English Elpenor)
All will answer and say to you: “You too were taken even as we were, and you were counted among us!”	All shall answer and say to thee, Thou also hast been taken, even as we; and thou art numbered amongst us.

Ezekiel 32:21 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 32:21 (KJV)	Ezekiel 32:21 (NET)
The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.	The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.	The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: ‘The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.’

Ezekiel 32:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 32:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐροῦσίν σοι οἱ γίγαντες ἐν βάθει βόθρου γίνου τίνος κρείττων εἶ κατάβηθι καὶ κοιμήθητι μετὰ ἀπεριτμήτων ἐν μέσῳ τραυματιῶν μαχαίρας	καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι οἱ γίγαντες· ἐν βάθει βόθρου γίνου, τίνος κρείττων εἶ; κατάβηθι καὶ κοιμήθητι μετὰ ἀπεριτμήτων ἐν μέσῳ τραυματιῶν μαχαίρας
Ezekiel 32:21 (NETS)	Ezekiel 32:21 (English Elpenor)
And the giants in the depth of the hole shall say to you, “You are greater than whom? Descend, and lie with the uncircumcised in the midst of those wounded by dagger.”	the giants also shall say to thee, Be thou in the depth of the pit: to whom art thou superior? yea, go down, and lie with the uncircumcised, in the midst of them [that are] slain with the sword.

Revelation 20:13 (NET)	Revelation 20:13 (KJV)
The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds.	And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 (NET Parallel Greek)	Revelation 20:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Revelation 20:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡ θάλασσα τοὺς νεκροὺς τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ ὁ θάνατος καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἔδωκαν τοὺς νεκροὺς τοὺς ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐκρίθησαν ἕκαστος κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν	και εδωκεν η θαλασσα τους εν αυτη νεκρους και ο θανατος και ο αδης εδωκαν τους εν αυτοις νεκρους και εκριθησαν εκαστος κατα τα εργα αυτων	και εδωκεν η θαλασσα τους νεκρους τους εν αυτη και ο θανατος και ο αδης εδωκαν τους νεκρους τους εν αυτοις και εκριθησαν εκαστος κατα τα εργα αυτων

John 11:12 (NET)	John 11:12 (KJV)
Then the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”	Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

John 11:12 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 11:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 11:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἶπαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτῷ· κύριε, εἰ κεκοίμηται σωθήσεται	ειπον ουν οι μαθηται αυτου κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται	ειπον ουν οι μαθηται αυτου κυριε ει κεκοιμηται σωθησεται

John 11:15 (NET)	John 11:15 (KJV)
and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”	And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

John 11:15 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 11:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 11:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ χαίρω δι᾿ ὑμᾶς ἵνα πιστεύσητε, ὅτι οὐκ ἤμην ἐκεῖ· ἀλλὰ ἄγωμεν πρὸς αὐτόν	και χαιρω δι υμας ινα πιστευσητε οτι ουκ ημην εκει αλλ αγωμεν προς αυτον	και χαιρω δι υμας ινα πιστευσητε οτι ουκ ημην εκει αλλα αγωμεν προς αυτον

Luke 20:33 (NET)	Luke 20:33 (KJV)
In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”	Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

Luke 20:33 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 20:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 20:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἡ γυνὴ οὖν ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει τίνος αὐτῶν γίνεται γυνή; οἱ γὰρ ἑπτὰ ἔσχον αὐτὴν γυναῖκα	εν τη ουν αναστασει τινος αυτων γινεται γυνη οι γαρ επτα εσχον αυτην γυναικα	εν τη ουν αναστασει τινος αυτων γινεται γυνη οι γαρ επτα εσχον αυτην γυναικα

Luke 20:34, 35 (NET)	Luke 20:34, 35 (KJV)
So Jesus said to them, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.	And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Luke 20:34 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 20:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 20:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου γαμοῦσιν καὶ γαμίσκονται	και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους οι υιοι του αιωνος τουτου γαμουσιν και εκγαμισκονται	και αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους οι υιοι του αιωνος τουτου γαμουσιν και εκγαμισκονται

But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Luke 20:35 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 20:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 20:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οἱ δὲ καταξιωθέντες τοῦ αἰῶνος ἐκείνου τυχεῖν καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῆς ἐκ νεκρῶν οὔτε γαμοῦσιν οὔτε γαμίζονται	οι δε καταξιωθεντες του αιωνος εκεινου τυχειν και της αναστασεως της εκ νεκρων ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε εκγαμισκονται	οι δε καταξιωθεντες του αιωνος εκεινου τυχειν και της αναστασεως της εκ νεκρων ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε εκγαμιζονται

Luke 20:36 (NET)	Luke 20:36 (KJV)
In fact, they can no longer die because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection.	Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Luke 20:36 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 20:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 20:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀποθανεῖν ἔτι δύνανται, ἰσάγγελοι γάρ εἰσιν καὶ υἱοί εἰσιν θεοῦ τῆς ἀναστάσεως υἱοὶ ὄντες	ουτε γαρ αποθανειν ετι δυνανται ισαγγελοι γαρ εισιν και υιοι εισιν του θεου της αναστασεως υιοι οντες	ουτε γαρ αποθανειν ετι δυνανται ισαγγελοι γαρ εισιν και υιοι εισιν του θεου της αναστασεως υιοι οντες

Who Am I? Part 17

¹ “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith,” Kristi Burke

² Ibid.

³ 2 Peter 3:9b (NET) Table

⁴ Romans 11:32 (NET)

⁵ John 12:32

⁶ Acts 16:30b (NET)

⁷ The Net parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding dead. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

⁸ The Net parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τοὺς preceding dead. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἶπαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπον (KJV: said).

¹⁰ Luke 20:27a (NET)

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἡ γυνὴ at the beginning of this clause. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹² Luke 20:33 (NET)

¹³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αποκριθεις (KJV: answering) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γαμίσκονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκγαμισκονται.

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γαμίζονται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εκγαμισκονται and the Byzantine Majority Text had εκγαμιζονται.

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὐδὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτε (KJV: Neither).

¹⁷ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding of God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁸ The Aramaic Bible in Plain English treats both ἔστιν and ζῶσιν as if they were not in the present tense, but both are still in the indicative mood: “But he was not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all of them were alive to him.”

According to Rev. Glenn David Bauscher in the introduction to his translation of the Aramaic New Testament: “Aramaic was the language of Jesus of Nazareth (‘Yeshua Netsari’ in Aramaic) and of his twelve disciples. The Peshitta New Testament is the only complete Aramaic New Testament known today which is held by a significant Christian denomination to be the original text written by the Apostles. The Church of The East has always held to this text as the original writing of the Apostles, preserved with word for word accuracy by its Scribes for nearly two thousand years with meticulous care and reverence.”

In an article titled “Be one of the few who has a copy of the Original New Testament!” Rev. Bauscher contends: “While the apostle Paul was carrying the gospel message to the West — ‘first to the Jew, then to the Gentile’ — Thomas was doing the same, except going in the opposite direction . . . to the East. The Church of the East became the largest Christian church of the middle ages, spreading the gospel message and building churches as far away as India and China, with 100 million members. The Muslim conquests and massacres of the 7th – 11th centuries, as well as the Mongol’s destruction of Christians and churches, left very few members of that great church remaining. This is history unknown to most in the West, but eastern Christians have not forgotten.”

¹⁹ John 17:3 (NET)

²⁰ 1 Corinthians 15:18a (NET)

²¹ John 11:24b (NET) Table

²² Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; John 11:26

Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Part 11

Posted on March 9, 2024 by admin

This is a continuation of my intent to become much more familiar with the Greek translation of יְהֹוָ֨ה (Yᵊhōvâ) and יֱהֹוִה֙ (yᵊhōvâ) in the Septuagint. I’ll begin with part of the Lord’s curse of the serpent to briefly consider another issue:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:15 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 3:15 (NET)	Genesis 3:15 (NETS) Table	Genesis 3:15 (English Elpenor)
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise (יְשֽׁוּפְךָ֣) thy head, and thou shalt bruise (תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ) their heel.’	And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he will strike (šûp̄, ישופך) your head, and you will strike (šûp̄, תשופנו) his heel.”	And I will put enmity between you and between the woman and between your offspring and between her offspring; he will watch (τηρήσει) your head, and you will watch (τηρήσεις) his heel.”	And I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed, he shall watch against (τηρήσει) thy head, and thou shalt watch against (τηρήσεις) his heel.

An entry titled “Seed of the woman” in Wikipedia online reads:

In Christianity, Genesis 3:15 is known as the protevangelium. This is a compound of two Greek words, protos meaning “first” and evangelion meaning “good news” or “gospel”. Thus, the verse is commonly referred to as the first mention in the Bible of the “good news” of salvation…

Identification of the “seed of the woman” with Jesus goes back at least as far as Irenaeus (180 AD)^[12][13]…

I think of the NET as the “honest Bible,” not because it is necessarily the best overall translation, but because of its notes which “open the books” as it were on the scholarly guesswork that goes into Bible translation. An article by the Assistant Editor of the NET, “Consideration of Contexts in the Translation Philosophy of the NET Bible: Discussion and Examples,” reads:

Genesis 3:15 has had a long history of interpretation. At issue presently is whether this text refers to a single entity in conflict with another single entity, or whether groups are in view. The text of the verse in the NET Bible is as follows [not in the version online from which I quote]:

And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; they will attack your head, but you will attack their heel.

…At this time, the future coming of the Messiah had not been revealed, neither to the initial participants of the narrative nor to the author of the book. Therefore, it would be foreign to the original context to bring that meaning back into the passage in translation.

So the Lord God took this opportunity to address the origin of man’s antipathy for snakes? Whether the man and woman or Moses knew of the “coming of the Messiah” is irrelevant. The Lord God knew. Did He converse with a snake about the destiny of snakes or with the ancient serpent,¹ who is the devil and Satan?²

I will utilize the work of scholars shamelessly when it corresponds to what the Lord is teaching me of Himself from his word. When it doesn’t, I remember Paul’s insight into those who would have dragged the Galatians under the law (Galatians 4:17 NET):

They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.

I don’t often encounter aggressive scholars attempting to exclude me from the grace of God. I must decide, however, if I will believe the scholar’s work I am reading at any given moment or the Lord’s leading through his word. It’s really not a difficult decision: The Lord fills me with faith³ in Him and his word. Scholars are powerless to do likewise.

The Wikipedia entry “Seed of the woman” continued:

In Romans 16:20, there is perhaps the clearest reference to the Protoevangelium in the New Testament, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Here, the seed of the woman is identified as “the God of peace”, and yet the Church is identified as the feet that will bruise Satan’s head.^[18] Martin Luther, in his Lectures on Romans, also identifies the seed of the woman with “the word of God in the church”.^[19]

This connection seemed forced until I searched for τηρήσει, translated watch (Septuagint), the word the rabbis chose for יְשֽׁוּפְךָ֣ (šûp̄), translated bruise (Tanakh, KJV) and strike (NET). It only occurs once in the New Testament (John 14:22-24 NET).

“Lord,” Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey (τηρήσει, a form of τηρέω) my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him [Table]. The person who does not love me does not obey (τηρεῖ, another form of τηρέω) my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

Choosing obey for τηρήσει and τηρεῖ highlighted one aspect of τηρέω: “to act and live in conformity to.” But consider another word of the Lord (John 12:31-33 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die) [Table].

It is not readily apparent how to “act and live in conformity to” this word. It is fairly straightforward how “to guard, keep watch over” it; how “to remain alert in anticipation” of it; how “to watch out for the loss of” it and “to inspect” it “closely”:

What is the judgment of this world? Jesus will draw all to Himself. How will the ruler of this world be driven out? Jesus will draw all to Himself. What did He mean by: I am lifted up from the earth? He said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die (e.g., crucifixion). The Greek word translated when was ἐὰν, if. In other words, if Jesus is crucified, He will draw all to Himself. To say He will not draw all to Himself is logically equivalent to saying He was not crucified: modus tollens.

Keeping this word makes it much easier to obey another in faith (Matthew 28:18-20 NET):

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me [Table]. Therefore⁴ go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit [Table], teaching them to obey (τηρεῖν, another form of τηρέω) everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” [Table].

The Lord turned to the woman:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:16 (NET)	Genesis 3:16 (NETS)	Genesis 3:16 (English Elpenor)
Unto the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply thy pain (עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ) and thy travail (וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ); in pain (בְּעֶ֖צֶב) thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.’	To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your labor (hērāyôn, והרנך ) pains (ʿiṣṣāḇôn, עצבונך); with pain (ʿēṣeḇ, בעצב) you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.”	And to the woman he said, “I will increasingly increase your pains (τὰς λύπας σου) and your groaning (καὶ τὸν στεναγμόν σου); with pains (ἐν λύπαις) you will bring forth children. And your recourse will be to your husband, and he will dominate you.”	And to the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pains (τὰς λύπας σου) and thy groanings (καὶ τὸν στεναγμόν σου); in pain (ἐν λύπαις) thou shalt bring forth children, and thy submission shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

In the Septuagint two different Hebrew words, עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ (ʿiṣṣāḇôn) and בְּעֶ֖צֶב (ʿēṣeḇ), were translated with forms of λύπη: λύπας and λύπαις. Jesus used the analogy of a woman’s reactions to childbirth to forewarn and promise his disciples how they would react to his death and resurrection (John 16:20-22 NET).

I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad (λυπηθήσεσθε, a form of λυπέω), but your sadness (λύπη) will turn into joy. When a woman gives birth, she has distress (λύπην, another form of λύπη) because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer⁵ remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow (λύπην, another form of λύπη) now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

The Lord turned to the man.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:17-19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:17-19 (NET)	Genesis 3:17-19 (NETS)	Genesis 3:17-19 (English Elpenor)
And unto Adam He said: ‘Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil (בְּעִצָּבוֹן֙) shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.	But to Adam he said, “Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ the ground is cursed because of you; in painful toil (ʿiṣṣāḇôn, בעצבון) you will eat of it all the days of your life.	Then to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, of this one alone, not to eat from it, cursed is the earth in your labors; with pains (ἐν λύπαις) you will eat it all the days of your life;	And to Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee of it only not to eat– of that thou hast eaten, cursed [is] the ground in thy labours, in pain (ἐν λύπαις) shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.	It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field.	thorns and thistles it shall cause to grow up for you, and you will eat the herbage of the field.	Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’	By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”	By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the earth from which you were taken, for you are earth and to earth you will depart.”	In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken, for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return.

Here again, בְּעִצָּבוֹן֙ (ʿiṣṣāḇôn)—in toil (Tanakh), in sorrow (KJV), in painful toil (NET)—was translated with a form of λύπη: ἐν λύπαις. Paul alluded to this worldly sadness [that] brings about death (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NET):

For even if I made you sad (ἐλύπησα, a form of λυπέω) by my letter, I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad [ἐλύπησεν, another form of λυπέω], though only for a short time). Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad (ἐλυπήθητε, another form of λυπέω), but because you were made sad (ἐλυπήθητε, another form of λυπέω) to the point of repentance. For you were made sad (ἐλυπήθητε, another form of λυπέω) as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For sadness (λύπη) as intended by God produces a repentance that leads⁶ to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness (λύπη) brings about death.

This worldly sadness (λύπη) [that] brings about death⁷ was the Lord’s word to Adam (e.g., humanity): cursed is the earth in your labors; with pains (ἐν λύπαις) you will eat it all the days of your life⁸…until you return to the earth from which you were taken, for you are earth and to earth you will depart.⁹ But sadness (λύπη) as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation.¹⁰ In another essay I wrote:

The serpent trusted (Genesis 3:4, 5) his own partially true knowledge rather than God’s command. The woman trusted (Genesis 3:6) the serpent’s knowledge and her own desires rather than God’s command. The man trusted (Genesis 3:6) his wife rather than God’s command.

While there was no way to undo what had been done, this analysis points the way to a repentance that leads to salvation; namely, to trust God’s word over that of all others. The narrative continued:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:20 (NET)	Genesis 3:20 (NETS)	Genesis 3:20 (English Elpenor)
And the man called his wife’s name Eve (חַוָּ֑ה); because she was the mother of all living (חָֽי).	The man named his wife Eve (ḥaûâ, חוה), because she was the mother of all the living (ḥay, חי).	And Adam called the name of his wife Life (Ζωή), because she is the mother of all the living (τῶν ζώντων).	And Adam called the name of his wife Life (Ζωή), because she was the mother of all living (τῶν ζώντων).

Though this is an interesting choice of names, I find it difficult to glean whether Adam had repented or continued to trust in his wife. Nevertheless, the Lord God made clothes for both of them, to cover their newly perceived nakedness.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:21 (NET)	Genesis 3:21 (NETS)	Genesis 3:21 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem (יְהֹוָ֨ה) G-d (אֱלֹהִ֜ים) made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.	The Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים) made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.	And the Lord (κύριος) God (ὁ θεὸς) made leather tunics for Adam and for his wife and clothed them.	And the Lord (Κύριος) God (ὁ Θεὸς) made for Adam and his wife garments of skin, and clothed them.

Here the narrator called God יְהֹוָ֨ה (Yᵊhōvâ), which was corroborated by Κύριος in the Septuagint. If Adam or Eve had any lingering uncertainty about death, the corpses of the animals the Lord skinned to clothe them was a vivid education.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:22-24 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:22-24 (NET)	Genesis 3:22-24 (NETS)	Genesis 3:22-24 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem (יְהֹוָ֣ה) G-d (אֱלֹהִ֗ים) said: ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever’ [Table].	And the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים) said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”	Then God (ὁ θεός) said, “See, Adam has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, and now perhaps he might reach out his hand and take of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” [Table].	And God (ὁ Θεός) said, Behold, Adam is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now lest at any time he stretch forth his hand, and take of the tree of life and eat, and [so] he shall live forever–
Therefore HaShem (יְהֹוָ֥ה) G-d (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken [Table].	So the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים) expelled him from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken.	And the Lord (κύριος) God (ὁ θεὸς) sent him forth from the orchard of delight to till the earth from which he was taken [Table].	So the Lord (Κύριος) God (ὁ Θεὸς) sent him forth out of the garden of Delight to cultivate the ground out of which he was taken.
So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep (לִשְׁמֹ֕ר) the way to the tree of life.	When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard (šāmar, לשמר) the way to the tree of life.	And he drove Adam out and caused him to dwell opposite the orchard of delight, and he stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword that turns, to guard (φυλάσσειν) the way to the tree of life.	And he cast out Adam and caused him to dwell over against the garden of Delight, and stationed the cherubs and the fiery sword that turns about to keep (φυλάσσειν) the way of the tree of life.

The Lord God’s word is true: He did what He said and made it so. They will surely die. I’ll pick this up in another essay.

According to a note (72) in the NET Jesus alluded to Isaiah 66:14. A table comparing the Greek of John 16:22b with that of Isaiah 66:14 in the Septuagint follows:

Isaiah 66:14 (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 66:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάλιν δὲ ὄψομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ χαρήσεται ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία, καὶ τὴν χαρὰν ὑμῶν οὐδεὶς \|αἴρει\| ἀφ᾿ ὑμῶν	καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ χαρήσεται ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ ὑμῶν ὡς βοτάνη ἀνατελεῖ καὶ γνωσθήσεται ἡ χεὶρ κυρίου τοῖς σεβομένοις αὐτόν καὶ ἀπειλήσει τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσιν	καὶ ὄψεσθε, καὶ χαρήσεται ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ ὑμῶν ὡς βοτάνη ἀνατελεῖ καὶ γνωσθήσεται ἡ χεὶρ Κυρίου τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπειλήσει τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσιν
Isaiah 66:14 (NET)	Isaiah 66:14 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:14 (English Elpenor)
but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.	You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall grow like grass, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to those who worship him, and he shall threaten those who disobey him.	And ye shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall thrive like grass: and the hand of the Lord shall be known to them that fear him, and he shall threaten the disobedient.

Tables comparing Genesis 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:19; 3:20; 3:21; 3:24 and Isaiah 66:14 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and tables comparing Genesis 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:19; 3:20; 3:21; 3:24 and Isaiah 66:14 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Revelation 20:2, John 16:21 and 2 Corinthians 7:10 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 3:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:16 (KJV)	Genesis 3:16 (NET)
Unto the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.’	Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.	To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.”

Genesis 3:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ εἶπεν πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὰς λύπας σου καὶ τὸν στεναγμόν σου ἐν λύπαις τέξῃ τέκνα καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἡ ἀποστροφή σου καὶ αὐτός σου κυριεύσει	καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ εἶπε· πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὰς λύπας σου καὶ τὸν στεναγμόν σου· ἐν λύπαις τέξῃ τέκνα, καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἡ ἀποστροφή σου, καὶ αὐτός σου κυριεύσει
Genesis 3:16 (NETS)	Genesis 3:16 (English Elpenor)
And to the woman he said, “I will increasingly increase your pains and your groaning; with pains you will bring forth children. And your recourse will be to your husband, and he will dominate you.”	And to the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pains and thy groanings; in pain thou shalt bring forth children, and thy submission shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Genesis 3:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:17 (KJV)	Genesis 3:17 (NET)
And unto Adam He said: ‘Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.	And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;	But to Adam he said, “Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ the ground is cursed because of you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Genesis 3:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τῷ δὲ Αδαμ εἶπεν ὅτι ἤκουσας τῆς φωνῆς τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ ἔφαγες ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου οὗ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τούτου μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου ἐν λύπαις φάγῃ αὐτὴν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου	τῷ δὲ ᾿Αδὰμ εἶπεν· ὅτι ἤκουσας τῆς φωνῆς τῆς γυναικός σου καὶ ἔφαγες ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου, οὗ ἐνετειλάμην σοι τούτου μόνου μὴ φαγεῖν, ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἔφαγες, ἐπικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις σου· ἐν λύπαις φαγῇ αὐτὴν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς σου
Genesis 3:17 (NETS)	Genesis 3:17 (English Elpenor)
Then to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, of this one alone, not to eat from it, cursed is the earth in your labors; with pains you will eat it all the days of your life;	And to Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee of it only not to eat– of that thou hast eaten, cursed [is] the ground in thy labours, in pain shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

Genesis 3:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:18 (KJV)	Genesis 3:18 (NET)
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.	Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;	It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field.

Genesis 3:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀνατελεῖ σοι καὶ φάγῃ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ ἀγροῦ	ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀνατελεῖ σοι, καὶ φαγῇ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ ἀγροῦ
Genesis 3:18 (NETS)	Genesis 3:18 (English Elpenor)
thorns and thistles it shall cause to grow up for you, and you will eat the herbage of the field.	Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

Genesis 3:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:19 (KJV)	Genesis 3:19 (NET)
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.’	In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.	By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”

Genesis 3:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φάγῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου ἕως τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι σε εἰς τὴν γῆν ἐξ ἧς ἐλήμφθης ὅτι γῆ εἶ καὶ εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσῃ	ἐν ἱδρῶτι τοῦ προσώπου σου φαγῇ τὸν ἄρτον σου, ἕως τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι σε εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐξ ἧς ἐλήφθης, ὅτι γῆ εἶ καὶ εἰς γῆν ἀπελεύσῃ
Genesis 3:19 (NETS)	Genesis 3:19 (English Elpenor)
By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the earth from which you were taken, for you are earth and to earth you will depart.”	In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread until thou return to the earth out of which thou wast taken, for earth thou art and to earth thou shalt return.

Genesis 3:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:20 (KJV)	Genesis 3:20 (NET)
And the man called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.	And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.	The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.

Genesis 3:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν Αδαμ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ Ζωή ὅτι αὕτη μήτηρ πάντων τῶν ζώντων	καὶ ἐκάλεσεν ᾿Αδὰμ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ Ζωή, ὅτι αὕτη μήτηρ πάντων τῶν ζώντων
Genesis 3:20 (NETS)	Genesis 3:20 (English Elpenor)
And Adam called the name of his wife Life, because she is the mother of all the living.	And Adam called the name of his wife Life, because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:21 (KJV)	Genesis 3:21 (NET)
And HaShem G-d made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.	Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.	The Lord God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αδαμ καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ χιτῶνας δερματίνους καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτούς	Καὶ ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ᾿Αδὰμ καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ χιτῶνας δερματίνους καὶ ἐνέδυσεν αὐτούς
Genesis 3:21 (NETS)	Genesis 3:21 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord God made leather tunics for Adam and for his wife and clothed them.	And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:24 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:24 (KJV)	Genesis 3:24 (NET)
So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way to the tree of life.	So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.	When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:24 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 3:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐξέβαλεν τὸν Αδαμ καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς καὶ ἔταξεν τὰ χερουβιμ καὶ τὴν φλογίνην ῥομφαίαν τὴν στρεφομένην φυλάσσειν τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς	καὶ ἐξέβαλε τὸν ᾿Αδὰμ καὶ κατῴκισεν αὐτὸν ἀπέναντι τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς τρυφῆς καὶ ἔταξε τὰ Χερουβὶμ καὶ τὴν φλογίνην ρομφαίαν τὴν στρεφομένην φυλάσσειν τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς
Genesis 3:24 (NETS)	Genesis 3:24 (English Elpenor)
And he drove Adam out and caused him to dwell opposite the orchard of delight, and he stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword that turns, to guard the way to the tree of life.	And he cast out Adam and caused him to dwell over against the garden of Delight, and stationed the cherubs and the fiery sword that turns about to keep the way of the tree of life.

Isaiah 66:14 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 66:14 (KJV)	Isaiah 66:14 (NET)
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.	And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.	When you see this, you will be happy, and you will be revived. The Lord will reveal his power to his servants and his anger to his enemies.

Isaiah 66:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 66:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ὄψεσθε καὶ χαρήσεται ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ ὑμῶν ὡς βοτάνη ἀνατελεῖ καὶ γνωσθήσεται ἡ χεὶρ κυρίου τοῖς σεβομένοις αὐτόν καὶ ἀπειλήσει τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσιν	καὶ ὄψεσθε, καὶ χαρήσεται ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ ὀστᾶ ὑμῶν ὡς βοτάνη ἀνατελεῖ· καὶ γνωσθήσεται ἡ χεὶρ Κυρίου τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν, καὶ ἀπειλήσει τοῖς ἀπειθοῦσιν
Isaiah 66:14 (NETS)	Isaiah 66:14 (English Elpenor)
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall grow like grass, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to those who worship him, and he shall threaten those who disobey him.	And ye shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall thrive like grass: and the hand of the Lord shall be known to them that fear him, and he shall threaten the disobedient.

Revelation 20:2 (NET)	Revelation 20:2 (KJV)
He seized the dragon—the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan—and tied him up for a thousand years.	And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Revelation 20:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	Revelation 20:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Revelation 20:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐκράτησεν τὸν δράκοντα, ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὅς ἐστιν Διάβολος καὶ ὁ Σατανᾶς, καὶ ἔδησεν αὐτὸν χίλια ἔτη	και εκρατησεν τον δρακοντα τον οφιν τον αρχαιον ος εστιν διαβολος και σατανας και εδησεν αυτον χιλια ετη	και εκρατησεν τον δρακοντα τον οφιν τον αρχαιον ος εστιν διαβολος και ο σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην και εδησεν αυτον χιλια ετη

John 16:21 (NET)	John 16:21 (KJV)
When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world.	A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

John 16:21 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 16:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 16:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἡ γυνὴ ὅταν τίκτῃ λύπην ἔχει, ὅτι ἦλθεν ἡ ὥρα αὐτῆς· ὅταν δὲ γεννήσῃ τὸ παιδίον, οὐκέτι μνημονεύει τῆς θλίψεως διὰ τὴν χαρὰν ὅτι ἐγεννήθη ἄνθρωπος εἰς τὸν κόσμον	η γυνη οταν τικτη λυπην εχει οτι ηλθεν η ωρα αυτης οταν δε γεννηση το παιδιον ουκ ετι μνημονευει της θλιψεως δια την χαραν οτι εγεννηθη ανθρωπος εις τον κοσμον	η γυνη οταν τικτη λυπην εχει οτι ηλθεν η ωρα αυτης οταν δε γεννηση το παιδιον ουκετι μνημονευει της θλιψεως δια την χαραν οτι εγεννηθη ανθρωπος εις τον κοσμον

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NET)	2 Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)
For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.	For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NET Parallel Greek)	2 Corinthians 7:10 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	2 Corinthians 7:10 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἡ γὰρ κατὰ θεὸν λύπη μετάνοιαν εἰς σωτηρίαν ἀμεταμέλητον ἐργάζεται· ἡ δὲ τοῦ κόσμου λύπη θάνατον κατεργάζεται	η γαρ κατα θεον λυπη μετανοιαν εις σωτηριαν αμεταμελητον κατεργαζεται η δε του κοσμου λυπη θανατον κατεργαζεται	η γαρ κατα θεον λυπη μετανοιαν εις σωτηριαν αμεταμελητον κατεργαζεται η δε του κοσμου λυπη θανατον κατεργαζεται

Back to Who Am I? Part 16

Back to A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος here in the nominative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον οφιν τον αρχαιον (KJV: that old serpent) in the accusative case.

² Revelation 20:2 (NET) The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article ὁ preceding Satan. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³ The Greek word translated faithfulness in Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit is πίστις: live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 NET).

⁴ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had οὖν here. The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had οὐκέτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ουκ ετι (KJV: no more).

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐργάζεται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κατεργαζεται (KJV: worketh).

⁷ 2 Corinthians 7:10b (NET)

⁸ Genesis 3:17b (NETS)

⁹ Genesis 3:19b (NETS)

¹⁰ 2 Corinthians 7:10a (NET)

Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

Posted on February 14, 2024 by admin

This is a continuation of my consideration of the many wonders (τέρατα, a form of τέρας) and miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον) which came about by the apostles.¹ I’ll continue to use the knowledge gleaned from the translation of Exodus 4:21 and 4:8, 9 in the Septuagint to analyze the miraculous sign as “the thing itself,” and distinguish it from “the wonder, the voice of the sign, the effect it has on those who witness the sign.”²

Luke described an early practice of the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:32-37 NET):

The group of those who believed were of one heart³ and mind (ψυχὴ),⁴ and no one said that any of his⁵ possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. For there was⁶ no one needy among them because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed⁷ to each, as anyone had need. So Joseph,⁸ a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by⁹ the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at¹⁰ the apostles’ feet.

Barnabas (Joseph, Joses) will play a larger role later in Luke’s narrative. It is not too difficult to imagine why a believing Levite became a “son of encouragement” (NET) or The son of consolation (KJV) to the apostles as their faith was persecuted by their rulers, elders, and experts in the law…in Jerusalem.¹¹ Here, he demonstrated by his behavior his participation as a member in good standing in this early practice of the Jerusalem church.

To translate ψυχὴ mind, however, rather than soul or life, seems disingenuous to me. While it conveys the idea that this was a spontaneous reaction to the indwelling Holy Spirit in a particular cultural context, it completely masks the apparent, if not inherent, falseness of this specific belief. I might go so far as to translate ψυχὴ person here. I may be a rabid anti-communist or overly individualistic. Still, I don’t believe that the indwelling Holy Spirit creates God-clones, but a wondrous plethora of godly individuals.¹²

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:1-4 NET):

Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira¹³ his wife, sold a piece of property. He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his¹⁴ wife’s knowledge;¹⁵ he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter¹⁶ said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie (ψεύσασθαι, a form of ψεύδομαι) to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself¹⁷ part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied (ἐψεύσω, another form of ψεύδομαι) to people but to God!”

When Ananias¹⁸ heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it.¹⁹

The miraculous sign is Ananias’ death in response to Peter’s words. The wonder is the fear it caused in all who heard, more on that later. Clearly, I would be thinking completely differently about Peter’s words if Ananias had scoffed and walked away, but given his death, it is Peter’s knowledge of, and from, the Holy Spirit that captures my attention.

He knew the secret that Ananias had kept back for himself part of the proceeds.²⁰ With that knowledge alone I might have taken his lie more personally. Peter knew Ananias’ heart as well, that he had not lied to people but to God,²¹ that Satan filled [his] heart (τὴν καρδίαν σου) to lie to the Holy Spirit.²² Peter’s words conveyed Godly judgment rather than man’s judgment.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
1 Samuel 16:7 (Tanakh) [Table]	1 Samuel 16:7 (NET)	1 Reigns 16:7 (NETS) [Table]	1 Kings 16:7 (English Elpenor)
But HaShem said unto Samuel: ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but HaShem looketh on the heart (לַלֵּבָֽב).’	But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (lēḇāḇ, ללבב).”	And the Lord said to Samouel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the posture of his size, because I have rejected him, for God will not look as a mortal will see, for a mortal will see into a face, but God will see into a heart (εἰς καρδίαν).”	But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance, nor on his stature, for I have rejected him; for God sees not as man looks; for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (εἰς καρδίαν).

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:6-11 NET):

So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. Peter²³ said to her,²⁴ “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” Peter then told²⁵ her, “Why have you agreed together to test (πειράσαι, a form of πειράζω) the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.

Luke described some of the results of this fear (Acts 5:12-14 NET):

Now many miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον) and wonders (τέρατα, a form of τέρας) came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico [Table]. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women.

This is a brilliant description of the fear of the Lord: Those whom Jesus drew to Himself at this particular time were added to their number. None of the rest dared to join them. Though it is a little difficult to come to a definitive meaning for ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς (NET: held them in high honor) in this context, it’s clear that believers were not being bad-mouthed by the people who feared to join them.

I have very little to say about Ananias and Sapphira, except to compare their decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord to Judah’s son Onan’s decision:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 38:8-10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 38:8-10 (NET)	Genesis 38:8-10 (NETS)	Genesis 38:8-10 (English Elpenor)
And Judah said unto Onan: ‘Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.’	Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.”	Then Ioudas said to Aunan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and act the part of a brother-in-law, and raise up offspring for your brother.”	And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother’s wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.
And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.	But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he wasted his emission on the ground so as not to give his brother a descendant.	But because Aunan knew that the offspring would not be his, it would come about that he would pour out his semen upon the ground when he would go in to his brother’s wife so that he would not give offspring to his brother.	And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his– it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother’s wife.
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of HaShem; and He slew him also.	What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too.	Now it seemed evil in the sight of God that he did this, and he put him to death also.	And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

Granted, apart from the story of Ananias and Sapphira, I would have judged Onan by outward appearance. I wouldn’t have attributed his death to his own decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord. But the fact that Onan isn’t remembered for that decision helps me extrapolate the false wonder; namely, any attribution of the death of Ananias and Sapphira to anything other than their own decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord that might hinder those whom Jesus is drawing to Himself or encourage those who should fear to join the group of believers at any particular time.

Luke continued (Acts 5:15, 16 NET):

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed [Table].

Who were they who carried the sick out into the streets? The translation they appears to be assumed from the verb ἐκφέρειν, an active infinitive form of ἐκφέρω. The nearest antecedent is πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν (NET: crowds of both men and women).²⁶ I admit I had associated these crowds of both men and women with the More and more believers in the Lord…added to their number.²⁷ Their activity, however, sounds more like the vain hero-worship of those who feared to join the believers.

After the Lord healed a man born lame (Acts 3:1-10), Peter declared (Acts 3:12-21 NET):

Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? [Table] The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him [Table]. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man—whom you see and know—strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets—that his Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way. Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus [Table]. This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets [Table].

In the end, however, it doesn’t seem to have mattered whether it was believers are those who feared to join them who carried the sick out into the streets: They were all being healed.²⁸ My tears flowed at this outpouring of God’s grace, knowing from history what will come upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem who ignore Jesus’ warning to flee.²⁹

Jesus had said (John 14:10b-12 NET):

The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds (τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ) [Table]. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves [Table]. I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these because I am going to the³⁰ Father.

This indiscriminate multiplication of miraculous deeds of healing seems wholly designed to give every opportunity for repentance to those whose prejudice incites their rejection of Jesus’ person. Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:17, 18 NET):

Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail [Table].

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jesus said, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!³¹

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:19-26 NET):

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said [Table], “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life” (πάντα τὰ ρήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης). When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching.

Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—that is, the whole high council of the Israelites—and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them. But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the jail³² locked securely and the guards standing³³ at³⁴ the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the³⁵ commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. But someone came and reported to them,³⁶ “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!” Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought³⁷ the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned³⁸ by the people).

The officers’ fear adds some weight to the NET translation of ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς: held them in high honor.³⁹ This apparent tug-of-war between the apostles and the rulers in Jerusalem is the outworking of Jesus’ promise (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Paul explained to Gentile believers (Romans 11:25b-32 NET):

A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in [Table]. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob [Table].
And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”⁴⁰

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy [Table]. For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

And Jesus prophesied over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39 NET):

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! [Table] Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’

I’ll continue with this in another essay. According to a note (21) in the NET Paul quoted from Isaiah 59:20, 21. A table comparing the Greek of Romans 11:26b, 27a with that of Isaiah 59:20, 21 in the Septuagint follows.

Romans 11:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint BLB) Table	Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ	καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ	καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ
Romans 11:26 (NET)	Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)	Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.	And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob.	And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
Romans 11:27a (NET Parallel Greek)	Isaiah 59:21a (Septuagint BLB) Table	Isaiah 59:21a (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη	καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη
Romans 11:27a (NET)	Isaiah 59:21a (NETS)	Isaiah 59:21a (English Elpenor)
And this is my covenant with them,	And this is the covenant to them from me,	And this shall be my covenant with them,

Tables comparing Genesis 38:8; 38:9 and 38:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and comparing Genesis 38:8; 38:9 and 38:10 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Acts 4:32; 4:34-37; 5:1-3; 5:5; 5:8, 9; John 14:12 and Acts 5:23-26 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 38:8 (Tanakh)	Genesis 38:8 (KJV)	Genesis 38:8 (NET)
And Judah said unto Onan: ‘Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.’	And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.	Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.”

Genesis 38:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 38:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Ιουδας τῷ Αυναν εἴσελθε πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ γάμβρευσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνάστησον σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου	εἶπε δὲ ᾿Ιούδας τῷ Αὐνάν· εἴσελθε πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ ἐπιγάμβρευσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνάστησον σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου
Genesis 38:8 (NETS)	Genesis 38:8 (English Elpenor)
Then Ioudas said to Aunan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and act the part of a brother-in-law, and raise up offspring for your brother.”	And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother’s wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Genesis 38:9 (Tanakh)	Genesis 38:9 (KJV)	Genesis 38:9 (NET)
And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.	And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.	But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he wasted his emission on the ground so as not to give his brother a descendant.

Genesis 38:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 38:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
γνοὺς δὲ Αυναν ὅτι οὐκ αὐτῷ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα ἐγίνετο ὅταν εἰσήρχετο πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐξέχεεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ	γνοὺς δὲ Αὐνὰν ὅτι οὐκ αὐτῷ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα, ἐγίνετο ὅταν εἰσήρχετο πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἐξέχεεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ
Genesis 38:9 (NETS)	Genesis 38:9 (English Elpenor)
But because Aunan knew that the offspring would not be his, it would come about that he would pour out his semen upon the ground when he would go in to his brother’s wife so that he would not give offspring to his brother.	And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his– it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother’s wife.

Genesis 38:10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 38:10 (KJV)	Genesis 38:10 (NET)
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of HaShem; and He slew him also.	And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.	What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too.

Genesis 38:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 38:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πονηρὸν δὲ ἐφάνη ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι ἐποίησεν τοῦτο καὶ ἐθανάτωσεν καὶ τοῦτον	πονηρὸν δὲ ἐφάνη ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐποίησε τοῦτο, καὶ ἐθανάτωσε καὶ τοῦτον
Genesis 38:10 (NETS)	Genesis 38:10 (English Elpenor)
Now it seemed evil in the sight of God that he did this, and he put him to death also.	And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

Acts 4:32 (NET)	Acts 4:32 (KJV)
The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.	And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 4:32 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 4:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 4:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Τοῦ δὲ πλήθους τῶν πιστευσάντων ἦν καρδία καὶ ψυχὴ μία, καὶ οὐδὲ εἷς τι τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ ἔλεγεν ἴδιον εἶναι ἀλλ᾿ ἦν αὐτοῖς \|ἅπαντα\| κοινά	του δε πληθους των πιστευσαντων ην η καρδια και η ψυχη μια και ουδε εις τι των υπαρχοντων αυτω ελεγεν ιδιον ειναι αλλ ην αυτοις απαντα κοινα	του δε πληθους των πιστευσαντων ην η καρδια και η ψυχη μια και ουδε εις τι των υπαρχοντων αυτων ελεγεν ιδιον ειναι αλλ ην αυτοις απαντα κοινα

Acts 4:34-37 (NET)	Acts 4:34-37 (KJV)
For there was no one needy among them because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales	Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:34 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 4:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 4:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐνδεής τις ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς· ὅσοι γὰρ κτήτορες χωρίων ἢ οἰκιῶν ὑπῆρχον, πωλοῦντες ἔφερον τὰς τιμὰς τῶν πιπρασκομένων	ουδε γαρ ενδεης τις υπηρχεν εν αυτοις οσοι γαρ κτητορες χωριων η οικιων υπηρχον πωλουντες εφερον τας τιμας των πιπρασκομενων	ουδε γαρ ενδεης τις υπηρχεν εν αυτοις οσοι γαρ κτητορες χωριων η οικιων υπηρχον πωλουντες εφερον τας τιμας των πιπρασκομενων

and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need.

And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Acts 4:35 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 4:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 4:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐτίθουν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων, διεδίδετο δὲ ἑκάστῳ καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν	και ετιθουν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων διεδιδοτο δε εκαστω καθοτι αν τις χρειαν ειχεν	και ετιθουν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων διεδιδοτο δε εκαστω καθοτι αν τις χρειαν ειχεν

So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”),

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Acts 4:36 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 4:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 4:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἐπικληθεὶς Βαρναβᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων (ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον υἱὸς παρακλήσεως), Λευίτης, Κύπριος τῷ γένει	ιωσης δε ο επικληθεις βαρναβας υπο των αποστολων ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον υιος παρακλησεως λευιτης κυπριος τω γενει	ιωσης δε ο επικληθεις βαρναβας απο των αποστολων ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον υιος παρακλησεως λευιτης κυπριος τω γενει

sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:37 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 4:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 4:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὑπάρχοντος αὐτῷ ἀγροῦ πωλήσας ἤνεγκεν τὸ χρῆμα καὶ ἔθηκεν \|πρὸς\| τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων	υπαρχοντος αυτω αγρου πωλησας ηνεγκεν το χρημα και εθηκεν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων	υπαρχοντος αυτω αγρου πωλησας ηνεγκεν το χρημα και εθηκεν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων

Acts 5:1-3 (NET)	Acts 5:1-3 (KJV)
Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property.	But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

Acts 5:1 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἀνὴρ δέ τις Ἁνανίας ὀνόματι σὺν σαπφίρῃ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπώλησεν κτῆμα	ανηρ δε τις ανανιας ονοματι συν σαπφειρη τη γυναικι αυτου επωλησεν κτημα	ανηρ δε τις ανανιας ονοματι συν σαπφειρη τη γυναικι αυτου επωλησεν κτημα

He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet.

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐνοσφίσατο ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς, συνειδυίης καὶ τῆς γυναικός, καὶ ἐνέγκας μέρος τι παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔθηκεν	και ενοσφισατο απο της τιμης συνειδυιας και της γυναικος αυτου και ενεγκας μερος τι παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων εθηκεν	και ενοσφισατο απο της τιμης συνειδυιας και της γυναικος αυτου και ενεγκας μερος τι παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων εθηκεν

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Acts 5:3 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ Πέτρος· Ἁνανία, διὰ τί ἐπλήρωσεν ὁ σατανᾶς τὴν καρδίαν σου, ψεύσασθαι σε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ νοσφίσασθαι ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς τοῦ χωρίου	ειπεν δε πετρος ανανια δια τι επληρωσεν ο σατανας την καρδιαν σου ψευσασθαι σε το πνευμα το αγιον και νοσφισασθαι απο της τιμης του χωριου	ειπεν δε πετρος ανανια δια τι επληρωσεν ο σατανας την καρδιαν σου ψευσασθαι σε το πνευμα το αγιον και νοσφισασθαι σε απο της τιμης του χωριου

Acts 5:5 (NET)	Acts 5:5 (KJV)
When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it.	And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Acts 5:5 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀκούων δὲ ὁ Ἁνανίας τοὺς λόγους τούτους πεσὼν ἐξέψυξεν, καὶ ἐγένετο φόβος μέγας ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας	ακουων δε ανανιας τους λογους τουτους πεσων εξεψυξεν και εγενετο φοβος μεγας επι παντας τους ακουοντας ταυτα	ακουων δε ο ανανιας τους λογους τουτους πεσων εξεψυξεν και εγενετο φοβος μεγας επι παντας τους ακουοντας ταυτα

Acts 5:8, 9 (NET)	Acts 5:8, 9 (KJV)
Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.”	And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Acts 5:8 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀπεκρίθη δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν Πέτρος· εἰπέ μοι, εἰ τοσούτου τὸ χωρίον ἀπέδοσθε; ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· ναί, τοσούτου	απεκριθη δε αυτη ο πετρος ειπε μοι ει τοσουτου το χωριον απεδοσθε η δε ειπεν ναι τοσουτου	απεκριθη δε αυτη ο πετρος ειπε μοι ει τοσουτου το χωριον απεδοσθε η δε ειπεν ναι τοσουτου

Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!”

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Acts 5:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὁ δὲ Πέτρος πρὸς αὐτήν· τί ὅτι συνεφωνήθη ὑμῖν πειράσαι τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου; ἰδοὺ οἱ πόδες τῶν θαψάντων τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἐπὶ τῇ θύρᾳ καὶ ἐξοίσουσιν σε	ο δε πετρος ειπεν προς αυτην τι οτι συνεφωνηθη υμιν πειρασαι το πνευμα κυριου ιδου οι ποδες των θαψαντων τον ανδρα σου επι τη θυρα και εξοισουσιν σε	ο δε πετρος ειπεν προς αυτην τι οτι συνεφωνηθη υμιν πειρασαι το πνευμα κυριου ιδου οι ποδες των θαψαντων τον ανδρα σου επι τη θυρα και εξοισουσιν σε

John 14:12 (NET)	John 14:12 (KJV)
I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these because I am going to the Father.	Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 14:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 14:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ κακεῖνος ποιήσει καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει, ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πορεύομαι	αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ο πιστευων εις εμε τα εργα α εγω ποιω κακεινος ποιησει και μειζονα τουτων ποιησει οτι εγω προς τον πατερα μου πορευομαι	αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ο πιστευων εις εμε τα εργα α εγω ποιω κακεινος ποιησει και μειζονα τουτων ποιησει οτι εγω προς τον πατερα μου πορευομαι

Acts 5:23-26 (NET)	Acts 5:23-26 (KJV)
“We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”	Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Acts 5:23 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)
λέγοντες ὅτι τὸ δεσμωτήριον εὕρομεν κεκλεισμένον ἐν πάσῃ ἀσφαλείᾳ καὶ τοὺς φύλακας ἑστῶτας ἐπὶ τῶν θυρῶν, ἀνοίξαντες δὲ ἔσω οὐδένα εὕρομεν	λεγοντες οτι το μεν δεσμωτηριον ευρομεν κεκλεισμενον εν παση ασφαλεια και τους φυλακας εξω εστωτας προ των θυρων ανοιξαντες δε εσω ουδενα ευρομεν	λεγοντες οτι το μεν δεσμωτηριον ευρομεν κεκλεισμενον εν παση ασφαλεια και τους φυλακας εστωτας προ των θυρων ανοιξαντες δε εσω ουδενα ευρομεν

Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be.

Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Acts 5:24 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν τοὺς λόγους τούτους ὅ τε στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, διηπόρουν περὶ αὐτῶν τί ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτο	ως δε ηκουσαν τους λογους τουτους ο τε ιερευς και ο στρατηγος του ιερου και οι αρχιερεις διηπορουν περι αυτων τι αν γενοιτο τουτο	ως δε ηκουσαν τους λογους τουτους ο τε ιερευς και ο στρατηγος του ιερου και οι αρχιερεις διηπορουν περι αυτων τι αν γενοιτο τουτο

But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!”

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Acts 5:25 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)
παραγενόμενος δέ τις ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ ἄνδρες οὓς ἔθεσθε ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ εἰσὶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ἑστῶτες καὶ διδάσκοντες τὸν λαόν	παραγενομενος δε τις απηγγειλεν αυτοις λεγων οτι ιδου οι ανδρες ους εθεσθε εν τη φυλακη εισιν εν τω ιερω εστωτες και διδασκοντες τον λαον	παραγενομενος δε τις απηγγειλεν αυτοις οτι ιδου οι ανδρες ους εθεσθε εν τη φυλακη εισιν εν τω ιερω εστωτες και διδασκοντες τον λαον

Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Acts 5:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Acts 5:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Acts 5:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Τότε ἀπελθὼν ὁ στρατηγὸς σὺν τοῖς ὑπηρέταις ἦγεν αὐτοὺς οὐ μετὰ βίας (ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ τὸν λαὸν μὴ λιθασθῶσιν)	τοτε απελθων ο στρατηγος συν τοις υπηρεταις ηγαγεν αυτους ου μετα βιας εφοβουντο γαρ τον λαον ινα μη λιθασθωσιν	τοτε απελθων ο στρατηγος συν τοις υπηρεταις ηγαγεν αυτους ου μετα βιας εφοβουντο γαρ τον λαον ινα μη λιθασθωσιν

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 2

¹ Acts 2:43 (NET) Table

² Wonders and False Wonders, Part 1

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article η preceding heart. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article η preceding mind (KJV: soul). The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular pronoun αὐτῷ here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had the plural αυτων.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἦν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υπηρχεν.

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had διεδίδετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had διεδιδοτο (KJV: distribution was made). They appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had Ἰωσὴφ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιωσης (KJV: Joses). Both spellings describe, “A Levite from Cyprus whose name was changed by the apostles to Barnabas (Acts 4:36),” according to the Koine Greek Lexicon online.

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀπὸ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had υπο.

¹⁰ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πρὸς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παρα.

¹¹ Acts 4:5b (NET) Table

¹² Ephesians 4; Hebrews 2:10-15

¹³ In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Sapphira was spelled σαπφίρῃ (Σαπφίρῃ), and σαπφειρη in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

¹⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτου here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had συνειδυίης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνειδυιας (KJV: being privy to it). They appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the article ὁ preceding Peter. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁷ The Byzantine Majority Text had σε here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ὁ preceding Ananias. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

¹⁹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ταυτα (KJV: these things) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁰ Acts 5:2a (NET)

²¹ Acts 5:4b (NET)

²² Acts 5:3a (NET)

²³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding Peter. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πρὸς αὐτὴν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply αυτη (KJV: unto her).

²⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπεν (KJV: said) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁶ Acts 5:14b (NET)

²⁷ Acts 5:14a (NET)

²⁸ Acts 5:15a, 16b (NET) Table

²⁹ Luke 21:20-24

³⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μου (KJV: my) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³¹ Matthew 23:37 (NET) Table

³² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεν (KJV: truly) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had εξω (KJV: without) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐπὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προ (KJV: before).

³⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιερευς και ο (KJV: high priest and the) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³⁶ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had λεγων (KJV: saying) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

³⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἦγεν here where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ηγαγεν.

³⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ινα μη (KJV: lest they should have been stoned) preceding of being stoned, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had simply μὴ.

³⁹ Acts 5:13b (NET)

⁴⁰ See Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3 for a table comparing the Greek of this quotation to that of the Septuagint.

Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 1

Posted on February 5, 2024 by admin

I don’t worship statues, I thought, when I first encountered the end of John’s letter: Little children, keep yourselves¹ from idols.² It might be easier if I did, not necessarily the keeping part: Prostrating myself before some statue in some temple on a cold stone floor, naked, sounds kinky. I like it. But it would be easier to recognize when I was doing it.

I’ve been home a lot recently, able to attend church and Bible study. The Pastor’s sermon series was on Genesis and the Bible study was an in depth look and discussion. I became increasingly uncomfortable with where my mind was going, especially in the 3^rd chapter of Genesis. I had stopped treating it like the word of God and had begun to treat it like a Delphic Oracle that I could or should outsmart somehow.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 2:16, 17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 2:16, 17 (NET)	Genesis 2:16, 17 (NETS)	Genesis 2:16, 17 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem G-d commanded the man (הָֽאָדָ֖ם), saying: ‘Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; [Table]	Then the Lord God commanded the man (‘āḏām, האדם), “You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard,	And the Lord God commanded Adam (τῷ Αδαμ), saying, “You shall eat for food of every tree that is in the orchard, [Table]	And the Lord God gave a charge to Adam (τῷ ᾿Αδὰμ), saying, Of every tree which is in the garden thou mayest freely eat,
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die’ [Table].	but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”	but of the tree for knowing good and evil, of it you shall not eat; on the day that you eat of it, you shall die by death” [Table].	but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil– of it ye shall not eat, but in whatsoever day ye eat of it, ye shall surely die.
Genesis 3:6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:6 (NET)	Genesis 3:6 (NETS)	Genesis 3:6 (English Elpenor)
And when the woman (הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה) saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight (תַֽאֲוָה) to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired (וְנֶחְמָ֤ד) to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat [Table].	When the woman (‘iššâ, האשה) saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive (ta’ăvâ, תאוה) to the eye, and was desirable (ḥāmaḏ, ונחמד) for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.	And the woman (ἡ γυνὴ) saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasing (ἀρεστὸν) for the eyes to look at and it was beautiful (ὡραῗόν) to contemplate, and when she had taken of its fruit she ate, and she also gave some to her husband with her, and they ate [Table].	And the woman (ἡ γυνή) saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant (ἀρεστὸν) to the eyes to look upon and beautiful (ὡραῖόν) to contemplate, and having taken of its fruit she ate, and she gave to her husband also with her, and they ate.

I focused on the woman because that was where the text gives the most hope for understanding why this happened. The man’s motivations were more inscrutable or inanely mundane: “This is the food my wife gave me, so I ate it.”³ There are two different words for desire in the Masoretic text leading to the moment the woman took of its fruit and ate.⁴ A note (18) in the NET translated the Hebrew: “that good was the tree for food, and that desirable it was to the eyes, and desirable was the tree to make one wise.”

The rabbis who translated the Septuagint didn’t choose any forms of θέλω or θέλημα for these words. Rather, they chose ἀρεστὸν (a form of ἀρεστός) for תַֽאֲוָה (ta’ăvâ), and ὡραῖόν (a form of ὡραῖος) for וְנֶחְמָ֤ד (ḥāmaḏ). But who cares about the Septuagint? Let’s just go with it. This happened because the woman exercised her free will, even if the man just followed her lead.

Let me get naked and prostrate myself before free will to see if I can recognize that I am naked and prostrate before a man-made idol: The first thing that occurs to me is that free will must be evil, since it caused the woman to disobey God’s command. Well, I don’t like being naked and prostrate before something evil, so the first thing I’ll do is add free will to God’s word.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 1:27, 28 (Tanakh)	Genesis 1:27, 28 (NET)	Genesis 1:27, 28 (NETS)	Genesis 1:27, 28 (English Elpenor)
And G-d created man (הָֽאָדָם֙) in His own image, in the image of G-d created He him; male (זָכָ֥ר) and female (וּנְקֵבָ֖ה) created He them [Table].	God created humankind (‘āḏām, האדם) in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male (zāḵār, זכר) and female (nᵊqēḇâ, ונקבה) he created them.	And God made humankind (τὸν ἄνθρωπον); according to divine image he made it; male (ἄρσεν) and female (καὶ θῆλυ) he made them [Table].	And God made man (τὸν ἄνθρωπον), according to the image of God he made him, male (ἄρσεν) and female (καὶ θῆλυ) he made them.
And G-d blessed them; [and gave them free will] and G-d said unto them: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth’ [Table].	God blessed them [and gave them free will] and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”	And God blessed them [and gave them free will], saying, “Increase, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and all the cattle and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth” [Table].	And God blessed them [and gave them free will], saying, Increase and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the seas and flying creatures of heaven, and all the cattle and all the earth, and all the reptiles that creep on the earth.

Now that free will has been given by God, it needs some power and purpose. Otherwise, why would I prostrate myself naked before it? Just kinky fun? No, it was not just that free will prompted the woman to disobey God, she might have obeyed God of her own free will. There’s no evidence for that in the text, but what good is free will if it is incapable of obedience?

So now, I can use my idol to judge God: If the woman’s God-given free will lacked the power, authority, whatever, to make it possible for her to have obeyed God, then God was unfair, vindictive, evil in a word. God is not evil. Therefore by free will human beings may choose righteousness and obedience. The woman might have rewritten the whole story if she had directed her free will toward righteousness and obedience rather than sin and disobedience.

About this time I recognized that I’d been here before.⁵

God promised Solomon a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you¹—in the dream. But Solomon broke every law God gave the kings of Israel while wide-awake. Surely Solomon’s alleged wisdom was grossly overstated!

Okay, enough of this self-righteous snit. You notice what just happened. I’m all up in arms because the wise and discerning mind God allegedly gave Solomon was neither wise enough nor discerning enough to protect Solomon from falling afoul of the laws God gave the kings of Israel. I reasoned that God-given discernment at a minimum should have made the king wise enough to follow God’s rules for kings, or God-given discernment can’t be discernment given by God. It must have been only a dream.

There is a significant difference between the wise and discerning mind God gave to Solomon and the woman’s free will. The wise and discerning mind is stated explicitly:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
1 Kings 3:11, 12 (Tanakh)	1 Kings 3:11, 12 (NET)	3 Reigns 3:11, 12 (NETS)	3 Kings 3:11, 12 (English Elpenor)
And God said unto [Solomon], Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; [Table]	God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,	And the Lord said to him, “Because you requested this thing from me and did not request for yourself many days and did not request riches and did not request lives of your enemies but requested for yourself understanding to listen to judgment, [Table]	And the Lord said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing of me, and hast not asked for thyself long life, and hast not asked wealth, nor hast asked the lives of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to hear judgment;
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise (חָכָ֣ם) and an understanding (וְנָב֔וֹן) heart (לֵב); so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee [Table].	I grant your request and give you a wise (ḥāḵām, חכם) and discerning (bîn, ונבון) mind (lēḇ, לב) superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.	behold, I have done according to your word; behold, I have given you a prudent (φρονίμην) and wise (καὶ σοφήν) heart (καρδίαν); like you there has not been before you, and after you there shall not arise similar to you [Table].	behold, I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee an understanding (φρονίμην) and wise (καὶ σοφήν) heart (καρδίαν): there has not been [any one] like thee before thee, and after thee there shall not arise one like thee.

On the other hand, the woman’s free will was an inference derived from two Hebrew words that can mean desire. Eventually, I had to come to terms with Solomon’s wealth and his God-given wise and discerning mind.⁶

[Solomon’s wealth] which is at least possible to measure, has been coupled in a promise with a wise and discerning mind¹ which is difficult to measure. Solomon’s wealth is hard to deny (whether I argue with the superlative degree of it or not)…

Is it possible that a wise and discerning mind given by God, would not be wise or discerning enough to prevent Solomon’s disobedience to God’s laws? That’s what the Bible seems to be saying here. And Solomon’s wealth is sort of the kicker to make that point.

God judged his creation very good.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 1:31a (Tanakh)	Genesis 1:31a (NET)	Genesis 1:31a (NETS)	Genesis 1:31a (English Elpenor)
And G-d saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very (מְאֹ֑ד) good (ט֖וֹב) [Table].	God saw all that he had made—and it was very (mᵊ’ōḏ, מאד) good (ṭôḇ, טוב)!	And God saw all the things that he had made, and see, they were exceedingly good (καλὰ λίαν) [Table].	And God saw all the things that he had made, and, behold, they were very good (καλὰ λίαν).

Is it possible that a creation (including the woman, the man and the serpent) judged very good (Tanakh, KJV, NET, English Elpenor) or exceedingly good (NETS) by God would not be good enough to prevent the woman’s, the man’s or the serpent’s disobedience to God’s one commandment? That’s what the Bible seems to be saying here.

We imagine that the woman, the man and the serpent knew God better than we do, that they saw Him as they conversed with Him. The Hebrew word מִפְּנֵי֙ (pānîm) does occur in the text, translated ἀπὸ προσώπου (Septuagint), from the presence (Tanakh, KJV, NETS), from (NET) and from the face (English Elpenor).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 3:8, 10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 3:8, 10 (NET)	Genesis 3:8, 10 (NETS)	Genesis 3:8, 10 (English Elpenor)
And they heard (וַיִּשְׁמְע֞וּ) the voice (ק֨וֹל) of HaShem G-d walking (מִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ) in the garden (בַּגָּ֖ן) toward the cool (לְר֣וּחַ) of the day (הַיּ֑וֹם); and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence (מִפְּנֵי֙) of HaShem G-d amongst the trees of the garden [Table].	Then the man and his wife heard (šāmaʿ, וישמעו) the sound (qôl, קול) of the Lord God moving about (hālaḵ, מתהלך) in the orchard (gan, בגן) at the breezy time (rûaḥ, לרוח) of the day (yôm, היום), and they hid from (pānîm, מפני) the Lord God among the trees of the orchard.	And they heard (καὶ ἤκουσαν) the sound (τὴν φωνὴν) of the Lord God walking about (περιπατοῦντος) in the orchard (ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ) in the evening (τὸ δειλινόν), and both Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence (ἀπὸ προσώπου) of the Lord God in the midst of the timber of the orchard [Table].	And they heard (Καὶ ἤκουσαν) the voice (τῆς φωνῆς) of the Lord God walking (περιπατοῦντος) in the garden (ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ) in the afternoon (τὸ δειλινόν); and both Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face (ἀπὸ προσώπου) of the Lord God in the midst of the trees of the garden.
And [Adam] said: ‘I heard (שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי) Thy voice (קֹֽלְךָ֥) in the garden (בַּגָּ֑ן), and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself’ [Table].	The man replied, “I heard (šāmaʿ, שמעתי) you moving about (qôl, קלך) in the orchard (gan, בגן), and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”	And he said to him, “I heard (ἤκουσα) the sound of you (τὴν φωνήν σου) walking about (περιπατοῦντος) in the orchard (ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ), and I was afraid, because I am naked, and I hid myself” [Table].	And he said to him, I heard (ἤκουσα) thy voice (τῆς φωνῆς σου) as thou walkedst (περιπατοῦντος) in the garden (ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ), and I feared because I was naked and I hid myself.

A quick survey of the occurrences of מפני (pānîm) in the early chapters of Genesis, which I won’t undertake here, makes it difficult to believe that it was meant to imply that the woman, the man or the serpent literally saw God’s face. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.⁷ So, we imagine that they saw Jesus. Nude? The woman doesn’t strike me as one who would need to eat forbidden fruit to realize she was naked if she had already seen Jesus in shiny white clothes. All the text says is that they heard his words and knew that He responded to their words.

The Lord God’s voice…walking in the garden (Tanakh/KJV/English Elpenor) is a curious turn of phrase. I suppose it could be understood as “the voice of the Lord God, walking in the garden.” But it seems to explain the alternative translations: the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard (NET) and the sound of the Lord God walking about in the orchard (NETS).

The Hebrew words לְר֣וּחַ (rûaḥ) הַיּ֑וֹם (yôm), which I suppose would literally translate, “in” or “toward the spirit of the day,” were translated various ways: toward the cool of the day (Tanakh), in the cool of the day (KJV), at the breezy time of the day (NET), in the evening (NETS) and in the afternoon (English Elpenor). In the Tanakh on chabad.org it was understood as the direction the Lord’s voice walked: to the direction of the sun.⁸ And despite the fact that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose no form of πνεῦμα for לְר֣וּחַ (rûaḥ) here, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus (John 3:5-8 ESV):

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit (πνεύματος), he cannot enter the kingdom of God [Table]. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit (πνεύματος) is spirit (πνεῦμα). Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind (πνεῦμα) blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound (τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ), but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (πνεύματος).”

Jesus’ comfort level with the interplay of spirit and wind calms me and encourages me to think that the woman, the man and the serpent communed with a voice in the wind or a voice in the Spirit. I assume then that the face or presence of the Lord was their perception of proximity to that voice. But the NET translation of לְר֣וּחַ (rûaḥ), at the breezy time, seems to be more of a hedge translation, taking no sides as it were whether God came to them calmly or furiously:

The expression is traditionally rendered “cool of the day,” because the Hebrew word רוּחַ (ruakh) can mean “wind.” U. Cassuto (Genesis: From Adam to Noah, 152-54) concludes after lengthy discussion that the expression refers to afternoon when it became hot and the sun was beginning to decline. J. J. Niehaus (God at Sinai [SOTBT], 155-57) offers a different interpretation of the phrase, relating יוֹם (yom, usually understood as “day”) to an Akkadian cognate umu (“storm”) and translates the phrase “in the wind of the storm.” If Niehaus is correct, then God is not pictured as taking an afternoon stroll through the orchard, but as coming in a powerful windstorm to confront the man and woman with their rebellion. In this case קוֹל יְהוָה (qol y^ehvah, “sound of the Lord”) may refer to God’s thunderous roar, which typically accompanies his appearance in the storm to do battle or render judgment (e.g., see Ps 29).

Though they knew Him in some sense, knowing God means more than hearing his voice and disobeying Him.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 9:10 (Tanakh/KJV)	Psalm 9:10 (NET)	Psalm 9:11 (NETS)	Psalm 9:11 (English Elpenor)
And they that know (יֽוֹדְעֵ֣י) thy name (שְׁמֶ֑ךָ) will put their trust (וְיִבְטְח֣וּ) in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.	Your loyal followers trust in you, [NET note 21: Heb “and the ones who know (yāḏaʿ, יודעי) your name (šēm, שמך) trust (bāṭaḥ, ויבטחו) in you”] for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.	And let those who know (γινώσκοντες) your name (τὸ ὄνομά σου) hope (ἐλπισάτωσαν) in you, because you did not forsake those who seek you, O Lord.	And let them that know (γινώσκοντες) thy name (τὸ ὄνομά σου) hope (ἐλπισάτωσαν) in thee: for thou, O Lord, hast not failed them that diligently seek thee.

The Hebrew word שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (šēm), translated thy name (Tanakh, KJV) and your name (NET), might have been translated your reputation, your fame or your glory. The Greek translation of שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (šēm) τὸ ὄνομά σου—your name (NETS) and thy name (English Elpenor)—might have been translated your reputation, your fame or news of you. The Hebrew word וְיִבְטְח֣וּ (bāṭaḥ), will put their trust (Tanakh, KJV) and trust (NET), was translated ἐλπισάτωσαν in the Septuagint, hope (BLB, Elpenor). But ἐλπισάτωσαν might have been translated have confident assurance, be confident or put trust.

A note on the root word ἐλπίζω in the Koine Greek Lexicon online reads:

Does not mean “to hope” in the sense of “longing for” or “wishing”; but of “confident assurance.”

The serpent trusted (Genesis 3:4, 5) his own partially true knowledge rather than God’s command. The woman trusted (Genesis 3:6) the serpent’s knowledge and her own desires rather than God’s command. The man trusted (Genesis 3:6) his wife rather than God’s command. Though I hadn’t seen it before, Paul may have written the best summation of what transpired in the garden (Romans 1:18-21 NET).

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal⁹ power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made (Genesis 1-2). So people are without excuse. For although they knew (γνόντες, a form of γινώσκω) God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened [Table].

Paul also wrote (1 Corinthians 8:2, 3 NET):

If¹⁰ someone thinks he knows¹¹ something, he does not yet¹² know¹³ to the degree that he needs to know (γνῶναι, another form of γινώσκω). But if someone loves (ἀγαπᾷ, a form of ἀγαπάω) God, he is known (ἔγνωσται, another form of γινώσκω) by God.

Rather than inventing a category free will along with a lot of convoluted arguments, it seems to make more sense to stick with desire: the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit.¹⁴ The Greek word translated the desires was ἐπιθυμεῖ, an indicative form of the verb ἐπιθυμέω in the active voice and present tense. In other words, “the flesh desires against the Spirit.” Accepting the truth of this statement, even in the garden where everything was very good, cuts through a lot of unnecessary intellectual clutter.

So, the flesh desiring against the Spirit of God was the cause of sin, rather than its result, as James wrote (James 1:13-15 ESV):

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,”¹⁵ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας). Then desire (ἡ ἐπιθυμία) when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

God cannot be tempted with evil. I take that to heart, for I can imagine an argument that God didn’t need to give free will to human beings in any explicit way, it was simply bequeathed as a part of his image. But if God cannot be tempted by evil, He doesn’t possess free will in any sense that is most meaningful to human beings. Apart from the ability to be tempted with evil, free will loses all its explanatory power, and most of its appeal, for human beings.

It is written in the prophets, Jesus said, ‘And they will all be taught (διδακτοὶ, a form of διδακτός) by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me.¹⁶ And that’s what God continued to do for the woman and the man in their time, and continues to do for any who read his words in the Bible any time. Paradise may be lost, but the Garden of Eden was only a shadow of the good things to come.¹⁷

Tables comparing Psalm 9:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and the Greek of Psalm 9:10 (9:11) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing 1 John 5:21; Romans 1:20; 1 Corinthians 8:2 and James 1:13 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 9:10 (Tanakh)	Psalm 9:10 (KJV)	Psalm 9:10 (NET)
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.	And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.	Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, Lord, do not abandon those who seek your help.

Psalm 9:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 9:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐλπισάτωσαν ἐπὶ σὲ οἱ γινώσκοντες τὸ ὄνομά σου ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπες τοὺς ἐκζητοῦντάς σε κύριε	καὶ ἐλπισάτωσαν ἐπὶ σοὶ οἱ γινώσκοντες τὸ ὄνομά σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπες τοὺς ἐκζητοῦντάς σε, Κύριε
Psalm 9:11 (NETS)	Psalm 9:11 (English Elpenor)
And let those who know your name hope in you, because you did not forsake those who seek you, O Lord.	And let them that know thy name hope in thee: for thou, O Lord, hast not failed them that diligently seek thee.

1 John 5:21 (NET)	1 John 5:21 (KJV)
Little children, guard yourselves from idols.	Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 John 5:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 John 5:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων	τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτους απο των ειδωλων αμην	τεκνια φυλαξατε εαυτα απο των ειδωλων αμην

Romans 1:20 (NET)	Romans 1:20 (KJV)
For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.	For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20 (NET Parallel Greek)	Romans 1:20 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Romans 1:20 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα καθορᾶται, ἥ τε αἴ_διος αὐτοῦ δύναμις καὶ θειότης, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους	τα γαρ αορατα αυτου απο κτισεως κοσμου τοις ποιημασιν νοουμενα καθοραται η τε αιδιος αυτου δυναμις και θειοτης εις το ειναι αυτους αναπολογητους	τα γαρ αορατα αυτου απο κτισεως κοσμου τοις ποιημασιν νοουμενα καθοραται η τε αιδιος αυτου δυναμις και θειοτης εις το ειναι αυτους αναπολογητους

1 Corinthians 8:2 (NET)	1 Corinthians 8:2 (KJV)
If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.	And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 8:2 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 8:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 8:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἴ τις δοκεῖ ἐγνωκέναι τι, οὔπω ἔγνω καθὼς δεῖ γνῶναι	ει δε τις δοκει ειδεναι τι ουδεπω ουδεν εγνωκεν καθως δει γνωναι	ει δε τις δοκει ειδεναι τι ουδεπω ουδεν εγνωκεν καθως δει γνωναι

James 1:13 (NET)	James 1:13 (KJV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.	Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

James 1:13 (NET Parallel Greek)	James 1:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	James 1:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Μηδεὶς πειραζόμενος λεγέτω ὅτι ἀπο θεοῦ πειράζομαι· ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἀπείραστος ἐστιν κακῶν, πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα	μηδεις πειραζομενος λεγετω οτι απο του θεου πειραζομαι ο γαρ θεος απειραστος εστιν κακων πειραζει δε αυτος ουδενα	μηδεις πειραζομενος λεγετω οτι απο θεου πειραζομαι ο γαρ θεος απειραστος εστιν κακων πειραζει δε αυτος ουδενα

Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 2

Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Part 11

¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the neuter reflexive pronoun ἑαυτὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the masculine εαυτους. A note in the Koine Greek Lexicon explained: “Although it is technically used of the 3rd person, it is also used for the 1st and 2nd person…”

² 1 John 5:21 (ESV) The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αμην (KJV: Amen) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

³ Genesis 3:12 Table

⁴ Genesis 3:6b (ESV) Table

⁵ From Solomon’s Wealth, Part 4

⁶ From Solomon’s Wealth, Part 5

⁷ John 1:18 (ESV) Table

⁸ Rashi’s commentary reads: “to the direction of the sun: To that direction in which the sun sets, and this is the west, for toward evening, the sun is in the west, and they sinned in the tenth [hour]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 19:8, Sanh. 38B].”

⁹ In the NET parallel Greek text eternal was spelled αἴ_διος, and ἀΐδιος in the NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

¹⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐγνωκέναι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειδεναι (KJV: that he knoweth).

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὔπω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουδεπω ουδεν (KJV: nothing yet).

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἔγνω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγνωκεν (KJV: he knoweth).

¹⁴ Galatians 5:17a (ESV) Table

¹⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article του preceding God. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁶ John 6:45 (NET) Table

¹⁷ Hebrews 10:1a (NET)

αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 1

Posted on January 26, 2024 by admin

In another essay I understood τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ (ESV: his betrothed)¹ differently from τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον (ESV: her as his betrothed and his betrothed).² My decision was based primarily on Paul’s argument, but it isn’t the customary way these phrases have been translated into English. I want to do a survey of the occurrences of αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ in the New Testament, particularly when associated with an article and noun in the accusative case.

According to the Englishman’s Concordance on Bible Hub there are 1,428 occurrences of αὐτοῦ and 47 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ [see Table below]. If I’ve counted and recognized the accusative case correctly, there are only 21 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ flanked by an article and a noun in the accusative case [see Table below].

Matthew

With the caveats above regarding counting and my ability to recognize the accusative case in Greek, I found 267 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Matthew. Only 90 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. There were 2 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ, but neither were associated with an accusative phrase. In most occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 4 exceptions:

In Matthew 2:2 his star (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα. In Matthew 7:24 and 7:26 his house (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν. And in Matthew 26:51 his ear (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον.

In 7 occurrences αὐτοῦ wasn’t translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV: Matthew 3:4 εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ was wore a garment. In Matthew 9:7 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ was and went home. In Matthew 9:16 τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ was the patch. In Matthew 22:24 τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ was the widow. In Matthew 24:51 καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν θήσει was …and put him with the hypocrites. In that place… In Matthew 27:30 τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ was the head. And in Matthew 27:37 ἐπέθηκαν ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν αὐτοῦ was translated over his head they put the charge against him.

There were no occurrences of παρθένον in Matthew, so I latched onto τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ as a proxy. The phrase was translated his wife (ESV) in Matthew 1:24, 5:31, 5:32 [Table], 19:9 [Table] and 22:25. It was translated one’s wife (ESV) in Matthew 19:3 [Table] and (as mentioned above) the widow (ESV) in Matthew 22:24.

Both occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ are found in Jesus’ description of a wandering unclean spirit (Matthew 12:43-45 ESV):

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it (ἑαυτοῦ) seven other spirits more evil than itself (ἑαυτοῦ), and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.

Here ἑαυτοῦ was translated it (KJV: himself) and itself (KJV: himself), rather than his own like most occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ associated with an accusative phrase [see Table below]. As a matter of interest, τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ in Matthew 27:31 was translated his own clothes (ESV).

Mark

I found 163 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Mark. Only 46 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. There were no occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ. In most occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 4 exceptions:

In Mark 7:19 his heart (ESV) was αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν. In Mark 14:47 his ear (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον. In Mark 14:65 his face (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον. And in Mark 15:19 his head (ESV) was αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν.

Only 1 occurrence of αὐτοῦ wasn’t translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV: Mark 13:34 ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ was when he leaves home. There were no occurrences of παρθένον in Mark, so again I used τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ as a proxy. The phrase was translated his wife (ESV) in Mark 10:11.

Luke

I found 249 occurrences of αὐτοῦ in the Gospel of Luke. Only 72 of them were associated with an accusative phrase. In all of those occurrences αὐτοῦ followed the accusative phrase. There were 5 occurrences where αὐτοῦ was not translated (i.e., his usually) in the ESV:

In Luke 1:58 ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς was that the Lord had shown great mercy to her. In Luke 2:21 καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς was he was called Jesus. In Luke 5:25 ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ δοξάζων τὸν θεόν was and went home, glorifying God. In Luke 12:46 καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων θήσει was and put him with the unfaithful. And in Luke 15:20 καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ was translated and ran and embraced him.

There were 12 occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ, 7 of which were associated with an accusative phrase [see Table below]. The first occurrence follows (Luke 2:1, 3-5 ESV).

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…And all went to be registered, each to his own³ (ἑαυτοῦ) town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth,⁴ to Judea, to the city of David,⁵ which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,⁶ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed⁷ (τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ), who was with child.

Here, the Greek word translated his own was ἑαυτοῦ (NET Parallel Greek and NA²⁸) or ιδιαν (Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text). It is fairly clear why Luke chose τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν (or, την ιδιαν πολιν) rather than τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ. The latter implies current residence, i.e., the town of Nazareth. The words ἑαυτοῦ or ιδιαν alert the reader that Joseph had a different relationship to this particular town: because [Joseph] was of the house and lineage of David he went to be registered to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.

The next occurrence is similar, though more subtle (Luke 11:21, 22 ESV).

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own (ἑαυτοῦ) palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil [Table].

Here again, the Greek word translated his own was ἑαυτοῦ: his goods (τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ) are safe When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace (τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν). Why did Luke choose τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν rather than τὴν αὐλήν αὐτοῦ? Matthew and Mark chose τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ (a strong man’s house)⁸ until someone bound the strongman. Then it became τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ (his house).⁹

I think Luke’s choice highlights that his palace, before it was taken from him, was not merely the current residence of the strong man, but in some sense it shared his identity, like Joseph’s relationship to Bethlehem. It was “the of himself palace” or “the palace of himself” in ways that his goods (τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ), his armor (τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ) and his spoil (τὰ σκῦλα αὐτοῦ) were not.

This is borne out in the next occurrence, where ἑαυτοῦ, when not part of an accusative phrase, is simply “oneself” in the genitive case (Luke 11:26 ESV):

Then [the unclean spirit]¹⁰ goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself (ἑαυτοῦ), and they enter¹¹ and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.

The next occurrence of ἑαυτοῦ was a little more difficult to grasp (Luke 13:18, 19 ESV):

He said therefore,¹² “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his (ἑαυτοῦ) garden, and it grew and became a tree,¹³ and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

The Greek words translated his garden were κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ: literally, “garden of himself.” Neither Matthew’s nor Mark’s Gospel account seemed particularly helpful at first (Matthew 13:31, 32 ESV):

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants (τῶν λαχάνων) and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

In Matthew’s account Jesus’ parable described ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (The kingdom of heaven; literally, heavens) rather than ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ (the kingdom of God). He wrote of a man who ἔσπειρεν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ αὐτοῦ (sowed in his field) rather than ἔβαλεν εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ (sowed in his garden). Am I straining gnats, I wondered, trying to distinguish between two interchangeable words: αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ?

Mark wrote (Mark 4:30-32 ESV):

And he said, “With what¹⁴ can we compare the kingdom of God, or what¹⁵ parable shall we use¹⁶ for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest¹⁷ of all the seeds¹⁸ on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants (τῶν λαχάνων) and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

In Mark’s account there was no mention of a man or a garden beyond τῶν λαχάνων (ESV: the garden plants), just a general description of an event: ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (ESV: which, when sown on the ground). He (and Matthew, for that matter) seemed more focused on the contrast of a tiny seed to a tree with large branches. Of course, I began to take that contrast more personally than I recall before, puzzling over Luke’s man who sowed that tiny seed in the “garden of himself.”

“If you’re really out there, I really want to know you,”¹⁹ was a tiny seed. I voiced the words in prayer, but they didn’t originate with me. I had no clue I was asking for eternal life as Jesus understood it. Even as that tiny seed began to grow into an insatiable appetite for the Bible, even as I labored to set the Gospels to music, I was too dull-witted to make the connection. Only when I sang the words for a more literate friend, and he commented on them,²⁰ did I begin to understand—this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent²¹—as Jesus’ definition of eternal life.

Over the past forty-five years that knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent has grown considerably. From time to time I get a flash of the whole, but that vision is too immense for me to hold on to for very long. Most of the time I wander around in Him as He leads me through the Bible, focusing on details like why Luke used ἑαυτοῦ rather than αὐτοῦ, marveling at the connections that are made, like so many branches of a tree: for “‘In him we live and move and have our being.’”²²

Jesus seemed distressed when Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8-11 ESV).

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long,²³ and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How²⁴ can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works [Table]. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe²⁵ on account of the works themselves.

So, Luke’s choice of the word ἑαυτοῦ refocused my attention. Jesus wasn’t talking about mustard seeds, or fields, or trees, or even nesting birds specifically, but the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven). Even more to the point, He described that kingdom’s formation and growth from a tiny seed within an individual: εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ: literally, “into [the] garden of himself.”

Though, I’m skipping ahead a bit, Paul chose ἑαυτοῦ to describe God’s kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12 ESV):

For you know how, like a father with his (ἑαυτοῦ) children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own (ἑαυτοῦ) kingdom and glory [Table].

The Greek words translated into his own kingdom were εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν, literally, “into the of himself kingdom” or “into the kingdom of himself.” Abide in me, and I in you, Jesus said. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.²⁶ And He promised (John 15:7, 8 ESV):

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples [Table].

And Paul wrote (2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV):

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though²⁷ we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come [Table]. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [Table]; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [Table].

The Greek verb translated we might become was γενώμεθα, a form of γίνομαι in the subjunctive mood:

The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility. The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances. It is oftentimes used in conditional statements (i.e. ‘If…then…’ clauses) or in purpose clauses. However if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.

The Greek conjunction translated so that was ἵνα. This is a purpose clause and “should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen.” The most important words effecting that outcome are ἐν αὐτῷ, in him: not on our own or by our own efforts, not apart from Him, but in Him. Abiding, remaining, staying in Him causes the seed of his word to grow into the kingdom of God in the garden of ourselves.

I’ll continue with this in another essay. The tables mentioned above follow.

	αὐτοῦ Occurrences		ἑαυτοῦ Occurrences
	Total	Accusative Phrase	Total	Accusative Phrase
New Testament	1428	136	47	21
Matthew	267	90	2	0
Mark	163	46	0	0
Luke	249	72	12	6

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Matthew
Reference	NET Parallel Greek	ESV
Matthew 1:2	τὸν Ἰούδαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ	Judah and his brothers
Matthew 1:11	τὸν Ἰεχονίαν καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ	Jechoniah and his brothers
Matthew 1:21	καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν	you shall call his name Jesus
Matthew 1:21	αὐτὸς γὰρ σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν	for he will save his people from their sins
Matthew 1:23	καλέσουσιν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἐμμανουήλ	they shall call his name Immanuel
Matthew 1:24	παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	he took his wife
Matthew 1:25	ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν	he called his name Jesus
Matthew 2:2	εἴδομεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ τὸν ἀστέρα	For we saw his star
Matthew 2:13	παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ	take the child and his mother
Matthew 2:14	παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ	took the child and his mother
Matthew 2:20	παράλαβε τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ	take the child and his mother
Matthew 2:21	παρέλαβεν τὸ παιδίον καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ	took the child and his mother
Matthew 3:3	εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ	make his paths straight
Matthew 3:4	ὁ Ἰωάννης εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τριχῶν καμήλου	John wore a garment of camel’s hair
Matthew 3:4	καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ	and a leather belt around his waist
Matthew 3:7	ἰδὼν δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα \|αὐτοῦ\|	But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism
Matthew 3:12	καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ	and he will clear his threshing floor
Matthew 3:12	καὶ συνάξει τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ	and gather his wheat
Matthew 4:18	καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ	and Andrew his brother
Matthew 4:21	καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ	and John his brother
Matthew 5:2	καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ	And he opened his mouth
Matthew 5:31	ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	Whoever divorces his wife
Matthew 5:32	πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	everyone who divorces his wife
Matthew 5:45	ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς	For he makes his sun rise on the evil
Matthew 6:27	προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα	add a single hour to his span of life
Matthew 6:33	καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ	and his righteousness
Matthew 7:24	ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν	who built his house on the rock
Matthew 7:26	ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον	who built his house on the sand
Matthew 8:14	εἶδεν τὴν πενθερὰν αὐτοῦ βεβλημένην καὶ πυρέσσουσαν	he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
Matthew 9:7	ἐγερθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ	he rose and went home.
Matthew 9:16	αἴρει γὰρ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱματίου	for the patch tears away from the garment
Matthew 9:38	ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ	to send out laborers into his harvest
Matthew 10:24	οὐδὲ δοῦλος ὑπὲρ τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ	nor a servant above his master
Matthew 10:38	ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ	whoever does not take his cross
Matthew 10:39	ὁ εὑρὼν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἀπολέσει αὐτήν	Whoever finds his life will lose it
Matthew 10:39	ὁ ἀπολέσας τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εὑρήσει αὐτήν	whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:42	οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ	he will by no means lose his reward.
Matthew 12:19	οὐδὲ ἀκούσει τις ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ	nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets
Matthew 12:29	καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι	and plunder his goods
Matthew 12:29	καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει	Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Matthew 12:33	Ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον καλὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ καλόν	Either make the tree good and its fruit good
Matthew 12:33	ἢ ποιήσατε τὸ δένδρον σαπρὸν καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ σαπρόν	or make the tree bad and its fruit bad
Matthew 12:49	καὶ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα \|αὐτοῦ\|	And stretching out his hand
Matthew 12:49	ἐπὶ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν	toward his disciples, he said
Matthew 13:41	ἀποστελεῖ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ	The Son of Man will send his angels
Matthew 13:54	καὶ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ	and coming to his hometown
Matthew 15:6	οὐ μὴ τιμήσει τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ	he need not honor his father
Matthew 15:32	Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς (NA²⁸: Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ)	Then Jesus called his disciples to him
Matthew 16:13	ἠρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	he asked his disciples
Matthew 16:24	ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ	take up his cross
Matthew 16:25	ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν	For whoever would save his life will lose it
Matthew 16:25	ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ εὑρήσει αὐτήν	but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it
Matthew 16:27	καὶ τότε ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν πρᾶξιν αὐτοῦ	and then he will repay each person according to what he has done
Matthew 17:1	καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ	and John his brother
Matthew 17:27	καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ	and when you open its mouth
Matthew 18:6	συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ	it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck
Matthew 19:3	εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀπολῦσαι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife
Matthew 19:9	ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	whoever divorces his wife
Matthew 20:1	μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ	to hire laborers for his vineyard
Matthew 20:2	ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ	he sent them into his vineyard.
Matthew 20:28	καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ	and to give his life
Matthew 21:34	ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ	he sent his servants
Matthew 21:34	λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ	to get his fruit
Matthew 21:35	καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ	And the tenants took his servants
Matthew 21:37	ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ	Finally he sent his son to them
Matthew 21:38	καὶ σχῶμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ	and have his inheritance
Matthew 21:45	Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι τὰς παραβολὰς αὐτοῦ	When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables
Matthew 22:3	καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ	and sent his servants
Matthew 22:5	ὃς δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ	another to his business
Matthew 22:6	οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ	while the rest seized his servants
Matthew 22:7	καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ	and he sent his troops
Matthew 22:24	ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	his brother must marry the widow
Matthew 22:25	ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ	left his wife to his brother
Matthew 24:18	ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ	to take his cloak
Matthew 24:31	καὶ ἀποστελεῖ τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ	And he will send out his angels
Matthew 24:31	καὶ ἐπισυνάξουσιν τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς αὐτοῦ	and they will gather his elect
Matthew 24:43	καὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ	and would not have let his house be broken into
Matthew 24:49	καὶ ἄρξηται τύπτειν τοὺς συνδούλους αὐτοῦ	and begins to beat his fellow servants
Matthew 24:51	καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ὑποκριτ	…and put him with the hypocrites. In that place…
Matthew 25:14	καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ	and entrusted to them his property
Matthew 26:51	ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἀπέσπασεν τὴν μάχαιραν αὐτοῦ	stretched out his hand and drew his sword
Matthew 26:51	ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον	and cut off his ear
Matthew 26:65	τότε ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ	Then the high priest tore his robes
Matthew 26:67	Τότε ἐνέπτυσαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ	Then they spit in his face
Matthew 27:30	καὶ ἔτυπτον εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ	and struck him on the head
Matthew 27:31	καὶ ἐνέδυσαν αὐτὸν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ	and put his own clothes on him
Matthew 27:32	ἵνα ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ	to carry his cross
Matthew 27:35	διεμερίσαντο τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ	they divided his garments
Matthew 27:37	ἐπέθηκαν ἐπάνω τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὴν αἰτίαν αὐτοῦ	over his head they put the charge against him
Matthew 27:53	καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκ τῶν μνημείων μετὰ τὴν ἔγερσιν αὐτοῦ	and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Mark
Reference	NET Parallel Greek	ESV
Mark 1:3	εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ	make his paths straight
Mark 1:6	ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ	a leather belt around his waist
Mark 1:19	Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ	John his brother
Mark 1:41	ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ	he stretched out his hand
Mark 3:27	τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ διαρπάσαι	and plunder his goods
Mark 3:27	καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει	Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Mark 4:32	ὥστε δύνασθαι ὑπὸ τὴν σκιὰν αὐτοῦ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατασκηνοῦν	so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade
Mark 5:22	πίπτει πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	he fell at his feet
Mark 6:1	καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς τὴν πατρίδα αὐτοῦ	and came to his hometown
Mark 6:14	φανερὸν γὰρ ἐγένετο τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ	for Jesus’ name had become known
Mark 6:27	ἐνέγκαι τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ	to bring John’s head
Mark 6:28	καὶ ἤνεγκεν τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πίνακι	and brought his head on a platter
Mark 6:29	ἦλθον καὶ ἦραν τὸ πτῶμα αὐτοῦ	they came and took his body
Mark 6:41	καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς (NA²⁸: καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς μαθηταῖς [αὐτοῦ])	and gave them to the disciples
Mark 6:45	εὐθὺς ἠνάγκασεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον	Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
Mark 7:19	ὅτι οὐκ εἰσπορεύεται αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν	since it enters not his heart
Mark 7:25	ἐλθοῦσα προσέπεσεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	and came and fell down at his feet
Mark 7:33	ἔβαλεν τοὺς δακτύλους αὐτοῦ	he put his fingers
Mark 7:33	εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ	into his ears
Mark 8:23	καὶ πτύσας εἰς τὰ ὄμματα αὐτοῦ	and when he had spit on his eyes
Mark 8:25	εἶτα πάλιν \|ἐπέθηκεν\| τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ	Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again
Mark 8:26	καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον αὐτοῦ	And he sent him to his home
Mark 8:27	καὶ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐπηρώτα τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	And on the way he asked his disciples
Mark 8:33	ὁ δὲ ἐπιστραφεὶς καὶ ἰδὼν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	But turning and seeing his disciples
Mark 8:34	καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι	and take up his cross and follow me
Mark 8:35	ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν \|αὐτοῦ\| σῶσαι	For whoever would save his life
Mark 8:35	ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ	but whoever loses his life
Mark 8:36	καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ	and forfeit his soul
Mark 9:21	καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ	And Jesus asked his father
Mark 9:31	ἐδίδασκεν γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	for he was teaching his disciples
Mark 9:41	οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ	will by no means lose his reward
Mark 9:42	περίκειται μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ	a great millstone were hung around his neck
Mark 10:7	ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ	Therefore a man shall leave his father
Mark 10:11	ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	Whoever divorces his wife
Mark 10:45	καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν	and to give his life as a ransom for many
Mark 10:50	ὁ δὲ ἀποβαλὼν τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ	And throwing off his cloak
Mark 12:43	καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	And he called his disciples
Mark 13:16	ἆραι τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ	to take his cloak
Mark 13:27	καὶ ἐπισυνάξει τοὺς ἐκλεκτοὺς [αὐτοῦ]	and gather his elect
Mark 13:34	ἀφεὶς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ	when he leaves home
Mark 13:34	ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ	each with his work
Mark 14:47	καὶ ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτάριον	and cut off his ear
Mark 14:65	καὶ περικαλύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον	and to cover his face
Mark 15:19	καὶ ἔτυπτον αὐτοῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν	And they were striking his head
Mark 15:21	ἄρῃ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ	to carry his cross
Mark 15:24	καὶ διαμερίζονται τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ	and divided his garments

Occurrences of αὐτοῦ preceding or following a phrase in the accusative case in Luke
Reference	NET Parallel Greek	ESV
Luke 1:13	καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην	and you shall call his name John.
Luke 1:23	ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ	he went to his home.
Luke 1:31	καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν	and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:49	καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ	and holy is his name.
Luke 1:58	ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτῆς	that the Lord had shown great mercy to her
Luke 1:64	ἀνεῴχθη δὲ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παραχρῆμα	And immediately his mouth was opened
Luke 2:21	καὶ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦς	he was called Jesus
Luke 2:34	καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς Μαριὰμ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ	and said to Mary his mother
Luke 3:4	εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ	make his paths straight.
Luke 3:17	διακαθᾶραι τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ	to clear his threshing floor
Luke 3:17	καὶ συναγαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην αὐτοῦ	and to gather the wheat into his barn
Luke 5:25	ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ δοξάζων τὸν θεόν	and went home, glorifying God
Luke 5:30	πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	at his disciples
Luke 6:13	προσεφώνησεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	he called his disciples
Luke 6:14	καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ	and Andrew his brother
Luke 6:20	Καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ	And he lifted up his eyes
Luke 6:20	εἰς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἔλεγεν	on his disciples, and said:
Luke 6:45	ἐκ γὰρ περισσεύματος καρδίας λαλεῖ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ	for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks
Luke 7:1	Ἐπειδὴ ἐπλήρωσεν πάντα τὰ ρήματα αὐτοῦ	After he had finished all his sayings
Luke 7:3	ἐλθὼν διασώσῃ τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ	to come and heal his servant
Luke 7:16	καὶ ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατο ὁ θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ	and “God has visited his people!”
Luke 7:38	καὶ στᾶσα ὀπίσω παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	and standing behind him at his feet
	βρέχειν τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	to wet his feet
	καὶ κατεφίλει τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	and kissed his feet
Luke 8:5	ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ	A sower went out to sow his seed.
Luke 8:41	παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ	he implored him to come to his house
Luke 9:14	εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	And he said to his disciples
Luke 9:23	καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ	and take up his cross
Luke 9:24	ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι	For whoever would save his life
Luke 9:24	ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ	but whoever loses his life
Luke 9:31	ἔλεγον τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ	and spoke of his departure
Luke 9:32	εἶδον τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ	they saw his glory
Luke 9:43	εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	Jesus said to his disciples
Luke 10:2	ἐργάτας ἐκβάλῃ εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ	to send out laborers into his harvest
Luke 10:34	καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησεν τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ	He went to him and bound up his wounds
Luke 10:39	ἤκουεν τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ	and listened to his teaching
Luke 11:1	καθὼς καὶ Ἰωάννης ἐδίδαξεν τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ	as John taught his disciples
Luke 11:8	διὰ τὸ εἶναι φίλον αὐτοῦ	because he is his friend
Luke 11:8	διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ	yet because of his impudence
Luke 11:22	τὴν πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ αἴρει	he takes away his armor
Luke 11:22	καὶ τὰ σκῦλα αὐτοῦ διαδίδωσιν	and divides his spoil
Luke 12:1	ἤρξατο λέγειν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ πρῶτον	he began to say to his disciples first
Luke 12:22	Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς [αὐτοῦ]	And he said to his disciples
Luke 12:25	δύναται ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ προσθεῖναι πῆχυν	can add a single hour to his span of life
Luke 12:31	πλὴν ζητεῖτε τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ	Instead, seek his kingdom
Luke 12:39	οὐκ \|ἂν\| ἀφῆκεν διορυχθῆναι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ	he would not have left his house to be broken into
Luke 12:47	ἢ ποιήσας πρὸς τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ	or act according to his will
Luke 13:15	ἕκαστος ὑμῶν τῷ σαββάτῳ οὐ λύει τὸν βοῦν αὐτοῦ	Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox
Luke 14:17	ἀπέστειλεν τὸν δοῦλον αὐτοῦ	he sent his servant
Luke 15:5	ἐπιτίθησιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους αὐτοῦ χαίρων	he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luke 15:13	καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισεν τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ	and there he squandered his property
Luke 15:15	καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ	who sent him into his fields
Luke 15:20	καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ	and ran and embraced him
Luke 15:22	εἶπεν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ	But the father said to his servants
Luke 15:22	καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ	and put a ring on his hand
Luke 16:1	διασκορπίζων τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ	was wasting his possessions
Luke 16:18	Πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	Everyone who divorces his wife
Luke 16:20	πρὸς τὸν πυλῶνα αὐτοῦ	at his gate
Luke 16:21	ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ κύνες ἐρχόμενοι ἐπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ	Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:23	καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ	and in Hades…he lifted up his eyes
Luke 17:2	εἰ λίθος μυλικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ	if a millstone were hung around his neck
Luke 17:16	καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet
Luke 17:33	ὃς ἐὰν ζητήσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ περιποιήσασθαι	Whoever seeks to preserve his life
Luke 18:13	ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν τὸ στῆθος \|αὐτοῦ\|	but beat his breast
Luke 18:14	κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ	this man went down to his house
Luke 22:36	καὶ ὁ μὴ ἔχων πωλησάτω τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγορασάτω μάχαιραν	And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Luke 22:50	καὶ ἀφεῖλεν τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ τὸ δεξιόν	and cut off his right ear
Luke 23:34	διαμεριζόμενοι δὲ τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ἔβαλον \|κλήρους\|	And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Luke 23:55	καὶ ὡς ἐτέθη τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ	and how his body was laid
Luke 24:23	καὶ μὴ εὑροῦσαι τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ	and when they did not find his body
Luke 24:26	καὶ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ	and enter into his glory
Luke 24:50	καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ	and lifting up his hands

Occurrences of ἑαυτοῦ in a phrase in the accusative case
Reference	NET Parallel Greek	ESV
Luke 2:3	εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν	to his own town
Luke 11:21	φυλάσσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν	guards his own palace
Luke 14:26	μισεῖ τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ	hate his own father
Luke 14:26	καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ	And…his own life
Luke 14:27	βαστάζει τὸν σταυρὸν ἑαυτοῦ	bear his own cross
Luke 15:20	ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ	came to his father
Luke 24:27	τὰ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ	the things concerning himself
Romans 4:19	κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα	he considered his own body
Romans 5:8	συνίστησιν δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀγάπην	But…shows his love
Romans 8:3	τὸν ἑαυτοῦ υἱὸν πέμψας	sending his own Son
1 Corinthians 7:2	ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω	each man should have his own wife
1 Corinthians 7:37	τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον	to keep her as his betrothed
1 Corinthians 7:38	ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον	he who marries his betrothed
1 Corinthians 10:24	μηδεὶς τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ζητείτω	Let no one seek his own good
1 Corinthians 10:29	συνείδησιν δὲ λέγω οὐχὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ	I do not mean your conscience
Ephesians 5:28	ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἑαυτὸν ἀγαπᾷ	He who loves his wife loves himself.
Ephesians 5:29	Οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησεν	For no one ever hated his own flesh
Ephesians 5:33	ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα οὕτως ἀγαπάτω ὡς ἑαυτόν	let each one of you love his wife as himself
1 Thessalonians 2:12	τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν	who calls you into his own kingdom
1 Thessalonians 4:4	εἰδέναι ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι ἐν ἁγιασμῷ	that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness
Revelation 10:7	ὡς εὐηγγέλισεν τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ δούλους τοὺς προφήτας	just as he announced to his servants the prophets

Tables comparing Matthew 7:24; 22:24; 1:24; 22:25; Mark 14:65; 10:11; Luke 2:3-5; Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:26; 13:18, 19; Mark 4:30, 31; John 14:9; 14:11 and 2 Corinthians 5:16 in the NET and KJV follow.

Matthew 7:24 (NET)	Matthew 7:24 (KJV)
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.	Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Matthew 7:24 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 7:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 7:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ἀκούει μου τοὺς λόγους \|τούτους\| καὶ ποιεῖ αὐτούς, ὁμοιωθήσεται ἀνδρὶ φρονίμῳ, ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν	πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν	πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν

Matthew 22:24 (NET)	Matthew 22:24 (KJV)
“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’	Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Matthew 22:24 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 22:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 22:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)
λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν· ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ μὴ ἔχων τέκνα, ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ	λεγοντες διδασκαλε μωσης ειπεν εαν τις αποθανη μη εχων τεκνα επιγαμβρευσει ο αδελφος αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και αναστησει σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου	λεγοντες διδασκαλε μωσης ειπεν εαν τις αποθανη μη εχων τεκνα επιγαμβρευσει ο αδελφος αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και αναστησει σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου

Matthew 1:24 (NET)	Matthew 1:24 (KJV)
When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife,	Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Matthew 1:24 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 1:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 1:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἐγερθεὶς δὲ \|ὁ\| Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου ἐποίησεν ὡς προσέταξεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου καὶ παρέλαβεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ	διεγερθεις δε ο ιωσηφ απο του υπνου εποιησεν ως προσεταξεν αυτω ο αγγελος κυριου και παρελαβεν την γυναικα αυτου	διεγερθεις δε ο ιωσηφ απο του υπνου εποιησεν ως προσεταξεν αυτω ο αγγελος κυριου και παρελαβεν την γυναικα αυτου

Matthew 22:25 (NET)	Matthew 22:25 (KJV)
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother.	Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Matthew 22:25 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 22:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 22:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἦσαν δὲ παρ᾿ ἡμῖν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί· καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γήμας ἐτελεύτησεν, καὶ μὴ ἔχων σπέρμα ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ	ησαν δε παρ ημιν επτα αδελφοι και ο πρωτος γαμησας ετελευτησεν και μη εχων σπερμα αφηκεν την γυναικα αυτου τω αδελφω αυτου	ησαν δε παρ ημιν επτα αδελφοι και ο πρωτος γαμησας ετελευτησεν και μη εχων σπερμα αφηκεν την γυναικα αυτου τω αδελφω αυτου

Mark 14:65 (NET)	Mark 14:65 (KJV)
Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to strike him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him.	And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Mark 14:65 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 14:65 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 14:65 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἤρξαντο τινες ἐμπτύειν αὐτῷ καὶ περικαλύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ κολαφίζειν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγειν αὐτῷ· προφήτευσον, καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται ραπίσμασιν αὐτὸν ἔλαβον	και ηρξαντο τινες εμπτυειν αυτω και περικαλυπτειν το προσωπον αυτου και κολαφιζειν αυτον και λεγειν αυτω προφητευσον και οι υπηρεται ραπισμασιν αυτον εβαλλον	και ηρξαντο τινες εμπτυειν αυτω και περικαλυπτειν το προσωπον αυτου και κολαφιζειν αυτον και λεγειν αυτω προφητευσον και οι υπηρεται ραπισμασιν αυτον εβαλλον

Mark 10:11 (NET)	Mark 10:11 (KJV)
So he told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.	And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

Mark 10:11 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 10:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 10:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ γαμήσῃ ἄλλην μοιχᾶται ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν	και λεγει αυτοις ος εαν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται επ αυτην	και λεγει αυτοις ος εαν απολυση την γυναικα αυτου και γαμηση αλλην μοιχαται επ αυτην

Luke 2:3-5 (NET)	Luke 2:3-5 (KJV)
Everyone went to his own town to be registered.	And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luke 2:3 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 2:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 2:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν	και επορευοντο παντες απογραφεσθαι εκαστος εις την ιδιαν πολιν	και επορευοντο παντες απογραφεσθαι εκαστος εις την ιδιαν πολιν

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke 2:4 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 2:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 2:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ	ανεβη δε και ιωσηφ απο της γαλιλαιας εκ πολεως ναζαρετ εις την ιουδαιαν εις πολιν δαβιδ ητις καλειται βηθλεεμ δια το ειναι αυτον εξ οικου και πατριας δαβιδ	ανεβη δε και ιωσηφ απο της γαλιλαιας εκ πολεως ναζαρετ εις την ιουδαιαν εις πολιν δαυιδ ητις καλειται βηθλεεμ δια το ειναι αυτον εξ οικου και πατριας δαυιδ

He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luke 2:5 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 2:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 2:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ	απογραψασθαι συν μαριαμ τη μεμνηστευμενη αυτω γυναικι ουση εγκυω	απογραψασθαι συν μαριαμ τη μεμνηστευμενη αυτω γυναικι ουση εγκυω

Matthew 12:29 (NET)	Matthew 12:29 (KJV)
How else can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house.	Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Matthew 12:29 (NET Parallel Greek)	Matthew 12:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Matthew 12:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἢ πῶς δύναται τις εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἁρπάσαι, ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον δήσῃ τὸν ἰσχυρόν; καὶ τότε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ διαρπάσει	η πως δυναται τις εισελθειν εις την οικιαν του ισχυρου και τα σκευη αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον δηση τον ισχυρον και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει	η πως δυναται τις εισελθειν εις την οικιαν του ισχυρου και τα σκευη αυτου διαρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον δηση τον ισχυρον και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει

Luke 11:26 (NET)	Luke 11:26 (KJV)
Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”	Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Luke 11:26 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 11:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 11:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τότε πορεύεται καὶ παραλαμβάνει ἕτερα πνεύματα πονηρότερα ἑαυτοῦ ἑπτὰ καὶ εἰσελθόντα κατοικεῖ ἐκεῖ· καὶ γίνεται τὰ ἔσχατα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκείνου χείρονα τῶν πρώτων	τοτε πορευεται και παραλαμβανει επτα ετερα πνευματα πονηροτερα εαυτου και εισελθοντα κατοικει εκει και γινεται τα εσχατα του ανθρωπου εκεινου χειρονα των πρωτων	τοτε πορευεται και παραλαμβανει επτα ετερα πνευματα πονηροτερα εαυτου και ελθοντα κατοικει εκει και γινεται τα εσχατα του ανθρωπου εκεινου χειρονα των πρωτων

Luke 13:18, 19 (NET)	Luke 13:18, 19 (KJV)
Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it?	Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

Luke 13:18 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 13:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 13:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ἔλεγεν οὖν· τίνι ὁμοία ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τίνι ὁμοιώσω αὐτήν	ελεγεν δε τινι ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου και τινι ομοιωσω αυτην	ελεγεν δε τινι ομοια εστιν η βασιλεια του θεου και τινι ομοιωσω αυτην

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.”

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Luke 13:19 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 13:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 13:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὁμοία ἐστὶν κόκκῳ σινάπεως, ὃν λαβὼν ἄνθρωπος ἔβαλεν εἰς κῆπον ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ ἠύξησεν καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς δένδρον, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατεσκήνωσεν ἐν τοῖς κλάδοις αὐτοῦ	ομοια εστιν κοκκω σιναπεως ον λαβων ανθρωπος εβαλεν εις κηπον εαυτου και ηυξησεν και εγενετο εις δενδρον μεγα και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατεσκηνωσεν εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου	ομοια εστιν κοκκω σιναπεως ον λαβων ανθρωπος εβαλεν εις κηπον εαυτου και ηυξησεν και εγενετο εις δενδρον μεγα και τα πετεινα του ουρανου κατεσκηνωσεν εν τοις κλαδοις αυτου

Mark 4:30, 31 (NET)	Mark 4:30, 31 (KJV)
He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it?	And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Mark 4:30 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 4:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 4:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ ἔλεγεν· πῶς ὁμοιώσωμεν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ ἐν τίνι αὐτὴν παραβολῇ θῶμεν	και ελεγεν τινι ομοιωσωμεν την βασιλειαν του θεου η εν ποια παραβολη παραβαλωμεν αυτην	και ελεγεν τινι ομοιωσωμεν την βασιλειαν του θεου η εν ποια παραβολη παραβαλωμεν αυτην

It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground—

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

Mark 4:31 (NET Parallel Greek)	Mark 4:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Mark 4:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὡς κόκκῳ σινάπεως, ὃς ὅταν σπαρῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μικρότερον ὂν πάντων τῶν σπερμάτων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς	ως κοκκω σιναπεως ος οταν σπαρη επι της γης μικροτερος παντων των σπερματων εστιν των επι της γης	ως κοκκον σιναπεως ος οταν σπαρη επι της γης μικροτερος παντων των σπερματων εστιν των επι της γης

John 14:9 (NET)	John 14:9 (KJV)
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you for so long and yet you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?	Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 14:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 14:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 14:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)
λέγει αὐτῷ \|ὁ\| Ἰησοῦς· \|τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ\| μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωκας με, Φίλιππε; ὁ ἑωρακὼς ἐμὲ ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα· πῶς σὺ λέγεις· δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα	λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τοσουτον χρονον μεθ υμων ειμι και ουκ εγνωκας με φιλιππε ο εωρακως εμε εωρακεν τον πατερα και πως συ λεγεις δειξον ημιν τον πατερα	λεγει αυτω ο ιησους τοσουτον χρονον μεθ υμων ειμι και ουκ εγνωκας με φιλιππε ο εωρακως εμε εωρακεν τον πατερα και πως συ λεγεις δειξον ημιν τον πατερα

John 14:11 (NET)	John 14:11 (KJV)
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves.	Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

John 14:11 (NET Parallel Greek)	John 14:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	John 14:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)
πιστεύετε μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί· εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ πιστεύετε	πιστευετε μοι οτι εγω εν τω πατρι και ο πατηρ εν εμοι ει δε μη δια τα εργα αυτα πιστευετε μοι	πιστευετε μοι οτι εγω εν τω πατρι και ο πατηρ εν εμοι ει δε μη δια τα εργα αυτα πιστευετε μοι

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NET)	2 Corinthians 5:16 (KJV)
So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.	Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

2 Corinthians 5:16 (NET Parallel Greek)	2 Corinthians 5:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	2 Corinthians 5:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)
῞Ωστε ἡμεῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν οὐδένα οἴδαμεν κατὰ σάρκα· εἰ καὶ ἐγνώκαμεν κατὰ σάρκα Χριστόν, ἀλλὰ νῦν οὐκέτι γινώσκομεν	ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν	ωστε ημεις απο του νυν ουδενα οιδαμεν κατα σαρκα ει δε και εγνωκαμεν κατα σαρκα χριστον αλλα νυν ουκετι γινωσκομεν

αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 2

Back to Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

Back to The Day of the Lord, Part 8

Back to Keep Yourselves From Idols, Part 2

Back to Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 3

Back to Luke 8:22-56

¹ 1 Corinthians 7:36 (ESV)

² 1 Corinthians 7:37, 38 (ESV) Table

³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἑαυτοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιδιαν.

⁴ In the NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ Nazareth was spelled Ναζαρὲθ, and ναζαρετ in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

⁵ In the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text David was spelled Δαυὶδ, and δαβιδ in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

⁶ In the NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text David was spelled Δαυὶδ, and δαβιδ in the Stephanus Textus Receptus.

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἐμνηστευμένῃ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεμνηστευμενη and γυναικι (KJV: espoused wife).

⁸ Matthew 12:29a (ESV) and Mark 3:27a (ESV) Table

⁹ Matthew 12:29b (ESV) and Mark 3:27b (ESV) Table

¹⁰ Luke 11:24a (ESV)

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had εἰσελθόντα here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had ελθοντα.

¹² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had οὖν (NET: Then) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: Then).

¹³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεγα (KJV: great) following tree. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had πῶς (NET: To what) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τινι (KJV: Whereunto).

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τίνι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποια.

¹⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had θῶμεν (NET: to present) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had παραβαλωμεν (KJV: shall we compare).

¹⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had μικρότερον ὂν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply μικροτερος (KJV: is less).

¹⁸ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν (KJV: that be) following seeds. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹⁹ Who Am I? Part 3

²⁰ Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 3

²¹ John 17:3 (ESV)

²² Acts 17:28a (ESV)

²³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ in the dative case here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τοσουτον χρονον (KJV: so long time) in the accusative case.

²⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: and) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁵ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μοι (KJV: me) following believe. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²⁶ John 15:4 (ESV) Table

²⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had εἰ καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ει δε και (KJV: yea, though).

Christianity, Part 13

Posted on January 20, 2024 by admin

There are 3 occurrences of πάντας in 1 Corinthians [see Table below], the Greek word translated all people in: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people (πάντας, a form of πᾶς) to myself.¹ This is a continuation of my consideration of the first occurrence (1 Corinthians 7:7 ESV):

I wish that all (πάντας ἀνθρώπους) were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another [Table].

Aside from the obvious limitation of πάντας here to ἀνθρώπους (“people”), all is further limited to one who has [this as] his own gift from God (ἴδιον ἔχει
χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ), and by “this” I mean: ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν (as I myself am). Paul, presumably, does not touch (μὴ ἅπτεσθαι) a woman: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”²

Another limitation to all becoming like Paul, not to have sexual relations with a woman, follows (1 Corinthians 7:2 ESV):

But because of the temptation to sexual immorality (πορνείας, a form of πορνεία), each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

I put the Greek of the first clause into Google translate:

1 Corinthians 7:2a (NET Parallel Greek)	Google Translate
διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας	because of prostitution

Most Bible translators think πορνείας meant something more to Paul (and Jesus) than we might understand by the word prostitution. I don’t disagree. I’ve labored³ over this to the point of distraction. Sexual immorality seems ultimately meaningless to me: it is so ill-defined it can mean anything anyone wants it to mean. The temptation to sexual immorality, while interesting, still relies on sexual immorality. For my purposes in this essay I’ll translate πορνείας, “the worship of sex,” because that’s what I did at seventeen.

I knew next to nothing of the fruit of the Spirit. I assume I thought God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control⁴ were just more works I had to do because I had inadvertently become a Christian when I said a sinner’s prayer to Jesus to avoid burning in hell. After I had sex for the first time, I assumed that love, joy, peace, kindness and gentleness at least were a natural result of sex. Therefore, the more people I had sex with, the more love, joy, peace, kindness and gentleness I would have for, and create with, others with whom I had sex: “And in the end / The love you take / Is equal to the love / You make.”⁵

So, now I have:

But because of πορνείας [the worship of sex], each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Paul described sex as something owed, one spouse to another (1 Corinthians 7:3, 4 ESV):

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights,⁶ and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but⁷ the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but⁸ the wife does.

The Greek words translated her conjugal rights were τὴν ὀφειλὴν, a form of ὀφειλή: “debt, due, indebtedness, duty, obligation.” The verb ἀποδιδότω was translated should give. It is an active imperative form of ἀποδίδωμι in the present tense: “to give away, give up, give out, give what is due.” The Greek words translated does not have authority over were οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, a form of ἐξουσιάζω: “to exercise authority upon, bring under the power of, control; to have authority and permission; to grant permission; to have the right for (something), authority for (something).”

If a woman does not want her husband to have authority over her own body, if a man does not want his wife to have authority over his own body, they are probably not in love. They are definitely unprepared for marriage (if there is such a thing as being prepared for marriage). “Take me, I’m yours,” is an essential ingredient. Paul continued (1 Corinthians 7:5a ESV):

Do not deprive one another, except⁹ perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer;¹⁰

Do not deprive one another was μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους in Greek. As an imperative form of ἀποστερέω, ἀποστερεῖτε means: “to steal, rob; to despoil, defraud, bereave, make destitute, keep back by fraud; to deprive; to withhold unjustly.” And by agreement for a limited time was ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρόν. The adjective συμφώνου is a genitive form of σύμφωνος: “harmonious, agreeing; corresponding with; consonant, concordant; agreement; consent.”

In other words, the consent to steal, rob, despoil, defraud, bereave, make destitute, keep back by fraud, deprive or withhold sex unjustly from one’s spouse was to be agreed upon harmoniously for a time. The “your wish is my command” consent for sex was already given at the altar, so to speak, which is not to say that there is no place for mercy and forgiveness in marriage if one party refuses sex unilaterally. It is to say that to do so is to refuse to give what is owed to one’s beloved.

I ate lunch one afternoon last month at the Kansas City Barbeque down the street from the San Diego Convention Center. Their food is good but their main claim to fame is being the location where the “sleazy bar scenes” from the original Top Gun were filmed. In one of the more memorable moments from one of those sleazy bar scenes, Goose’s wife Carol (Meg Ryan) yells across the bar: “Hey, Goose, you big stud!”

Goose (Anthony Edwards) replies: “That’s me, honey!”

“Take me to bed or lose me forever!” Carol commands and threatens her husband. Though the threat may not be quite so explicit in Paul’s writing, it’s there all the same (1 Corinthians 7:5b ESV):

…but then come¹¹ together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

The first clause, but then come together again, was καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε: literally, “and back upon it be” or “and again upon it be” or “again and again upon it be.” Translating τὴν ἀκρασίαν lack of self-control obscures Paul’s point a bit. He addressed self-control later (1 Corinthians 7:8, 9 ESV):

To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is¹² good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control (ἐγκρατεύονται, a form of ἐγκρατεύω), they should marry. For it is better¹³ to marry than to burn with passion.

Though forms of ἀκρασία can mean lack of self-control (and there may be some double entendre here) self-indulgence would better address the point. In this context to deprive one another of what is owed even by agreement for a limited time is a self-indulgence rather than a lack of self-control.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit, God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, ἐγκράτεια, translated self-control, is not on the side of continued abstinence here, but buoys up and carries a married couple along to be back upon it again and again. What might tempt (πειράζῃ, a form of πειράζω) one, or a married couple addressed as one, during this abstinence is that they become all too comfortable and complacent with abstinence, especially for something perceived as a higher calling. Married couples become comfortable and complacent for much less: general busyness, children, jobs, financial or other worries and concerns, not to mention boredom with one another.

In their comfort and complacency, disregarding what is owed, each might begin to feel that he or she has regained authority over his or her own body, even authority to share his or her own body with another. After all, in this comfort and complacency one’s spouse no longer fulfils one’s sexual desires. Here is where that lack of self-control might come into play, resulting in adultery, divorce, what the text as translated seemed to imply prematurely.

Paul continued (1 Corinthians 7:6, 7a ESV):

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am [Table].

I think concession might be more begrudging a translation of συγγνώμην (a form of συγγνώμη) than is absolutely necessary. It, too, might have been translated indulgence, a little lighthearted wordplay. I say this (τοῦτο δὲ λέγω) refers all the way back to: But because of πορνείας [the worship of sex], each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.¹⁴ Paul was careful not to command everyone to marry because It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.¹⁵

The idea that, but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control,¹⁶ was a concession rather than a command seems untenable to me. I don’t believe Paul jumped ship suddenly and altered the terms of marriage he had just spelled out. It seems, however, that he would divert the anticipated outcome of betrothal in what I assume was an arranged marriage¹⁷ (1 Corinthians 7:36-38 ESV):

If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his¹⁸ heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his¹⁹ heart, to keep²⁰ her as his betrothed, he will do²¹ well. So then he who marries²² his betrothed²³ does well, and²⁴ he who refrains from marriage will do²⁵ even better.

If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed: “But if anyone (Εἰ δέ τις) to incur disgrace (ἀσχημονεῖν) upon the virgin (ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον) of his” (αὐτοῦ) or “here (αὐτοῦ) thinks” (νομίζει). These options may be clearer in a table:

1 Corinthians 7:36a
But if anyone to incur disgrace upon the virgin of his thinks	But if anyone to incur disgrace toward the virgin here thinks

Before I began this study I had assumed that anyone (τις) meant “any engaged man.” Most commentators in the past thought anyone meant any father of an engaged woman. As I study in Greek now, I think anyone means “anyone in a given community who knows any particular man and woman in this situation.” I chose “to incur disgrace” because this is the infinitive form of ἀσχημονέω, ἀσχημονεῖν, rather than the 3^rd person singular form ἀσχημονεῖ (e.g., that he is not behaving properly). And αὐτοῦ might be a personal pronoun in the genitive case, of his or his, or it might be an adverb: “in the very place, here, there, in this place, in that place.” I translated ἐπὶ “upon” if αὐτοῦ is a pronoun or “toward” (I might have chosen “against”) if αὐτοῦ is an adverb as a matter of preference. So, I’m understanding this clause to mean something like: “If anyone in a given community thinks an engaged couple remaining unmarried disgraces the young woman in that unconsummated relationship…”

The Greek of the next clause is: ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος; “if” or “when he is” or “she is beyond the prime of youth;” if she is past the bloom of youth (NET), if she pass the flower of her age (KJV). This was the main reason I assumed Paul referred to a marriage arranged before either party was actually old enough to marry [see footnote 17]. But the verb of being ᾖ doesn’t specify gender and ὑπέρακμος might be masculine or feminine. Apparently, the translators of some recent Bible versions ²⁶ reached back to the verb ἀκμάζω and decided that in this particular context ὑπέρακμος meant a really horny guy: if his passions are strong (ESV).

A note (27) in the NET acknowledged this as a possible translation:

Or referring to an engaged man: “if he is past the critical point,” “if his passions are too strong.” The word literally means “to be past the high point.”

Next, and it has to be: literally, “and so (καὶ οὕτως) ought (ὀφείλει) to happen” (γίνεσθαι). This clause doesn’t help determine the meaning of the previous. In fact, it seems open-ended enough to accommodate concerns over the woman’s honor and social status or the acts of a man’s lust (which impacts a woman’s honor and social status), and perhaps a host of concerns in between.

Paul continued: let him do as he wishes: ὃ θέλει ποιείτω. I’m not seeing him or he in the Greek here: ὃ is neuter and θέλει and ποιείτω are 3^rd person singular verbs unspecified as to gender in the lexicon I’m using. This clause is also little to no help in determining the specific meaning of the previous two clauses. The relative pronoun ὃ might be in the nominative or the accusative case.

I experimented briefly considering ὃ in the nominative case as the subject of the clause: a vague statement about betrothal leads to marriage, or a very oblique allusion to the final clause of Proverbs 30:18, 19. Both were so forced I was persuaded that ὃ was in the accusative case, intended as the direct object of the clause: translated what (NET, KJV) or as (ESV). It brought me to the more gender neutral: “what one wants one does.” But that effort made the next clause, οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, easy: literally, “not sinning,” “one does not sin,” it is no sin (ESV).

And finally, γαμείτωσαν is a 3^rd person plural imperative form of γαμέω in the active voice and present tense: “they [should, must] marry,” let them marry (ESV). I’m much more persuaded now that Paul laid this out as a collective decision of propriety to be made by the Corinthian church, triggered by any (τις) given member of the congregation (whether man or woman). Then he turned his attention to a man²⁷ who had made it through this gauntlet.

But whoever (ὃς δὲ) is established (ἕστηκεν) in his heart (ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ) firmly (ἑδραῖος), the next verse begins. The verb ἕστηκεν might be in the perfect or imperfect tense. Since it is generally translated ²⁸ in the present tense I’ll assume the perfect tense here: “the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect.” I assume, then, the action that “has been completed” was the gift from God to be as I myself am.²⁹

The next stipulation is, being under no necessity: literally, “not (μὴ) possessing (ἔχων) necessity” (ἀνάγκην). In other words, none of the disqualifying conditions of the previous verse that made marriage an “ought” (ὀφείλει) apply. Another stipulation follows, but having his desire under control: “but (or “also,” or “and,” or “moreover,” or “now”) authority (ἐξουσίαν δὲ) [he] has (ἔχει) on (περὶ) his own desire” (τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος). In other words, that gift from God holds sway in his choices and desires.

[A]nd [because of this gift from God] has determined this in his heart; “and this (καὶ τοῦτο) in a present state of having judged³⁰ (κέκρικεν) in [his]³¹ own heart (ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ),” to keep her as his betrothed; “to keep (τηρεῖν) the of himself virgin” or “the virgin of himself,” i.e., “to keep himself celibate” (τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον);³² he will do well (καλῶς ποιήσει). Here καλῶς might have been translated beautifully and hearkens back to, “It is good (καλὸν, a form of καλός; “beautiful”) for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”³³

Paul continued, So then he who marries his betrothed: “So then (ὥστε καὶ) giving in marriage himself celibate” or “giving himself celibate in marriage” (ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον); does well: “well you do” (καλῶς ποιεῖ). Paul was not commending one such as I was who only discovered that he had married while he was making other plans to have sex with as many other people as possible.

Paul’s desire was that all were as I myself am,³⁴ and he reiterated here, he who refrains from marriage will do even better: “and not giving in marriage (καὶ ὁ μὴ γαμίζων), better he will do” (κρεῖσσον ποιήσει).

I’ll pick this up in another essay. The table mentioned above follows.

Occurrences of πάντας in 1 Corinthians
Reference	NET Parallel Greek	ESV
1 Corinthians 7:7	θέλω δὲ πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν	I wish that all were as I myself am.
1 Corinthians 14:5	θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις	Now I want you all to speak in tongues,
1 Corinthians 15:25	ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ	until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Tables comparing 1 Corinthians 7:3, 4; 7:5; 7:8, 9 and 7:37, 38 in the NET and KJV follow.

1 Corinthians 7:3, 4 (NET)	1 Corinthians 7:3, 4 (KJV)
A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.	Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

1 Corinthians 7:3 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)
τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἀποδιδότω, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί	τη γυναικι ο ανηρ την οφειλομενην ευνοιαν αποδιδοτω ομοιως δε και η γυνη τω ανδρι	τη γυναικι ο ανηρ την οφειλομενην ευνοιαν αποδιδοτω ομοιως δε και η γυνη τω ανδρι

It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

1 Corinthians 7:4 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή	η γυνη του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ ο ανηρ ομοιως δε και ο ανηρ του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ η γυνη	η γυνη του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ ο ανηρ ομοιως δε και ο ανηρ του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ η γυνη

1 Corinthians 7:5 (NET)	1 Corinthians 7:5 (KJV)
Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.	Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

1 Corinthians 7:5 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους, εἰ μήτι \|ἂν\| ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρόν, ἵνα σχολάσητε τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ἦτε, ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν \|ὑμῶν\|	μη αποστερειτε αλληλους ει μη τι αν εκ συμφωνου προς καιρον ινα σχολαζητε τη νηστεια και τη προσευχη και παλιν επι το αυτο συνερχησθε ινα μη πειραζη υμας ο σατανας δια την ακρασιαν υμων	μη αποστερειτε αλληλους ει μη τι αν εκ συμφωνου προς καιρον ινα σχολαζητε τη νηστεια και τη προσευχη και παλιν επι το αυτο συνερχησθε ινα μη πειραζη υμας ο σατανας δια την ακρασιαν υμων

1 Corinthians 7:8, 9 (NET)	1 Corinthians 7:8, 9 (KJV)
To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.	I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1 Corinthians 7:8 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις, καλὸν αὐτοῖς ἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς καγώ	λεγω δε τοις αγαμοις και ταις χηραις καλον αυτοις εστιν εαν μεινωσιν ως καγω	λεγω δε τοις αγαμοις και ταις χηραις καλον αυτοις εστιν εαν μεινωσιν ως καγω

But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1 Corinthians 7:9 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)
εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν, κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν \|γαμῆσαι\| ἢ πυροῦσθαι	ει δε ουκ εγκρατευονται γαμησατωσαν κρεισσον γαρ εστιν γαμησαι η πυρουσθαι	ει δε ουκ εγκρατευονται γαμησατωσαν κρεισσον γαρ εστιν γαμησαι η πυρουσθαι

1 Corinthians 7:37, 38 (NET)	1 Corinthians 7:37, 38 (KJV)
But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.	Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

1 Corinthians 7:37 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἑδραῖος μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην, ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ, τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον, καλῶς ποιήσει	ος δε εστηκεν εδραιος εν τη καρδια μη εχων αναγκην εξουσιαν δε εχει περι του ιδιου θεληματος και τουτο κεκρικεν εν τη καρδια αυτου του τηρειν την εαυτου παρθενον καλως ποιει	ος δε εστηκεν εδραιος εν τη καρδια μη εχων αναγκην εξουσιαν δε εχει περι του ιδιου θεληματος και τουτο κεκρικεν εν τη καρδια αυτου του τηρειν την εαυτου παρθενον καλως ποιει

So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

1 Corinthians 7:38 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Corinthians 7:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Corinthians 7:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)
ὥστε καὶ ὁ γαμίζων τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον καλῶς ποιεῖ καὶ ὁ μὴ γαμίζων κρεῖσσον ποιήσει	ωστε και ο εκγαμιζων καλως ποιει ο δε μη εκγαμιζων κρεισσον ποιει	ωστε και ο εκγαμιζων καλως ποιει ο δε μη εκγαμιζων κρεισσον ποιει

Christianity, Part 14

αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 1

Back to αὐτοῦ and ἑαυτοῦ, Part 2

Back to Young, Virginal or Single

¹ John 12:32 (ESV)

² 1 Corinthians 7:1b (ESV)

³ What is Sexual Immorality?; Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 1; Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 2; Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 3, to name a few.

⁴ Galatians 5:22b, 23a (ESV) Table

⁵ From “The End,” by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Abbey Road.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὴν ὀφειλὴν a form of the noun ὀφειλή (NET: his marital responsibility) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τὴν οφειλομενην (a participle of the verb ὀφείλω) ευνοιαν (KJV: due benevolence).

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀλλ’.

⁸ The NET parallel Greek text had ἀλλὰ here, where the NA²⁸, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀλλ’

⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had μήτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μη τι.

¹⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τη νηστεια και (KJV: to fasting and) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἦτε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνερχησθε.

¹² The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστιν here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

¹³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had κρεῖττον here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had κρεισσον.

¹⁴ 1 Corinthians 7:2 (ESV)

¹⁵ 1 Corinthians 7:1b (ESV) Table

¹⁶ 1 Corinthians 7:5b (ESV)

¹⁷ From Vincent’s Word Studies, in Commentaries to 1 Corinthians 7:37 on Bible Hub online: “Under the patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations, the father’s power over the children in the matter of marriage was paramount, and their consent was not required. After the Exile the parents could betroth their children, while minors, at their pleasure; but when they became of age their consent was required, and if betrothed during minority, they had afterward the right of insisting upon divorce.”

¹⁸ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had αὐτοῦ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

¹⁹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ἰδίᾳ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αὐτοῦ.

²⁰ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding to keep. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

²¹ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ποιήσει here, the 3^rd person singular form of ποιέω in the future tense. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιει (KJV: doeth), the 2^nd person imperative form in the present tense.

²² The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ὁ γαμίζων here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ὁ εκγαμιζων (KJV: he that giveth her in marriage).

²³ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

²⁴ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: but).

²⁵ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had ποιήσει here, the 3^rd person singular form of ποιέω in the future tense. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ποιει (KJV: doeth), the 2^nd person imperative form in the present tense.

²⁶ NIV-2011, NLT-2015, ESV-2016, GNT-1992, ISV-2012, NRSV-1993

²⁷ I wrote man here because the first word in the next clause was the masculine ὃς rather than the feminine ἥ or neuter ὅ. But I recall a time not so very long ago when man, he, him and his included, as opposed to excluding, woman, she, her and hers.

²⁸ The NIV is a notable exception: But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind… But even the imperfect tense implies some continuous history in the past, demonstrating the effect of this gift from God.

²⁹ 1 Corinthians 7:7 (ESV) Table

^³⁰ The Greek verb κέκρικεν is a form of κρίνω in the perfect tense.

³¹ I put his in brackets here because ἰδίᾳ is the feminine form of ἴδιος. My assumption, then, is that ἰδίᾳ is feminine to correspond to τῇ and καρδίᾳ, which are also feminine. Still, it is difficult to completely shake the idea that her own heart was intended. So, I suppose I should acknowledge that I put his in brackets here because others have translated ἰδίᾳ his and I’m not ready yet to do a New Testament survey of every occurrence of forms of ἴδιος.

³² I would expect “to keep his virgin” to be τηρεῖν τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ in Greek, rather than τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον. Having a betrothed would seem to be one of the disqualifying conditions, covered by μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην, that made marriage an ought and would not come into play here. I would assume that this particular young woman was first to object to her fiancé’s refusal to marry and has long since been released from a marriage contract he had no intention of honoring. The idea, that a man might default on his marriage contract and yet keep a young woman as a childless servant in his household unilaterally, sounds too much like the kinds of things self-righteous men did to women to maintain their self-righteousness (Judges 11 and 21).

³³ 1 Corinthians 7:1b (ESV) Table

³⁴ 1 Corinthians 7:7a (ESV) Table

The Children of Promise, Part 1

Posted on January 2, 2024 by admin

[I]t is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; Paul wrote, rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants.¹ In another essay I asked, “So, if God did not allow [Abimelech] to touch Sarah, why didn’t He do the same for Pharaoh and Sarai?” I’m hoping that a thorough study of the story of Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah will give me not only a richer understanding of Paul’s contrast between the children of the flesh and the children of promise but an answer to this question as well.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:1 (NET)	Genesis 12:1 (NETS)	Genesis 12:1 (English Elpenor)
Now HaShem said unto Abram: ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee [Table].	Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.	And the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country and from your kindred and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you [Table].	AND the Lord said to Abram, Go forth out of thy land and out of thy kindred, and out of the house of thy father, and come into the land which I will shew thee.

Here is the first contrast: the children of the flesh (NET note 18: “the natural offspring”) have a point of origin, a country, a kindred, a father’s house, while the children of promise are called by God: Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.² As he³ was walking by the Sea of Galilee [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen) [Table]. He said to them, “Follow me (δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου).⁴ If you wish to be perfect, Jesus said to a young man who was very rich, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι).⁵

The first promise follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:2, 3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (NET)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (NETS)	Genesis 12:2, 3 (English Elpenor)
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing [Table].	Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.	And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be one blessed [Table].	And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed’ [Table].	I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.”	And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse, and in you all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed” [Table].	And I will bless those that bless thee, and curse those that curse thee, and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed.

This contrast stands out clearly: the children of promise receive promises from God that are not received by the children of the flesh. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest, Jesus promised. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.⁶

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:4 (NET)	Genesis 12:4 (NETS)	Genesis 12:4 (English Elpenor)
So Abram went, as HaShem had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)	And Abram went, as the Lord had told him to, and Lot left with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years of age when he departed from Charran.	And Abram went as the Lord spoke to him, and Lot departed with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old, when he went out of Charrhan.

The enabling grace of God, implicit in his call or command, is manifest among the children of promise as obedience to his word. God’s enabling grace is much less apparent among the children of the flesh. Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother⁷ left their nets immediately and followed [Jesus].⁸ But when the young man heard this (e.g., go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor⁹) he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.¹⁰ Even in the face of this rejection, however, Jesus remained confident in the enabling grace of God: for God all things are possible,¹¹ He said.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:5, 6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:5, 6 (NET)	Genesis 12:5, 6 (NETS)	Genesis 12:5, 6 English Elpenor)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.	And Abram took his wife Sara and his brother’s son Lot and all their possessions that they had acquired and every person whom they had acquired in Charran, and they departed to go to the land of Chanaan, and they came to the land of Chanaan.	And Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot the son of his brother, and all their possessions, as many as they had got, and every soul which they had got in Charrhan, and they went forth to go into the land of Chanaan.
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)	And Abram passed through the land in its length as far as the place Sychem, at the high oak. Now at that time the Chananites used to inhabit the land.	And Abram traversed the land lengthwise as far as the place Sychem, to the high oak, and the Chananites then inhabited the land.

Abram, blessed by God (Genesis 12:2), was sent to the Canaanites, descendants of Canaan, cursed by Noah (Genesis 9:20-27). I’m merely noting it at present, reminding myself to be mindful of how the Canaanites treat Abram (Genesis 12:3) as I proceed.

The Lord’s second promise to Abram follows:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:7 (NET)	Genesis 12:7 (NETS)	Genesis 12:7 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem appeared unto Abram, and said: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land’; and he builded there an altar unto HaShem, who appeared unto him [Table].	The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.	And the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “To your offspring I will give this land.” And Abram built there an altar to the Lord who had appeared to him [Table].	And the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I will give this land to thy seed. And Abram built an altar there to the Lord who appeared to him.

I’m hesitant to draw any contrast here relative to the children of promise receiving promises from God that are not received by the children of the flesh. Consider this from the song Moses recited:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 32:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NET)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (English Elpenor)
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children (בְּנֵ֥י) of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵֽל).	When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly [NET note 14: Heb “the sons (bēn, בני) of Israel (yiśrā’ēl, ישׁראל)”].	When the Most High was apportioning nations, as he scattered Adam’s sons, he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine (θεοῦ) sons (ἀγγέλων),	When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels (ἀγγέλων) of God (Θεοῦ).

The discrepancy between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint was addressed in a note (14) in the NET:

The idea, perhaps, is that Israel was central to Yahweh’s purposes and all other nations were arranged and distributed according to how they related to Israel. See S. R. Driver, Deuteronomy (ICC), 355-56. For the MT בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (b^ene yisraʾel, “sons of Israel”) a Qumran fragment has “sons of God,” while the LXX reads ἀγγέλων θεοῦ (angelōn theou, “angels of God”), presupposing בְּנֵי אֵל (b^ene ʾel) or בְּנֵי אֵלִים (bene ʾelim). “Sons of God” is undoubtedly the original reading; the MT and LXX have each interpreted it differently. MT assumes that the expression “sons of God” refers to Israel (cf. Hos. 1:10), while LXX has assumed that the phrase refers to the angelic heavenly assembly (Pss 29:1; 89:6; cf. as well Ps 82). The phrase is also attested in Ugaritic, where it refers to the high god El’s divine assembly. According to the latter view, which is reflected in the translation, the Lord delegated jurisdiction over the nations to his angelic host (cf. Dan. 10:13-21), while reserving for himself Israel, over whom he rules directly. For a defense of the view taken here, see M. S. Heiser, “Deuteronomy 32:8 and the Sons of God,” BSac 158 (2001): 52-74.

Though it feels a bit like dabbling in the occult, I’ll follow this through for a few moments:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Daniel 10:4-6 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:4-6 (NET)	Daniel 10:4-6 (NETS)	Daniel 10:4-6 (English Elpenor)
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris.	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, and as I was by the great river (this is the Eddekel),	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was near the great river, which is Tigris Eddekel.
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man (אִֽישׁ) clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	I looked up and saw a man (‘îš, איש) clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz.	and I raised my eyes and saw, and lo, there was one man (ἀνὴρ) clothed in baddin, and his waist girded by gold of Ophaz.	And I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man (ἀνὴρ) clothed in linen, and his loins were girt with gold of Ophaz:
His body also was like the beryl (כְתַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ), and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body resembled yellow jasper (taršîš, כתרשיש), and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.	And his body was like tharsis (ὡσεὶ θαρσις), and his face like an appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and legs like the appearance of gleaming bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a crowd.	and his body was as Tharsis (ὡσεὶ θαρσίς), and his face was a [sic] the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs as the appearance of shining brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude.

Though Daniel called him אִֽישׁ (‘îš), ἀνὴρ in Greek, his description didn’t sound like any man I’ve ever seen. Rashi, following “Our Sages” recorded in a “Tractate,” understood כְתַרְשִׁ֗ישׁ (taršîš), translated like the beryl (Tanakh, KJV) and resembled yellow jasper (NET), as a measure of immense body size rather than a jaundiced appearance.

And his body was like tarshish: Our Sages of blessed memory explained in Tractate Hullin (9lb): “His body was two thousand parasangs large, like the measurement of the sea named Tarshish, and that is the sea of Africa (the Mediterranean).”¹²

The man spoke to Daniel:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Daniel 10:12-14 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:12-14 (NET)	Daniel 10:12-14 (NETS)	Daniel 10:12-14 (English Elpenor)
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God (אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ), thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהיך), your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.	And he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to be afflicted before your God (τοῦ θεοῦ σου), your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.	And he said to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to afflict thyself before the Lord (Κυρίου) thy God (τοῦ Θεοῦ σου), thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.
But the prince (וְשַׂ֣ר) of the kingdom of Persia withstood (עֹמֵ֚ד) me (לְנֶגְדִּי֙) one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief (הָֽרִאשֹׁנִ֖ים) princes (הַשָּׂרִ֥ים), came to help me; and I remained there with the kings (מַלְכֵ֥י) of Persia.	However, the prince (śar, ושׁר) of the kingdom of Persia was opposing (ʿāmaḏ, עמד) me (neḡeḏ, לנגדי) for 21 days. But Michael, one of the leading (ri’šôn, הראשנים) princes (śar, השׁרים), came to help me, because I was left there with the kings (meleḵ, מלכי) of Persia.	And the ruler (καὶ ὁ ἄρχων) of the kingdom of the Persians stood (εἱστήκει) opposite (ἐξ ἐναντίας) me (μου) twenty and one day. And lo, Michael, one of the chief (τῶν πρώτων) rulers (τῶν ἀρχόντων), came to help me, and I left him there with the ruler (τοῦ ἄρχοντος) of the kingdom of the Persians,	But the prince (καὶ ὁ ἄρχων) of the kingdom of the Persians withstood (εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας) me (μου) twenty-one days: and behold, Michael, one of the princes (τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων), came to help me; and I left him there with the chief (τοῦ ἄρχοντος) of the kingdom of the Persians:
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in future days, for the vision pertains to days to come.”	and I have come to instruct you about what will meet your people at the end of days, because the vision is yet for days.”	and I have come to inform thee of all that shall befall thy people in the last days: for the vision is yet for [many] days.

This brief glimpse into an invisible realm disturbed me. How could a heavenly being sent by an omnipotent God be delayed even three weeks by, presumably, another heavenly being? It seemed to lend too much credence to the warring gods of pagan myths. But this time I get a different picture from the Hebrew and Greek words: עֹמֵ֚ד (ʿāmaḏ) לְנֶגְדִּי֙ (neḡeḏ), withstood me (Tanakh, KJV), was opposing me (NET); εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου, stood opposite me (NETS), withstood me (English Elpenor).

Consider Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:13:

has been standing against me: to battle with me in heaven by requesting an extension for the kingdom for Persia to enable them to subjugate you (Israel). Behold twenty-one days that he has been standing against me.

the first princes: those counted first among those who enter.

and I remained there: to silence the princes of Persia in heaven.¹³

So now, rather than warring pagan gods or a Star Wars battle sequence complete with light sabers and laser blasters, it sounds more like a parliamentary procedure in the assembly of El:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 82:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 82:1 (NET)	Psalm 81:1 (NETS)	Psalm 81:1 (English Elpenor)
God standeth (נִצָּ֥ב) in the congregation (בַּֽעֲדַת) of the mighty¹⁴ (אֵ֑ל); he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God stands (nāṣaḇ, נצב) in the assembly (ʿēḏâ, בעדת) of El (‘ēl, אל); in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.	A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. God stood (ἔστη) in a gathering (ἐν συναγωγῇ) of gods (θεῶν), but in their midst he discerningly judges gods:	[A Psalm for Asaph.] God stands (ἔστη) in the assembly (ἐν συναγωγῇ) of gods (θεῶν); and in the midst [of them] will judge gods.

The only true God, delaying his plan twenty-one earth days to listen patiently with genuine interest to arguments put forth by the heavenly being He put in charge of Persia, sounds much more like the One I am beginning to know. It makes sense to me that Michael and the unnamed heavenly being who appeared to Daniel would argue the Lord’s points and purpose for Israel before Him as well and, ultimately, prevail.

I’ll continue with this in another essay.

Tables comparing Genesis 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 10:4; 10:5; 10:6; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14 and Psalm 82:1 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 12:4; 12:5; 12:6; Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 10:4; 10:5; 10:6; 10:12; 10:13; 10:14 and Psalm 82:1 (81:1) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Genesis 12:4 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:4 (KJV)	Genesis 12:4 (NET)
So Abram went, as HaShem had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.	So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.)

Genesis 12:4 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἐπορεύθη Αβραμ καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ κύριος καὶ ᾤχετο μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ Λωτ Αβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε ὅτε ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ Χαρραν	καὶ ἐπορεύθη ῞Αβραμ, καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ Κύριος, καὶ ᾤχετο μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Λώτ. ῞Αβραμ δὲ ἦν ἐτῶν ἑβδομηκονταπέντε, ὅτε ἐξῆλθε ἐκ Χαρράν
Genesis 12:4 (NETS)	Genesis 12:4 (English Elpenor)
And Abram went, as the Lord had told him to, and Lot left with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years of age when he departed from Charran.	And Abram went as the Lord spoke to him, and Lot departed with him, and Abram was seventy-five years old, when he went out of Charrhan.

Genesis 12:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:5 (KJV)	Genesis 12:5 (NET)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.	And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.

Genesis 12:5 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἔλαβεν Αβραμ τὴν Σαραν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Λωτ υἱὸν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῶν ὅσα ἐκτήσαντο καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχήν ἣν ἐκτήσαντο ἐν Χαρραν καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χανααν καὶ ἦλθον εἰς γῆν Χανααν	καὶ ἔλαβεν ῞Αβραμ Σάραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Λὼτ υἱὸν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῶν, ὅσα ἐκτήσαντο, καὶ πᾶσαν ψυχήν, ἣν ἐκτήσαντο ἐκ Χαρράν, καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Χαναάν
Genesis 12:5 (NETS)	Genesis 12:5 (English Elpenor)
And Abram took his wife Sara and his brother’s son Lot and all their possessions that they had acquired and every person whom they had acquired in Charran, and they departed to go to the land of Chanaan, and they came to the land of Chanaan.	And Abram took Sara his wife, and Lot the son of his brother, and all their possessions, as many as they had got, and every soul which they had got in Charrhan, and they went forth to go into the land of Chanaan.

Genesis 12:6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:6 (KJV)	Genesis 12:6 (NET)
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.	Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)

Genesis 12:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Genesis 12:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ διώδευσεν Αβραμ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ τόπου Συχεμ ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν τὴν ὑψηλήν οἱ δὲ Χαναναῖοι τότε κατῴκουν τὴν γῆν	καὶ διώδευσεν ῞Αβραμ τὴν γῆν εἰς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς ἕως τοῦ τόπου Συχέμ, ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν τὴν ὑψηλήν· οἱ δὲ Χαναναῖοι τότε κατῴκουν τὴν γῆν
Genesis 12:6 (NETS)	Genesis 12:6 (English Elpenor)
And Abram passed through the land in its length as far as the place Sychem, at the high oak. Now at that time the Chananites used to inhabit the land.	And Abram traversed the land lengthwise as far as the place Sychem, to the high oak, and the Chananites then inhabited the land.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (NET)
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.	When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.	When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly.

Deuteronomy 32:8 (BLB Septuagint)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ὅτε διεμέριζεν ὁ ὕψιστος ἔθνη ὡς διέσπειρεν υἱοὺς Αδαμ ἔστησεν ὅρια ἐθνῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἀγγέλων θεοῦ	ὅτε διεμέριζεν ὁ ῞Υψιστος ἔθνη, ὡς διέσπειρεν υἱοὺς ᾿Αδάμ, ἔστησεν ὅρια ἐθνῶν κατὰ ἀριθμὸν ἀγγέλων Θεοῦ
Deuteronomy 32:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 32:8 (English Elpenor)
When the Most High was apportioning nations, as he scattered Adam’s sons, he fixed boundaries of nations according to the number of divine sons,	When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.

Daniel 10:4 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:4 (KJV)	Daniel 10:4 (NET)
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris.

Daniel 10:4 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εἰκοστῇ καὶ τετάρτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐχόμενα τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου αὐτός ἐστιν Εδδεκελ	ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εἰκοστῇ τετάρτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ πρώτου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἤμην ἐχόμενα τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, αὐτός ἐστι Τίγρις, ᾿Εδδεκέλ,
Daniel 10:4 (NETS)	Daniel 10:4 (English Elpenor)
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, and as I was by the great river (this is the Eddekel),	On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was near the great river, which is Tigris Eddekel.

Daniel 10:5 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:5 (KJV)	Daniel 10:5 (NET)
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:	I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Ufaz.

Daniel 10:5 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἦρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ εἷς ἐνδεδυμένος βαδδιν καὶ ἡ ὀσφὺς αὐτοῦ περιεζωσμένη ἐν χρυσίῳ Ωφαζ	καὶ ᾖρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ εἷς ἐνδεδυμένος βαδδίν, καὶ ἡ ὀσφὺς αὐτοῦ περιεζωσμένη ἐν χρυσίῳ ᾿Ωφάζ
Daniel 10:5 (NETS)	Daniel 10:5 (English Elpenor)
and I raised my eyes and saw, and lo, there was one man clothed in baddin, and his waist girded by gold of Ophaz.	And I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girt with gold of Ophaz:

Daniel 10:6 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:6 (KJV)	Daniel 10:6 (NET)
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.	His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.

Daniel 10:6 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θαρσις καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ὅρασις ἀστραπῆς καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ λαμπάδες πυρός καὶ οἱ βραχίονες αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ σκέλη ὡς ὅρασις χαλκοῦ στίλβοντος καὶ ἡ φωνὴ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὄχλου	καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ θαρσίς, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ ὅρασις ἀστραπῆς, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ λαμπάδες πυρός, καὶ οἱ βραχίονες αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ σκέλη ὡς ὅρασις χαλκοῦ στίλβοντος καὶ ἡ φωνὴ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ ὡς φωνὴ ὄχλου
Daniel 10:6 (NETS)	Daniel 10:6 (English Elpenor)
And his body was like tharsis, and his face like an appearance of lightning, and his eyes like torches of fire, and his arms and legs like the appearance of gleaming bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a crowd.	and his body was as Tharsis, and his face was a the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his legs as the appearance of shining brass, and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude.

Daniel 10:12 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:12 (KJV)	Daniel 10:12 (NET)
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.	Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.

Daniel 10:12 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:12 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ εἶπεν πρός με μὴ φοβοῦ Δανιηλ ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἧς ἔδωκας τὴν καρδίαν σου τοῦ συνιέναι καὶ κακωθῆναι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ σου ἠκούσθησαν οἱ λόγοι σου καὶ ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου	καὶ εἶπε πρός με· μὴ φοβοῦ, Δανιήλ, ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας, ἧς ἔδωκας τὴν καρδίαν σου τοῦ συνεῖναι καὶ κακωθῆναι ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, ἠκούσθησαν οἱ λόγοι σου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἦλθον ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου
Daniel 10:12 (NETS)	Daniel 10:12 (English Elpenor)
And he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and to be afflicted before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.	And he said to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to afflict thyself before the Lord thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words.

Daniel 10:13 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:13 (KJV)	Daniel 10:13 (NET)
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.	But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.	However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for 21 days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.

Daniel 10:13 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:13 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ὁ ἄρχων βασιλείας Περσῶν εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου εἴκοσι καὶ μίαν ἡμέραν καὶ ἰδοὺ Μιχαηλ εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων ἦλθεν βοηθῆσαί μοι καὶ αὐτὸν κατέλιπον ἐκεῖ μετὰ τοῦ ἄρχοντος βασιλείας Περσῶν	καὶ ὁ ἄρχων βασιλείας Περσῶν εἱστήκει ἐξ ἐναντίας μου εἴκοσι καὶ μίαν ἡμέραν, καὶ ἰδοὺ Μιχαὴλ εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων τῶν πρώτων ἦλθε βοηθῆσαί μοι, καὶ αὐτὸν κατέλιπον ἐκεῖ μετὰ τοῦ ἄρχοντος βασιλείας Περσῶν
Daniel 10:13 (NETS)	Daniel 10:13 (English Elpenor)
And the ruler of the kingdom of the Persians stood opposite me twenty and one day. And lo, Michael, one of the chief rulers, came to help me, and I left him there with the ruler of the kingdom of the Persians,	But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians withstood me twenty-one days: and behold, Michael, one of the princes, came to help me; and I left him there with the chief of the kingdom of the Persians:

Daniel 10:14 (Tanakh)	Daniel 10:14 (KJV)	Daniel 10:14 (NET)
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.	Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in future days, for the vision pertains to days to come.”

Daniel 10:14 (BLB Septuagint)	Daniel 10:14 (Elpenor Septuagint)
καὶ ἦλθον συνετίσαι σε ὅσα ἀπαντήσεται τῷ λαῷ σου ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ὅτι ἔτι ἡ ὅρασις εἰς ἡμέρας	καὶ ἦλθον συνετίσαι σε ὅσα ἀπαντήσεται τῷ λαῷ σου ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, ὅτι ἔτι ἡ ὅρασις εἰς ἡμέρας
Daniel 10:14 (NETS)	Daniel 10:14 (English Elpenor)
and I have come to instruct you about what will meet your people at the end of days, because the vision is yet for days.”	and I have come to inform thee of all that shall befall thy people in the last days: for the vision is yet for [many] days.

Psalm 82:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 82:1 (KJV)	Psalm 82:1 (NET)
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.	A psalm of Asaph. God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.

Psalm 82:1 (BLB Septuagint)	Psalm 81:1 (Elpenor Septuagint)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Ασαφ ὁ θεὸς ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρίνει	Ψαλμὸς τῷ ᾿Ασάφ. – Ο ΘΕΟΣ ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν, ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρινεῖ
Psalm 81:1 (NETS)	Psalm 81:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm. Pertaining to Asaph. God stood in a gathering of gods, but in their midst he discerningly judges gods:	[A Psalm for Asaph.] God stands in the assembly of gods; and in the midst [of them] will judge gods.

The Children of Promise, Part 2

Back to Matthew 8:23-34

¹ Romans 9:8 (NET)

² Genesis 12:1 (NET) Table

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁴ Matthew 4:18, 19a (NET)

⁵ Matthew 19:21 (NET) Table

⁶ Matthew 11:28-30 (NET)

⁷ Matthew 4:18b (NET) Table

⁸ Matthew 4:20 (NET)

⁹ Matthew 19:21b (NET) Table

¹⁰ Matthew 19:22 (NET)

¹¹ Matthew 19:26b (NET) Table

¹² Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:6, from The Complete Tanakh on Chabad.org online.

¹³ Rashi’s commentary to Daniel 10:13, from The Complete Tanakh on Chabad.org online.

¹⁴ In the Tanakh on Chabad.org אֵ֑ל (‘ēl) was translated God.

The Day of the Lord, Part 7

Posted on December 28, 2023 by admin

This is a continuation of my consideration whether my assumption that Jesus called Judas Iscariot ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας (NET: the one destined for destruction) is like Jesus’ disciples’ discussion about having no bread¹ after He said: “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!”² In another essay I began to look at John’s description of antichrist and many antichrists because Meyer’s NT Commentary stated that many of the Church Fathers had understood Paul’s description of the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, as the Antichrist.

I highlighted two things he wrote about their insights:³

They correctly agree in considering that by the advent (2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:8), or the day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:2), is to be understood the personal advent of Christ for the last judgment and for the completion of the Messianic kingdom. Also it is correctly regarded as proved, that the Antichrist here described is to be considered as an individual person, in whom sin will embody itself.

Meyer’s NT Commentary continued to elaborate on the “view of the Fathers” regarding “the Antichrist…considered as an individual person” with the following caveat:

Meyer’s NT Commentary	Google Translate
Yet Augustin already remarks, that “nonnulli non ipsum principem, sed universum quodam modo corpus ejus i. e. ad eum pertinentem hominum multitudinem simul cum ipso suo principe hoc loco intelligi Antichristum volunt.”	Yet Augustin already remarks, that “some, not the prince himself, but the whole world, in a certain way, his body i. e. The multitude of men belonging to him, together with their own leader, want to be understood in this place as Antichrist.”

Mr. Meyer cataloged many evolving views: “[T]he view, first in the eleventh century, that the establishment and growing power of the Papacy is to be considered as the Antichrist predicted by Paul,”⁴ is a familiar one. “Yet even before the reference of Antichrist to Popery was maintained, Mohammed[55] was already regarded by the divines of the Greek church…as the Antichrist predicted by Paul.”⁵

The power which restrained Antichrist evolved as well.

The restraining power by which the appearance of Antichrist is delayed, is usually considered [by the Church Fathers] to be the continuance of the Roman Empire (τὸ κατέχον) and its representative the Roman emperor (ὁ κατέχων). Some, however, as Theodorus Mopsuestius and Theodoret, understand by it τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸν ὅρον, i.e. more exactly, the counsel of God to keep back the appearance of Antichrist until the gospel is proclaimed throughout the earth…Chrysostom chooses a third interpretation, that by the restraining power is meant the continuance of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit…

In recent times it has often been considered as objectionable to determine exactly the individual traits of the imagery used by Paul. Accordingly the representation of the apostle has been interpreted in a general, ideal, or symbolical sense. To this class of interpreters belongs Koppe, according to whom Paul, founding on an old national Jewish oracle, supported especially by Daniel, would describe the ungodliness preceding the last day, which already worked, but whose full outbreak was only to take place after the death of the apostle; so that Paul himself was the κατέχων.[57]⁶

Meyer’s NT Commentary continued:

Meyer’s NT Commentary	Google Translate
Similarly Storr (l.c.), who understands by the ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας [man of sin] “potestas aliqua, deo omnique religioni adversaria, quae penitus incognita et futuro demum tempore se proditura sit,” and by the preventing power the “copia hominum verissimo amore inflammatorum in christianam religionem.”	Similarly Storr (l.c.), who understands by the ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας [man of sin] “some power, hostile to God and to all religion, which is completely unknown and will betray itself in the future at the last time,” and by the preventing power the “a multitude of men inflamed with true love into the Christian religion.”

Other opinions were cited: “Nitzsch (l.c.) thinks on the power of atheism first come to have public authority, or the contempt of all religion generally.”⁷ “Pelt…sums up his views in the following words”:⁸

Meyer’s NT Commentary	Google Translate
Mihi … adversarius illi principium esse videtur sive vis spiritualis evangelio contraria, quae huc usque tamen in Pontificiorum Romanorum operibus ac serie luculentissime sese prodidit, ita tamen, ut omnia etiam mala, quae in ecclesia compareant, ad eandem Antichristi ἐνέργειαν sint referenda.	To me… it seems that the opposite principle is a spiritual force contrary to the gospel, which until now has revealed itself most clearly in the works and series of the Roman Pontiffs, so that even all the evils that appear in the church are to be referred to the same Antichrist ἐνέργειαν.
Ejus vero ΠΑΡΟΥΣΊΑ i. e. summum fastigium, quod Christi reditum qui nihil aliud est, nisi regni divini victoria,[59] antecedet, futurum adhuc esse videtur, quum illud tempus procul etiamnum abesse putemus, ubi omnes terrae incolae in eo erunt, ut ad Christi sacra transeant. Κατέχον vero cum Theodoreto putarim esse dei voluntatem illud Satanae regnum cohibentem, ne erumpat, et, si mediae spectantur causae, apostolorum tempore maxime imperii Romani vis, et quovis aevo illa resistentia, quam malis artibus, quae religionem subvertere student, privati commodi et honoris augendorum cupiditas opponere solet.	But his ΠΑΡΟΥΣΊΑ i. e. the highest climax, which precedes the return of Christ, which is nothing else but the victory of the divine kingdom, [59] seems to be yet to come, since we think that time is still far off, when all the inhabitants of the earth will be there, to pass to the sacraments of Christ. Κατέχον, with Theodoretus, I think that it is the will of God restraining that kingdom of Satan, lest it break out, and, if we look at the middle causes, in the time of the apostles the power of the Roman government was especially strong, and in every age that resistance, which is usually opposed to the evil arts which seek to subvert religion, the desire to increase private advantage and honor.

According to [Pelt], the chief stress lies on ΤῸ ΜΥΣΤΉΡΙΟΝ ἬΔΗ ἘΝΕΡΓΕῖΤΑΙ Τῆς ἈΝΟΜΊΑς [literally: the mystery already working of lawlessness]. Antichrist is a union of the individuality and spiritual tendency in masses of individuals. The revolt of the Jews from the Romans, and the fearful divine punishment in the destruction of Jerusalem, Nero, Mohammed and his spiritual devastating power, the development of the Papacy in the Middle Ages, the French Revolution of 1789, with the abrogation of Christianity, and the setting up of prostitutes on altars for worship, in the external world, as well as the constantly spreading denial of the fundamentals of all religious truth and morality, of the doctrines of God, freedom, and immortality, and likewise the self-deification of the ego in the internal world,—all these phenomena are the real precursors of Antichrist; but they contain only some of his characteristics, not all; it is the union of all these characteristics which shall make the full Antichrist.⁹

Ultimately, though I found some of them illuminating, Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer rejected the views developed in recent times:

It is evident that all these explanations are arbitrary. The Pauline description is so definitely and sharply marked, and has for its whole compass so much the idea of nearness for its supposition, that it can by no means be taken generally, and in this manner explained away.

While I’m grateful to Mr. Meyer for painstakingly collecting all of these opinions in one place, I don’t intend to play guess the identity of Antichrist as an individual person. That game scatters in my opinion, rather than gathering with the Lord Jesus: and whoever does not gather (συνάγων, a form of συνέχω) with me scatters (σκορπίζει, a form of σκορπίζω),¹⁰ Jesus said. So, I want to approach it differently.

Matthew Poole’s summation from his Commentary of the difficulty of knowing “what whithholdeth” the revelation of the man of lawlessness was very accessible:

And now ye know what withholdeth: the apostle it seems had told them, as of his coming, so of what at present withheld the revealing of him. And what this was is difficult to know now, though it seems these Thessalonians knew it: there are many conjectures about it. This I shall say in general:
1. It was something that the apostle thought not safe openly to declare in writing; else he would not have written of it so obscurely.
2. It was both a thing, and a person; a thing, to katecon, in this verse, that which withholdeth; and a person, as in the next verse, o katecwn, he who letteth.
3. It was also such a thing and such a person as were to be removed out of the way, not totally, but as they were hinderances [sic] of this revelation.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible echoed Mr. Poole’s first point:

It is not known precisely what is referred to by the phrase “what withholdeth,” τὸ κατέχον to katechon. The phrase means properly, something that “holds back,” or “restrains”….Of this, the apostle says, they had had full information; but we can only conjecture what it was.

This seems to be a natural consequence of the assumption that Antichrist is an unknown individual from the future. Rather than assuming that Paul, the Holy Spirit and the New Testament are keeping something from us, I prefer to experiment with the idea that ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἀνομίας or αμαρτιας (NET: the man of lawlessness; KJV: that man of sin [Table])¹¹ and ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας (NET: the son of destruction; KJV: the son of perdition)¹² are other words for ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία (NET: sin that lives in me; KJV: sin that dwelleth in me),¹³ τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν φθειρόμενον κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης (NET: the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires; KJV: the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts),¹⁴ ἐμοὶ τὸ κακὸν παράκειται (NET/KJV: evil…present with me)¹⁵ and ἡ…σὰρξ (NET/KJV: the flesh).¹⁶ I’ll work backwards through this.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh (σὰρξ) is weak,¹⁷ Jesus said of disciples who both believed and followed Him. The Greek word translated willing was πρόθυμον (a form of πρόθυμος): “ready, willing, eager, predisposed.” The Greek word translated weak was ἀσθενής: “weak, powerless; weak and easily defeated; sick, ill, unhealthy; disabled, physically weak, feeble, miserable; morally weak; weak in influence, without influence; structurally weak (e.g., weak stones unable to support).” What is born of the flesh (σαρκὸς, a form of σὰρξ) is flesh (σάρξ),¹⁸ He told Nicodemus; in other words, it is weak (ἀσθενής). And again, Jesus said to his disciples, The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature (σὰρξ) is of no help!¹⁹

Flesh (σὰρξ) and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,²⁰ Paul wrote the Corinthians. He elaborated on this point in his letter to the Romans (Romans 8:1-8 NET):

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death [Table]. For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened (ἠσθένει, a form of ἀσθενέω) through the flesh (σαρκός, a form of σὰρξ). By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (σαρκὸς, a form of σὰρξ) and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh (σαρκί, another form of σὰρξ), so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh (σάρκα, another form of σὰρξ) but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh (σάρκα) have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh (σαρκὸς), but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. For the outlook of the flesh (σαρκὸς) is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh (σαρκὸς) is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh (σαρκὶ) cannot please God.

Prior to this, Paul had written, with my flesh (σαρκὶ, another form of σὰρξ) I serve the law of sin.²¹ [W]hen I want to do good, evil is present with me,²² he lamented as he characterized that evil as a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.²³ For the flesh (σὰρξ) has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh (σαρκός, another form of σὰρξ),²⁴ he wrote to the Galatians. To the Ephesians he characterized this flesh as the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.²⁵ He also called this old man simply, sin that lives in me.²⁶ And to the Thessalonians he described all of this as the man of lawlessness…the son of destruction.²⁷

I’ll continue with this in another essay.

The Day of the Lord, Part 8

¹ Mark 8:16b (NET) Table

² Mark 8:15b (NET)

³ From Meyer’s NT Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:12, Bible Commentaries on Bible Hub online.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ Ibid.

⁸ Ibid.

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ Matthew 12:30b (NET)

¹¹ 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Table

¹² Ibid.

¹³ Romans 7:19 Table

¹⁴ Ephesians 4:22

¹⁵ Romans 7:21

¹⁶ Galatians 5:17 Table

¹⁷ Matthew 26:41b (NET)

¹⁸ John 3:6a (NET)

¹⁹ John 6:63a (NET) Table

²⁰ 1 Corinthians 15:50b (NET) Table

²¹ Romans 7:25b (NET) Table

²² Romans 7:21b (NET)

²³ Romans 7:23b (NET) Table

²⁴ Galatians 5:17a (NET) Table

²⁵ Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

²⁶ Romans 7:17b (NET) Table, and 7:20b (NET) Table

²⁷ 2 Thessalonians 2:3b (NET) Table

The Gospel and the Religious Mind

An attempt to distinguish the mind of Christ from the ordinary religious mind.

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