Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 14

I’ve been considering yehôvâh’s fearful pronouncement: I punish (pâqadפקthe sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me[1]  By way of review, I didn’t find anything about the Hebrew word itself that would compel anyone to translate פקד (pâqad) I punish.  While I don’t have any particular quarrel with calling the plague of Exodus 32:35 a punishment, I’m not convinced it justifies translating pâqad I punish (פקדי) and I will indeed punish (ופקדתי) beyond this limited context.[2]

After a kind of thought experiment I concluded that the translation of פקד (pâqad) as I punish in Deuteronomy 5:9 was a perpetuation of an erroneous popular notion of religious minds that was clearly corrected in Ezekiel 18.[3]  Though the fixation on punishment in Leviticus 18:25 was difficult for me to unravel, it hasn’t really dissuaded me from the idea that yehôvâh visits iniquity itself upon descendants to consign all to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.[4]

In another essay I began to consider the story of Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 42-45) as a narrative example of bearing iniquity.  Here I’ll continue in that light with the peace-offering (shelem, שלמיו) sacrifice.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Leviticus 7:18 (Tanakh) Leviticus 7:18 (NET) Leviticus 7:8 (NETS) Leviticus 7:18 (Elpenor English)
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings (שְׁלָמָ֜יו) be at all eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it; it shall be an abhorred thing, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear (תִּשָּֽׂא) his iniquity (עֲו‍ֹנָ֥הּ). If some of the meat of his peace-offering (שלמיו) sacrifice is ever eaten on the third day it will not be accepted; it will not be accounted to the one who presented it since it is spoiled, and the person who eats from it will bear (nâśâʼ, תשׁא) his punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונה). But if when eating, he should eat some of the meat on the third day, it will not be accepted for him who offers it, nor shall it be credited to him.  It is a defilement, and the soul who eats any of it shall assume (λήμψεται [Table4 below]) the guilt (ἁμαρτίαν). And if he do at all eat of the flesh on the third day, it shall not be accepted for him that offers: it shall not be reckoned to him, it is pollution; and whatsoever soul shall eat of it, shall bear (λήψεται) his iniquity (ἁμαρτίαν).

The NET translators’ interpretation is most familiar and congenial to the social construction of my reality growing up.  Without refrigeration meat would spoil.  So the punishment for the iniquity of eating meat on the third day would be diarrhea, vomiting or worse.  By this interpretation יהוה (yehôvâh) seems considerably more permissive than the USDA:

Last night I left cooked roast beef on the counter to cool before refrigerating, but fell asleep and discovered it this morning. I immediately put it in the refrigerator. Since the meat is cooked, shouldn’t it be safe to eat?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Hotline receives similar calls every day from consumers who are confused about how to keep their food safe. The answer to this caller’s question is that the roast beef should be thrown out. Why? Because leaving food out too long at room temperature can cause bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter) to grow to dangerous levels that can cause illness.

I’ve learned, when confronted with contrasts such as this, to resist my native reasoning: “God believed thus and such but now we know better.”  USDA guidelines are written with the contemporary physiology of citizens of the USA in mind.  I think I have good reasons to suspect that the ancient descendants of Jacob were heartier souls than we.  At least they hadn’t waged indiscriminate warfare against their own digestive and immune systems with antibiotics.  It’s entirely possible the bacteria that harm us would have been handled by their immune systems.  The people of ancient Israel may have suffered no digestive distress from eating unrefrigerated meat, even on the third day.

The iniquity of eating the meat of the peace-offering (shelem, שלמים) on the third day was explained later in Leviticus.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Leviticus 19:8a (Tanakh) Leviticus 19:8a (NET) Leviticus 19:8a (NETS) Leviticus 19:8a (Elpenor English)
But every one that eateth it shall bear (יִשָּׂ֔א) his iniquity (עֲו‍ֹנ֣וֹ), because he hath profaned the holy thing (קֹ֥דֶשׁ) of HaShem… and the one who eats it will bear (nâśâʼ, ישׁא) his punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונו) because he has profaned what is holy (qôdesh, קדש) to the Lord. And he who eats it shall assume (λήμψεται) guilt (ἁμαρτίαν) because he has profaned what is holy (ἅγια) to the Lord… And he that eats it shall bear (λήψεται) his iniquity (ἁμαρτίαν), because he has profaned the holy things (ἅγια) of the Lord…

In other words, יהוה (yehôvâh) declared that the meat of the peace-offering was not to be eaten on the third day.  Anyone, therefore, who ate the meat of the peace-offering on the third day had profaned what is holy to the Lord (e.g., his own word declaring that the meat should not be eaten on the third day) and shall bear his iniquity.  The one who disobeys יהוה (yehôvâh) is subject to misunderstanding and confusion similar to that experienced by Joseph’s brothers.  The sinner’s thoughts stray from faith—The LORD (יְהֹוָ֥ה) is my shepherd; I shall not want[5]—into mistrust—“God will get me if I don’t watch out.”

I didn’t bear my iniquity with anything like the aplomb of Joseph’s brothers.  I felt obligated to become an atheist when God didn’t “get me” even though I had failed to “watch out.”  Those who profaned what is holy to the Lord were told precisely how to bear their iniquity with aplomb (Leviticus 5:14-16).  And I don’t see any reason to burden factual information regarding what transpires within the soul that profanes God’s holy word with the concept punishment.  What seemed like diarrhea or vomiting in the NET translation of Leviticus 7 becomes a very different “punishment” in Leviticus 19.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Leviticus 19:8 (Tanakh) Leviticus 19:8 (NET) Leviticus 19:8 (NETS) Leviticus 19:8 (Elpenor English)
But every one that eateth it shall bear (יִשָּׂ֔א) his iniquity (עֲו‍ֹנ֣וֹ), because he hath profaned the holy thing (קֹ֥דֶשׁ) of HaShem; and that soul shall be cut off from his people. and the one who eats it will bear (nâśâʼ, ישׁא) his punishment for iniquity (ʽâvôn, עונו) because he has profaned what is holy (qôdesh, קדש) to the Lord.  That person will be cut off from his people. And he who eats it shall assume (λήμψεται) guilt (ἁμαρτίαν) because he has profaned what is holy (ἅγια) to the Lord, and the souls who eat it shall be exterminated from their people. And he that eats it shall bear (λήψεται) his iniquity (ἁμαρτίαν), because he has profaned the holy things (ἅγια) of the Lord; and the souls that eat it shall be destroyed from among their people.

Rather than gastric distress the “punishment” for profaning what is holy to the Lord is, That person will be cut off (exterminateddestroyed) from (among) his people.  In Leviticus 7 this was true of him who ate having his uncleanness upon him.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Leviticus 7:20 (Tanakh) Leviticus 7:20 (NET) Leviticus 7:10 (NETS) Leviticus 7:20 (Elpenor English)
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings (הַשְּׁלָמִים֙), that pertain unto HaShem, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. The person who eats meat from the peace-offering (shelem, השלמים) sacrifice which belongs to the Lord while that person’s uncleanness persists will be cut off from his people. But the soul who should eat any of the sacrifice of deliverance, which belongs to the Lord, and his uncleanness is on him—that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his people. And whatsoever soul shall eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace-offering which is the Lord’s, and his uncleanness be upon him, that soul shall perish from his people.

The Hebrew word translated cut off was ונכרתה (kârath).  A note (29) in the NET explained:

The exact meaning of this penalty clause is not certain. It could mean that he will be executed, whether by God or by man, he will be excommunicated from sanctuary worship and/or community benefits (cf. TEV, CEV), or his line will be terminated by God (i.e., extirpation), etc. See J. E. Hartley, Leviticus (WBC), 100; J. Milgrom, Leviticus (AB), 1:457-60; and B. A. Levine, Leviticus (JPSTC), 241-42 for further discussion.

In an article titled, “Karet or Being ‘Cut Off’ in Torah,” Derek Lemen[6] (following Jacob Milgrom) added “a denial of afterlife” to this list:

As Milgrom points out, karet may very well be both denial of afterlife and a decree from God that a person’s family line will come to an end.

Frankly, I’m not buying it in this context.  Mr. Leman noted the lack of proportionality:

Jacob Milgrom categorizes and lists all the crimes in Torah that result in being cut off. The list is surprising. Offenses range from those which seem relatively minor (eating leaven during Passover week) to major (sacrificing children to Molech).

It didn’t dissuade him from titling the foregoing paragraph “Causes of the Karet Penalty.”  I noted the lack of specificity when considered as a penalty.  In Leviticus 7:18-20 “being cut off” reads like the additional penalty of an aggravated offence, while in Leviticus 19:8 it was simply tacked on to eating meat the third day.  The lack of specificity and proportionality doesn’t sound like law to me, nor does it sound like the God I am beginning to know.

I can’t wish away the varied meanings of כָּרַת (kârath).  Perhaps I can add another one, more in keeping with the idea that the story of Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 42-45) is a narrative example of bearing iniquity.  I’m proposing that—that soul shall be cut off from his people—means what it sounds like in this context: the sinner is estranged from the righteous in his own soul much like Joseph’s brothers were estranged from Joseph, so estranged in fact that they couldn’t even recognize him as their brother.

And G-d spoke unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying:[7] And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off (kârath, יִכָּרֵ֧ת) any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.’[8]  This first occurrence, referencing the story of the flood (Genesis 7, 8), defines יִכָּרֵ֧ת (kârath) as death but also potentially extirpation,  “the end of a family line,” for all family lines but Noah’s ended at the flood.  The Greek word ἀποθανεῖται (a form of ἀποθνήσκω) in the Septuagint seems to favor death only.

And Jesus said, “Go!”  So the demons came out and went into the pigs,[9] and the herd[10] rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned (ἀπέθανον, another form of ἀποθνήσκω) in the water.[11]  But even Moses[12] revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, Jesus said, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the[13] God of Isaac and the[14] God of Jacob.  Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.[15]  Assuming that those who are never born do not live before him (and that may or may not be a questionable assumption), it is difficult to discern whether death or extirpation would be the more tragic to the Holy Spirit.

The next occurrence of כָּרַ֧ת (kârath) seems completely different (Genesis 15:18 Tanakh).

In that day HaShem made (kârath, כָּרַ֧ת) a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates;

It was translated διέθετο (a form of διατίθεμαι) in the Septuagint and was used for the same purpose in Peter’s sermon at the temple after Pentecost (Acts 3:25 NET).

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made (διέθετο, a form of διατίθεμαι) with your[16] ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in[17] your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’

Forms of כָּרַת (kârath) were used four other times in Genesis in a similar way and translated as follows in the Septuagint.

Reference Tanakh Hebrew Greek Elpenor English
Genesis 15:18 made כָּרַ֧ת διέθετο, a form of διατίθεμαι made
Genesis 21:27 made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ διέθεντο, a form of διατίθημι made
Genesis 21:32 made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ διέθεντο, a form of διατίθημι made
Genesis 26:28 make וְנִכְרְתָ֥ה διαθησόμεθα, another form of διατίθημι will make
Genesis 31:44 make נִכְרְתָ֥ה διαθώμεθα, another form of διατίθημι make

Genesis 17:14 stands apart.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Genesis 17:14 (Tanakh) Genesis 17:14 (NET) Genesis 17:14 (NETS) Genesis 17:14 (Elpenor English)
And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.’ Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people—he has failed to carry out my requirement.” And as for an uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be destroyed from his kin, for he has scattered my covenant.” And the uncircumcised male, who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from its family, for he has broken my covenant.

The phrase τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ (on the eighth day) is not found in the Masoretic text.  Whether it was added by the rabbis or removed by the Masoretes is uncertain, but it changes the verse significantly from a threat of legal jeopardy against a recalcitrant adult (who for some unknown and unspecified reason was not circumcised as an infant) to a warning to the parents of a male infant.  The rabbis chose ἐξολεθρευθήσεται or ἐξολοθρευθήσεται (Table20 below) for וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה (kârath) here.  Both are passive forms of ἐξολεθρεύω, translated “shall be destroyed” (NETS) and shall be utterly destroyed (English Elpenor), though they might have been translated “will be ruined” or “will suffer serious damage” from his people, kin, family.

I’m thinking here of the trouble (Genesis 42:1-20) Joseph caused his brothers.  Being thrown into a pit and sold as a slave (Genesis 37:23-28) strained, to say the least, Joseph’s sense of brotherhood.  A man raised by parents who refused to have him circumcised, or a man who himself refused to be circumcised, profaning the word of God, would incite various forms of retaliation among his “brothers.”  Joseph’s vengeance was strictly limited by something not entirely unlike the Holy Spirit’s ἐγκράτεια, (NET: self-control).  But such a man as described above could “suffer serious damage” from his brothers.  And this warning sounds more like the God Jesus revealed.

Paul recalled an interesting detail about Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Jesus said.  You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.[18]  I admit, I misunderstood King James’ English: it is hard for thee (σκληρόν σοι) to kick against the pricks.  I thought Jesus was concerned about what Saul was doing to Him rather than what Saul did to himself.

The final occurrence of תִכָּרֵ֥ת (kârath) in Genesis is found in Joseph’s solution to Pharaoh’s dreams.  Joseph prophesied: seven years of famineshall consume (kâlâh, וְכִלָּ֥ה; Septuagint: ἀναλώσει, a form of ἀναλίσκω) the land;[19] the thing is established by G-d, and G-d will shortly bring it to pass.[20]  But if Pharaoh stored a fifth of the produce of seven years of abundance which would proceed the seven years of famine, the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish (תִכָּרֵ֥ת) not through the famine.[21]

Here תִכָּרֵ֥ת (kârath) may have meant death or extirpation of family lines or simply that people would flee the land of Egypt for greener pastures.  The rabbis chose ἐκτριβήσεται (Table26 below), which was translated “the land will (shall) not be annihilated (utterly destroyed) by the famine” in English.  If one is not overcome by the fear of (or a reverence for) punishment forms of ἐκτρίβω might have been translated “to drive out, get rid of.”  Whatever תִכָּרֵ֥ת (kârath) meant here, the point is that God sent Joseph with a plan to negate or mitigate it.

Thus ye speak, God told Ezekiel to tell Israel, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?[22]  In other words, if we are bearing our iniquity and cut off from the righteous (though transgressors probably constituted a significant majority of the population in Israel at that particular moment) how should we then live?  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?[23]

In the NETS translation of the Septuagint (Table30 below) this “death” was clearly of the “life’s a bitch and then you die” variety.  This is not to say that it wouldn’t end in literal death eventually, but that the point was to “Turn back from your way by turning back.”  Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.[24]

As one who is being rooted and grounded in love, and knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, I can’t help but notice that as God determined a famine for the land of Egypt he sent Joseph with a remedy that would keep the land from being cut off.  This was Egypt where the descendants of Israel learned the sexualized worship that plagued them at Sinai and beyond.  Cleary, God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good (Matthew 5:43-45 NET):

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemy[25] and pray for those[26] who persecute you, so that you may be like (υἱοὶ; literally: a son of) your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

I’ll pick this up again in another essay.  The entire table of occurrences of forms of כָּרַת (kârath) in Genesis follows.

Reference Tanakh Hebrew Greek (BLB) / (Elpenor) Elpenor English
Genesis 9:11 be cut off יִכָּרֵ֧ת ἀποθανεῗται / ἀποθανεῖται any more die
Genesis 15:18 made כָּרַ֧ת διέθετο made
Genesis 17:14 shall be cut off וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה ἐξολεθρευθήσεται / ἐξολοθρευθήσεται shall be utterly destroyed
Genesis 21:27 made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ διέθεντο made
Genesis 21:32 made וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ διέθεντο made
Genesis 26:28 make וְנִכְרְתָ֥ה διαθησόμεθα will make
Genesis 31:44 make נִכְרְתָ֥ה διαθώμεθα make
Genesis 41:36 perish תִכָּרֵ֥ת ἐκτριβήσεται shall…be utterly destroyed

Tables comparing Deuteronomy 5:9; Leviticus 7:18; 19:8; Psalm 23:1; Leviticus 7:20; Genesis 9:8; 9:11; 15:18; 22:18; 17:14; 41:30; 41:32; 41:36; Ezekiel 33:10; 33:11 and 33:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Deuteronomy 5:9; Leviticus 7:18 (7:8); 19:8; Psalm 23:1 (22:1); Leviticus 7:20 (7:10); Genesis 9:8; 9:11; 15:18; 22:18; 17:14; 41:30; 41:32; 41:36; Ezekiel 33:10; 33:11 and 33:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing Matthew 8:32; Luke 20:37; Acts 3:25 and Matthew 5:44 in the NET and KJV.

Deuteronomy 5:9 (Tanakh) Deuteronomy 5:9 (KJV) Deuteronomy 5:9 (NET)
Thou shalt not bow down unto them, nor serve them; for I HaShem thy G-d am a jealous G-d, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate Me, Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, You must not worship or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me,
Deuteronomy 5:9 (Septuagint BLB) Deuteronomy 5:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὐ προσκυνήσεις αὐτοῗς οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῗς ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ θεός σου θεὸς ζηλωτὴς ἀποδιδοὺς ἁμαρτίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα ἐπὶ τρίτην καὶ τετάρτην γενεὰν τοῗς μισοῦσίν με οὐ προσκυνήσεις αὐτοῖς οὐδὲ μὴ λατρεύσῃς αὐτοῖς, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, Θεὸς ζηλωτής, ἀποδιδοὺς ἁμαρτίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα ἐπὶ τρίτην καὶ τετάρτην γενεὰν τοῖς μισοῦσί με
Deuteronomy 5:9 (NETS) Deuteronomy 5:9 (English Elpenor)
You shall not do obeisance to them, nor are you to serve them, because I am the Lord your God, a jealous god, repaying the sins of fathers upon children to the third and fourth generation to those who hate me, Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor shalt thou serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me,
Leviticus 7:18 (Tanakh) Leviticus 7:18 (KJV) Leviticus 7:18 (NET)
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be at all eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it; it shall be an abhorred thing, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. If some of the meat of his peace-offering sacrifice is ever eaten on the third day it will not be accepted; it will not be accounted to the one who presented it since it is spoiled, and the person who eats from it will bear his punishment for iniquity.
Leviticus 7:18 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 7:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐὰν δὲ φαγὼν φάγῃ ἀπὸ τῶν κρεῶν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ οὐ δεχθήσεται αὐτῷ τῷ προσφέροντι αὐτό οὐ λογισθήσεται αὐτῷ μίασμά ἐστιν ἡ δὲ ψυχή ἥτις ἐὰν φάγῃ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν λήμψεται ἐὰν δὲ φαγὼν φάγῃ ἀπὸ τῶν κρεῶν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, οὐ δεχθήσεται αὐτῷ τῷ προσφέροντι αὐτό, οὐ λογισθήσεται αὐτῷ, μίασμά ἐστιν· ἡ δὲ ψυχή, ἥτις ἐὰν φάγῃ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἁμαρτίαν λήψεται
Leviticus 7:8 (NETS) Leviticus 7:18 (English Elpenor)
But if when eating, he should eat some of the meat on the third day, it will not be accepted for him who offers it, nor shall it be credited to him.  It is a defilement, and the soul who eats any of it shall assume the guilt. And if he do at all eat of the flesh on the third day, it shall not be accepted for him that offers: it shall not be reckoned to him, it is pollution; and whatsoever soul shall eat of it, shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 19:8 (Tanakh) Leviticus 19:8 (KJV) Leviticus 19:8 (NET)
But every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the holy thing of HaShem; and that soul shall be cut off from his people. Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. and the one who eats it will bear his punishment for iniquity because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord.  That person will be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 19:8 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 19:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὁ δὲ ἔσθων αὐτὸ ἁμαρτίαν λήμψεται ὅτι τὰ ἅγια κυρίου ἐβεβήλωσεν καὶ ἐξολεθρευθήσονται αἱ ψυχαὶ αἱ ἔσθουσαι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῶν ὁ δὲ ἔσθων αὐτὸ ἁμαρτίαν λήψεται, ὅτι τὰ ἅγια Κυρίου ἐβεβήλωσε· καὶ ἐξολοθρευθήσονται αἱ ψυχαὶ αἱ ἔσθουσαι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῶν.
Leviticus 19:8 (NETS) Leviticus 19:8 (English Elpenor)
And he who eats it shall assume guilt because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord, and the souls who eat it shall be exterminated from their people. And he that eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the holy things of the Lord; and the souls that eat it shall be destroyed from among their people.
Psalm 23:1 (Tanakh) Psalm 23:1 (KJV) Psalm 23:1 (NET)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. A Psalm of David.  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. A psalm of David.  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Psalm 23:1 (Septuagint BLB) Psalm 22:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ κύριος ποιμαίνει με καὶ οὐδέν με ὑστερήσει Ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυΐδ. – ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ποιμαίνει με καὶ οὐδέν με ὑστερήσει.
Psalm 23:1 (NETS) Psalm 22:1 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm.  Pertaining to Dauid.  The Lord shepherds me, and I shall lack nothing. [A Psalm of David.] The Lord tends me as a shepherd, and I shall want nothing.
Leviticus 7:20 (Tanakh) Leviticus 7:20 (KJV) Leviticus 7:20 (NET)
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto HaShem, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. The person who eats meat from the peace-offering sacrifice which belongs to the Lord while that person’s uncleanness persists will be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 7:20 (Septuagint BLB) Leviticus 7:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡ δὲ ψυχή ἥτις ἐὰν φάγῃ ἀπὸ τῶν κρεῶν τῆς θυσίας τοῦ σωτηρίου ὅ ἐστιν κυρίου καὶ ἡ ἀκαθαρσία αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀπολεῗται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς ἡ δὲ ψυχή, ἥτις ἐὰν φάγῃ ἀπὸ τῶν κρεῶν τῆς θυσίας τοῦ σωτηρίου, ὅ ἐστι Κυρίου, καὶ ἡ ἀκαθαρσία αὐτοῦ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ, ἀπολεῖται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς
Leviticus 7:10 (NETS) Leviticus 7:20 (English Elpenor)
But the soul who should eat any of the sacrifice of deliverance, which belongs to the Lord, and his uncleanness is on him—that soul shall be utterly destroyed from his people. And whatsoever soul shall eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace-offering which is the Lord’s, and his uncleanness be upon him, that soul shall perish from his people.
Genesis 9:8 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:8 (KJV) Genesis 9:8 (NET)
And G-d spoke unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying: And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, God said to Noah and his sons,
Genesis 9:8 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 9:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς τῷ Νωε καὶ τοῗς υἱοῗς αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ λέγων Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεός τῷ Νῷε καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ λέγων
Genesis 9:8 (NETS) Genesis 9:8 (English Elpenor)
And God spoke to Noe and to his sons with him, saying, And God spoke to Noe, and to his sons with him, saying,
Genesis 9:11 (Tanakh) Genesis 9:11 (KJV) Genesis 9:11 (NET)
And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.’ And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. I confirm my covenant with you: Never again will all living things be wiped out by the waters of a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”
Genesis 9:11 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 9:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῗται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἔτι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἔτι κατακλυσμὸς ὕδατος τοῦ καταφθεῗραι πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐκ ἀποθανεῖται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἔτι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος τοῦ κατακλυσμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ἔσται κατακλυσμὸς ὕδατος τοῦ καταφθεῖραι πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν.
Genesis 9:11 (NETS) Genesis 9:11 (English Elpenor)
And I will establish my covenant with you, and no more shall all flesh die by the water of the flood, and no more shall there be a flood of water to destroy all the earth.” And I will establish my covenant with you and all flesh shall not any more die by the water of the flood, and there shall no more be a flood of water to destroy all the earth.
Genesis 15:18 (Tanakh) Genesis 15:18 (KJV) Genesis 15:18 (NET)
In that day HaShem made a covenant with Abram, saying: ‘Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates; In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: That day the Lord made a covenant with Abram: “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River—
Genesis 15:18 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 15:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διέθετο κύριος τῷ Αβραμ διαθήκην λέγων τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου ποταμοῦ Εὐφράτου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διέθετο Κύριος τῷ ῞Αβραμ διαθήκην λέγων· τῷ σπέρματί σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην, ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, ποταμοῦ Εὐφράτου
Genesis 15:18 (NETS) Genesis 15:18 (English Elpenor)
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I will give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To thy seed I will give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.
Genesis 22:18 (Tanakh) Genesis 22:18 (KJV) Genesis 22:18 (NET)
and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.’ And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.”
Genesis 22:18 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 22:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ὑπήκουσας τῆς ἐμῆς φωνῆς καὶ ἐνευλογηθήσονται ἐν τῷ σπέρματί σου πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς, ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὑπήκουσας τῆς ἐμῆς φωνῆς
Genesis 22:18 (NETS) Genesis 22:18 (English Elpenor)
And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast hearkened to my voice.
Genesis 17:14 (Tanakh) Genesis 17:14 (KJV) Genesis 17:14 (NET)
And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.’ And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people—he has failed to carry out my requirement.”
Genesis 17:14 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 17:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀπερίτμητος ἄρσην ὃς οὐ περιτμηθήσεται τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς ὅτι τὴν διαθήκην μου διεσκέδασεν καὶ ἀπερίτμητος ἄρσην, ὃς οὐ περιτμηθήσεται τὴν σάρκα τῆς ἀκροβυστίας αὐτοῦ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ, ἐξολοθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς, ὅτι τὴν διαθήκην μου διεσκέδασε
Genesis 17:14 (NETS) Genesis 17:14 (English Elpenor)
And as for an uncircumcised male who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be destroyed from his kin, for he has scattered my covenant.” And the uncircumcised male, who shall not be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul shall be utterly destroyed from its family, for he has broken my covenant.
Genesis 41:30 (Tanakh) Genesis 41:30 (KJV) Genesis 41:30 (NET)
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt.  The famine will devastate the land.
Genesis 41:30 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 41:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἥξει δὲ ἑπτὰ ἔτη λιμοῦ μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐπιλήσονται τῆς πλησμονῆς ἐν ὅλῃ γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ἀναλώσει ὁ λιμὸς τὴν γῆν ἥξει δὲ ἑπτὰ ἔτη λιμοῦ μετὰ ταῦτα, καὶ ἐπιλήσονται τῆς πλησμονῆς τῆς ἐσομένης ἐν ὅλῃ Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἀναλώσει ὁ λιμὸς τὴν γῆν
Genesis 41:30 (NETS) Genesis 41:30 (English Elpenor)
Then afterwards will come seven years of famine, and they will forget the abundance in the whole land of Egypt, and the famine will consume the land, But there shall come seven years of famine after these, and they shall forget the plenty that shall be in all Egypt, and the famine shall consume the land.
Genesis 41:32 (Tanakh) Genesis 41:32 (KJV) Genesis 41:32 (NET)
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by G-d, and G-d will shortly bring it to pass. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.
Genesis 41:32 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 41:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)
περὶ δὲ τοῦ δευτερῶσαι τὸ ἐνύπνιον Φαραω δίς ὅτι ἀληθὲς ἔσται τὸ ῥῆμα τὸ παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ταχυνεῗ ὁ θεὸς τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτό περὶ δὲ τοῦ δευτερῶσαι τὸ ἐνύπνιον Φαραὼ δίς, ὅτι ἀληθὲς ἔσται τὸ ρῆμα τὸ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ταχυνεῖ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτό.
Genesis 41:32 (NETS) Genesis 41:32 (English Elpenor)
And as for Pharao’s dream being repeated twice: because the matter that is from God will be real, and God will hasten to do it. And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, [it is] because the saying which is from God shall be true, and God will hasten to accomplish it.
Genesis 41:36 (Tanakh) Genesis 41:36 (KJV) Genesis 41:36 (NET)
And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.’ And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.”
Genesis 41:36 (Septuagint BLB) Genesis 41:36 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔσται τὰ βρώματα πεφυλαγμένα τῇ γῇ εἰς τὰ ἑπτὰ ἔτη τοῦ λιμοῦ ἃ ἔσονται ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ οὐκ ἐκτριβήσεται ἡ γῆ ἐν τῷ λιμῷ καὶ ἔσται τὰ βρώματα τὰ πεφυλαγμένα τῇ γῇ εἰς τὰ ἑπτὰ ἔτη τοῦ λιμοῦ, ἃ ἔσονται ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ οὐκ ἐκτριβήσεται ἡ γῇ ἐν τῷ λιμῷ
Genesis 41:36 (NETS) Genesis 41:36 (English Elpenor)
And the provisions shall be kept for the land in regard to the seven years of famine that will be in the land of Egypt, and the land will not be annihilated by the famine.” And the stored food shall be for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not be utterly destroyed by the famine.
Ezekiel 33:10 (Tanakh) Ezekiel 33:10 (KJV) Ezekiel 33:10 (NET)
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have said: “Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them.  How then can we live?”’
Ezekiel 33:10 (Septuagint BLB) Ezekiel 33:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ σύ υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου εἰπὸν τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ οὕτως ἐλαλήσατε λέγοντες αἱ πλάναι ἡμῶν καὶ αἱ ἀνομίαι ἡμῶν ἐφ᾽ ἡμῗν εἰσιν καὶ ἐν αὐταῗς ἡμεῗς τηκόμεθα καὶ πῶς ζησόμεθα Καὶ σύ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, εἰπὸν τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Ισραήλ· οὕτως ἐλαλήσατε λέγοντες· αἱ πλάναι ἡμῶν καὶ αἱ ἀνομίαι ἡμῶν ἐφ’ ἡμῖν εἰσι καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς ἡμεῖς τηκόμεθα· καὶ πῶς ζηζόμεθα
Ezekiel 33:10 (NETS) Ezekiel 33:10 (English Elpenor)
Now you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus you spoke, saying, “Our errors and lawless acts are with us, and in them we waste away.  And how will we live? And thou, son of man, say to the house of Israel; Thus have ye spoken, saying, Our errors, and our iniquities weigh upon us, and we pine away in them, and how then shall we live?
Ezekiel 33:11 (Tanakh) Ezekiel 33:11 (KJV) Ezekiel 33:11 (NET)
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live.  Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds!  Why should you die, O house of Israel?’
Ezekiel 33:11 (Septuagint BLB) Ezekiel 33:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰπὸν αὐτοῗς ζῶ ἐγώ τάδε λέγει κύριος οὐ βούλομαι τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς ὡς τὸ ἀποστρέψαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ ζῆν αὐτόν ἀποστροφῇ ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ ὑμῶν καὶ ἵνα τί ἀποθνῄσκετε οἶκος Ισραηλ εἰπὸν αὐτοῖς· ζῶ ἐγώ, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, οὐ βούλομαι τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς ὡς τὸ ἀποστρέψαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ ζῆν αὐτόν. ἀποστροφῇ ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ ὑμῶν· καί ἱνατί ἀποθνήσκετε, οἶκος ᾿Ισραήλ
Ezekiel 33:11 (NETS) Ezekiel 33:11 (English Elpenor)
Say to them, I live, says the Lord; I do not wish the death of the impious, rather that the impious turn back from his way and he live.  Turn back from your way by turning back, and why are you dying, O house of Israel? Say to them, Thus saith the Lord; [As] I live, I desire not the death of the ungodly, as that the ungodly should turn from his way and live: turn ye heartily from your way; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:12 (Tanakh) Ezekiel 33:12 (KJV) Ezekiel 33:12 (NET)
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. “And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.’
Ezekiel 33:12 (Septuagint BLB) Ezekiel 33:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰπὸν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ σου δικαιοσύνη δικαίου οὐ μὴ ἐξέληται αὐτὸν ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ πλανηθῇ καὶ ἀνομία ἀσεβοῦς οὐ μὴ κακώσῃ αὐτὸν ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀποστρέψῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας αὐτοῦ καὶ δίκαιος οὐ μὴ δύνηται σωθῆναι εἰπὸν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ σου· δικαιοσύνη δικαίου οὐ μὴ ἐξελεῖται αὐτὸν ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ πλανηθῇ, καὶ ἀνομία ἀσεβοῦς οὐ μὴ κακώσῃ αὐτὸν ἐν ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀποστρέψῃ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀνομίας αὐτοῦ· καὶ δίκαιος οὐ μὴ δύνηται σωθῆναι
Ezekiel 33:12 (NETS) Ezekiel 33:12 (English Elpenor)
Say to the sons of your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in whatever day he err, and the lawlessness of the impious shall not harm him on whatever day he turn back from his lawlessness, and the righteous shall not be able to be saved. Say to the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him, in the day wherein he errs: and the iniquity of the ungodly shall not harm him, in the day wherein he turns from his iniquity, but the righteous [erring] shall not be able to deliver himself.
Matthew 8:32 (NET) Matthew 8:32 (KJV)
And he said, “Go!”  So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water. And he said unto them, Go.  And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ὑπάγετε. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἀπῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους· καὶ ἰδοὺ ὥρμησεν πᾶσα ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἀπέθανον ἐν τοῖς ὕδασιν και ειπεν αυτοις υπαγετε οι δε εξελθοντες απηλθον εις την αγελην των χοιρων και ιδου ωρμησεν πασα η αγελη των χοιρων κατα του κρημνου εις την θαλασσαν και απεθανον εν τοις υδασιν και ειπεν αυτοις υπαγετε οι δε εξελθοντες απηλθον εις την αγελην των χοιρων και ιδου ωρμησεν πασα η αγελη των χοιρων κατα του κρημνου εις την θαλασσαν και απεθανον εν τοις υδασιν
Luke 20:37 (NET) Luke 20:37 (KJV)
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. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὅτι δὲ ἐγείρονται οἱ νεκροί, καὶ Μωϋσῆς ἐμήνυσεν ἐπὶ τῆς βάτου, ὡς λέγει κύριον τὸν θεὸν Ἀβραὰμ καὶ θεὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ θεὸν Ἰακώβ οτι δε εγειρονται οι νεκροι και μωσης εμηνυσεν επι της βατου ως λεγει κυριον τον θεον αβρααμ και τον θεον ισαακ και τον θεον ιακωβ οτι δε εγειρονται οι νεκροι και μωσης εμηνυσεν επι της βατου ως λεγει κυριον τον θεον αβρααμ και τον θεον ισαακ και τον θεον ιακωβ
Acts 3:25 (NET) Acts 3:25 (KJV)
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ὑμεῖς ἐστε οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ τῆς διαθήκης ἧς  διέθετο |ὁ θεὸς| πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ὑμῶν λέγων πρὸς Ἀβραάμ· καὶ ἐν τῷ σπέρματι σου [ἐν]ευλογηθήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ πατριαὶ τῆς γῆς υμεις εστε υιοι των προφητων και της διαθηκης ης διεθετο ο θεος προς τους πατερας ημων λεγων προς αβρααμ και τω σπερματι σου ενευλογηθησονται πασαι αι πατριαι της γης υμεις εστε υιοι των προφητων και της διαθηκης ης διεθετο ο θεος προς τους πατερας ημων λεγων προς αβρααμ και εν τω σπερματι σου ενευλογηθησονται πασαι αι πατριαι της γης
Matthew 5:44 (NET) Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
NET Parallel Greek Stephanus Textus Receptus Byzantine Majority Text
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν· ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς εγω δε λεγω υμιν αγαπατε τους εχθρους υμων ευλογειτε τους καταρωμενους υμας καλως ποιειτε τους μισουντας υμας και προσευχεσθε υπερ των επηρεαζοντων υμας και διωκοντων υμας εγω δε λεγω υμιν αγαπατε τους εχθρους υμων ευλογειτε τους καταρωμενους υμας καλως ποιειτε τοις μισουσιν υμας και προσευχεσθε υπερ των επηρεαζοντων υμας και διωκοντων υμας

[1] Deuteronomy 5:9b (NET)

[2] Exodus 32:34b (NET)

[3] Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 9

[4] Romans 11:32b (NET) Table2 above: ἀποδιδοὺς, translated repaying (NETS) and visiting (Elpenor English) might have been translated “to deliver over, consign, relegate.”

[5] Psalm 23:1 (Tanakh)

[6]Interview with Messianic Rabbi Derek Leman”; “SOME WITHIN THE MESSIANIC JEWISH COMMUNITY ARE CONVERTING GENTILES INTO JEWS. THAT CROSSES A BOUNDARY THAT MUST NOT BE CROSSED!

[7] Genesis 9:8 (Tanakh)

[8] Genesis 9:11 (Tanakh)

[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had την αγελην (KJV: the herd) preceding the pigs.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.  So the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had χοίρους in the accusative case with its corresponding article τοὺς, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χοιρων in the genitive case with its corresponding article των (KJV: of swine).

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had χοιρων in the genitive case with its corresponding article των (KJV: of swine) following the herd.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] Matthew 8:32 (NET)

[12] In the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 Moses was spelled Μωϋσῆς, and μωσης in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text.

[13] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τον preceding God.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τον preceding God.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[15] Luke 20:37, 38 (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑμῶν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ημων (KJV: our).

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

[18] Acts 26:14b (NET) Table

[19] Genesis 41:30 (Tanakh)

[20] Genesis 41:32 (Tanakh)

[21] Genesis 41:36 (Tanakh)

[22] Ezekiel 33:10b (Tanakh)

[23] Ezekiel 33:11 (Tanakh)

[24] Ezekiel 33:12 (Tanakh)

[25] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ευλογειτε τους καταρωμενους υμας καλως ποιειτε τους μισουντας υμας (KJV: bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[26] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had επηρεαζοντων υμας και (KJV: which despitefully use you, and) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

Fear – Exodus, Part 5

The next occurrence of yârêʼ[1] in Exodus is found in the song Moses and the Israelites sangto the Lord.[2]  It was a song of praise and thanksgiving, looking back to the events when the Egyptian army chased them through the sea:  I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.[3]  The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he has thrown into the sea[4]  The depths have covered them, they went down to the bottom like a stone.[5]  Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?  Who is like you? – majestic in holiness, fearful (yârêʼ) in praises, working wonders?[6]

The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose θαυμαστὸς.[7]  One of the definitions of θαυμαστὸς in the NET online Bible is “1c) causing amazement joined with terror.”  So the word is a legitimate choice, but something in me still wonders if “marvelous in expectation” (θαυμαστὸς ἐν δόξαις[8]) carries any of the sense of the costliness of Israel’s salvation that I perceive in the linkage of fear (yârêʼ) and praise (tehillâh).[9]  I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (râshâʽ),[10] the Lord told Ezekiel.  How much less in the death of those He had hardened and those who followed them into battle?

Though θαυμαστὸς does not appear in the New Testament in its root form, the first occurrence was Jesus’ question to the chief priests and elders.  “Have you never read in the scriptures:The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstoneThis is from the Lord, and it is marvelous (θαυμαστὴ, a form of θαυμαστός) in our eyes’”?[11]  Whatever my concern about the costliness of Israel’s salvation, as well as my own, it is harder to miss when Yahweh Himself—not Egyptian military officers and soldiers—died for us, in our place.

After writing that I walked away.  It felt like I was straining at gnats and still not getting to the root of what was gnawing at me.  I did other things.

When I walked to the Redbox to satisfy my daily movie fix I had already decided to rent “Killing Them Softly.”  I didn’t know why.  I had avoided it because I heard it was excessively violent, and because I had worked for Linara (the only woman in the cast) on another film she co-produced with her husband.  Ordinarily, I would have run to see a movie with someone I knew in it.  But I had overheard her talking about being topless in the scene with James Gandolfini.  Between the violence and my own indecision (whether I wanted to see Linara or her breasts in action) I had put it off until that evening.

It was an underworld crime story set in the turmoil of the 2008 economic crisis and presidential election.  Brad Pitt played a mob enforcer.  Linara’s topless work had been cut, but she played well with the big boys, Pitt and Gandolfini.  There was a heavy-handed capitalists-are-like-gangsters theme, and no real ending.  It seemed primed for “Killing Them Softly 2” where the mysterious “corporate types,” who hired Brad Pitt’s character Jackie through an intermediary, would be revealed as they hired someone to kill Jackie, and possibly their intermediary.  I don’t think the movie did well enough financially to warrant a sequel however.  And then I went to bed.  But when I awoke the next morning lines from the movie were buzzing around in my head.  They actually helped me clarify what I was thinking about cultivating fear in Exodus the day before.

This is a spoiler alert for anyone who finds a movie ruined by knowing its story.

The story got started when John Amato (aka Squirrel) hired Frank and Russell to rob a mob card game run by Markie Trattman.  They thought they could get away with it because Trattman had robbed his own card game years earlier.  He withstood the enhanced interrogation techniques Dillion the enforcer used on him, but when the subject came up in another card game with his cronies he couldn’t stop laughing, and confessed the whole thing.  Everybody liked Markie so they let it slide.  Squirrel assumed that Trattman would be the primary suspect if his own card game was robbed again, that he would be killed, and then that would be the end of it.  He rightly perceived that cultivating a righteousness based on fear was more important to the powers-that-be than recovering the money.

Squirrel had an insight into mob righteousness.  He didn’t want Russell on the job because his attitude and manner would invite confrontation.  “Then you gotta…shoot somebody,” he told Frank, “and I don’t want that.  There’s no reason for that, you know?  You don’t get any more money…”  What he failed to realize was that Jackie (Dillion’s replacement as mob enforcer) was smart enough to know that Markie Trattman was too smart to think that he could get away with it twice.  Jackie immediately suspected other culprits.  And he had a firm grasp on fear based righteousness, too.

Jackie lobbied with the Counselor (the intermediary for the corporate types running things) to kill Trattman anyway and correct the real issue:  “It don’t make a bit of difference if Trattman did it or someone did it to Trattman,” Jackie explained.  “If people think he did it and he’s still walking around, you’re gonna have kids waiting in line to knock them…games over.”

Jackie even had a fear based redemption scheme for Frank.  Frank had to confess where Squirrel would be and then witness the execution, or be executed himself.  “I got to be there and everything?” Frank whined.  “Frank, you made a mistake,” Jackie explained patiently.  “Now you gotta show you understand you made a mistake.  And you gotta make things right…”

As they waited in the car for Squirrel to arrive, Frank tried to intercede for him: “Look, Jackie, he’s not a bad guy, you know?  I mean, he’s not a bad guy at all.”

“None of them are, kid.  They’re all nice guys.”

Then Jackie got out of the car and shot Squirrel with a shotgun from across the parking lot, because he liked “killing them softly…from a distance, not close enough for feelings.”  Of course, he did walk across the parking lot and finish the job up close.  And he wasn’t that far from Frank when he shot him in the head.  Ultimately, Jackie’s fear based redemption scheme didn’t fare well against the necessities of fear based righteousness.

None of this is to say that I think God is, or was, like a mob enforcer.  My question is, why did One with foreknowledge put Himself in the position to be mistaken for a mob enforcer by wicked people?  (Who among us hasn’t wished for God to get those guys, those evildoers, or wondered incredulously why He waits so long?)  The answer that comes to me is that God risked it for my benefit, that I might know the difference between fear based righteousness and Holy Spirit based righteousness (faith is integral to both: When Israel saw the great power that the Lord had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord[12]).

Israel, like Frank, was compelled to participate in and witness the destruction of the Egyptian army.  Then at Sinai they experienced a non-lethal fear as they stood at the base of a mountain, described as something like a volcano in full ash eruption,[13] and lived to tell the tale:  All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking – and when the people saw it they trembled with fear (nûaʽ)[14] and kept their distance.[15]  The word translated fear here was φοβηθέντες (a form of φοβέω)[16] in the Septuagint.  After Jesus calmed the storm with a word his disciples were afraid (φοβηθέντες) and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this?  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!”[17]

Do not fear (yârêʼ), Moses said, for God has come to test you, that the fear (yirʼâh)[18] of him may be before you so that you do not sin.”[19]  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose θαρσεῖτε (a form of θαρσέω)[20] for Do not fear.  It is the same Greek word Jesus used when the disciples saw Him walking on the water and were terrified that he was a ghost:  Have courage (θαρσεῖτε)!  It is I.[21]  For yirʼâh, the fear of him, the rabbis chose φόβος.[22]  And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear (φόβος).[23]

When I began this study I hoped to find a clear delineation between the fear that puts to flight and the reverence that binds and draws one to God.  A cursory look at the concordance seemed to justify that hope in the words yârêʼ and yirʼâh.  The first occurrence of yirʼâh in Abraham’s explanation to Abimelech—I thought that there would be no one here who has reverence (yirʼâh) for God[24]—was translated θεοσέβεια[25] in the Septuagint and I thought I was on the way.  It is a compound of θεός[26] and σέβομαι,[27] the reverence or worship that is negated by the ἀσέβειαν (a form of ἀσέβεια)[28] of people that brought the wrath of God in Romans 1:18.

I also expected to find that the fear of the Lord was something different, something other than a conviction to act in accordance with the word of the Lord, the functional equivalent in the Old Testament of the fruit of the Spirit,[29] the desire and the effort brought forth by God for the sake of his good pleasure,[30]  because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy,[31]  and the love of God[32] that is the fulfillment of the law.[33]  That equivalence took me by surprise and has colored everything.  The Good News Translation of the Bible captured the essence of fear based righteousness when the translators (paraphrasists?) skipped the middle man as it were in their paraphrase of yirʼâh.  Don’t be afraid (yârêʼ); Moses said, God has only come to test you and make you keep on obeying (yirʼâh) him, so that you will not sin.[34]

So this alchemist’s notion of deriving reverence (σέβομαι) for God from the human fear (φόβος) of death or punishment seems like a doomed enterprise from the very beginning, a folly of the religious mind.  It was difficult enough to title an essay “Paul’s Religious Mind,” so I did not and will not call this “God’s Religious Mind.”  But that is what I’m thinking.

Why would an Omniscient One with foreknowledge embark on such a futile course?  Again, I can only assume that it was for my benefit.  I am the one, after all (and probably not the only one), whose knee-jerk reaction to the way of righteousness (for other evildoers, of course) is swifter “justice,” harsher punishment and longer prison sentences.  But does anyone really believe that those things produce righteousness?  (Does anyone really believe that our municipal, county, state or federal governments can afford to do this anymore?)

In that light I can’t help but see the giving of the law at Sinai as a massive psychological experiment to test the power and potential of fear based righteousness.  The finding of this particular experiment was forty days.[35]  After forty days the descendants of Israel returned to the worship practices[36] they learned in Egypt.[37]  And they did this 1) after witnessing the destruction of the Egyptian army; 2) after seeing Mount Sinaicompletely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently;[38] and 3) after agreeing to abide by a covenant[39] that they would not sacrifice to a god other than the Lord alone [or] be utterly destroyed.[40]


[2] Exodus 15:1a (NET)

[3] Exodus 15:1b (NET)

[4] Exodus 15:4a (NET)

[5] Exodus 15:5 (NET)

[6] Exodus 15:11 (NET)

[10] Ezekiel 33:11 (NET)

[11] Matthew 21:42 (NET)

[12] Exodus 14:31 (NET)

[15] Exodus 20:18 (NET)

[17] Luke 8:25 (NET)

[19] Exodus 20:20 (NET)

[21] Mark 6:50 (NET)

[23] Luke 1:12 (NET)

[30] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

[31] Romans 9:16 (NET)

[33] Romans 13:10 (NET)

[38] Exodus 19:18 (NET)

[40] Exodus 22:20 (NET)