Christianity, Part 12

Posted on October 6, 2023 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 (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].

I think everyone (NET) is a good translation of πάντας ἀνθρώπους above, despite “Paul’s assumptions [in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34] about the beautiful preoccupations of an unmarried man and an unmarried or betrothed woman”² limited to “those who were born…of the flesh of Adam” and born “from above…by the Spirit.”³ Here I want to explore the beauty of the story of Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech more thoroughly. It began when Abram and Sarai journeyed to Egypt.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:10-13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:10-13 (NET)	Genesis 12:10-13 (NETS)	Genesis 12:10-13 (English Elpenor)
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.	There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay for a while because the famine was severe.	And a famine occurred upon the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine prevailed upon the land.	And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.
And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife (אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ): ‘Behold now, I know that thou art a fair (יְפַת) woman (אִשָּׁ֥ה) to look upon (מַרְאֶ֖ה).	As he approached Egypt, he said to his wife (‘iššâ, אשתו) Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman [NET note 34: Heb “a woman (‘iššâ, אשה) beautiful (yāp̄ê, יפת) of appearance (mar’ê, מראה) are you”].	And it came about when Abram drew near to enter into Egypt that Abram said to his wife (τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ) Sara, “I do know that your are a woman (γυνὴ) beautiful in countenance (εὐπρόσωπος),	And it came to pass when Abram drew nigh to enter into Egypt, Abram said to Sara his wife (τῇ γυναικί), I know that thou art a fair (εὐπρόσωπος) woman (γυνὴ).
And it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say: This is his wife (אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ); and they will kill me, but thee they will keep alive.	When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife (‘iššâ, אשתו).’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.	it will be, therefore, that should the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’ (γυνὴ αὐτοῦ), and they will kill me, but you they will keep for themselves.	It shall come to pass then that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they shall say, This is his wife (γυνὴ αὐτοῦ), and they shall slay me, but they shall save thee alive.
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.’	So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you.”	Say, therefore, ‘I am his sister’, so that it may go well with me because of you, and my soul will live on your account.”	Say, therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on account of thee, and my soul shall live because of thee.

I am harder on Abram/Abraham about this fear than I should be. I’ve never lived in a world where anyone thought to kill me before having sex with my girlfriends or wives. Only God’s care makes Abram’s fear seem foolish. I’ve certainly feared matters of much less import when I should have trusted Him. And Abram’s fear—should the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’, and they will kill me, but you they will keep for themselves⁴—sounds very much like a rationalization of the religious mind among those who have some compunction about sex with another man’s wife.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:14-16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:14-16 (NET)	Genesis 12:14-16 (NETS)	Genesis 12:14-16 (English Elpenor)
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman (הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה) that she was very (מְאֹֽד) fair (יָפָ֥ה).	When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman (‘iššâ, האשה) was very (mᵊ’ōḏ, מאד) beautiful (yāp̄ê, יפה).	And it came about when Abram entered into Egypt—as the Egyptians saw the woman (τὴν γυναῖκα), that she was very (σφόδρα) beautiful (καλὴ)—	And it came to pass when Abram entered into Egypt– the Egyptians having seen his wife (τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ) that she was very (σφόδρα) beautiful (καλὴ)–
And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken (וַתֻּקַּ֥ח) into Pharaoh’s house [Table].	When Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. So Abram’s wife was taken (lāqaḥ, ותקח) into the household of Pharaoh,	that then the rulers of Pharao saw her and praised her to Pharao and brought (εἰσήγαγον) her into Pharao’s house [Table].	that the princes of Pharao saw her, and praised her to Pharao and brought (εἰσήγαγον) her into the house of Pharao.
And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels [Table].	and he did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.	And for her sake they dealt well with Abram, and he had sheep and calves and donkeys, male and female slaves, mules and camels [Table].	And they treated Abram well on her account, and he had sheep, and calves, and asses, and men-servants, and women-servants, and mules, and camels.

The Hebrew word יָפָ֥ה (yāp̄ê), fair (Tanakh, KJV), beautiful (NET), was translated καλὴ, a form of καλός, in the Septuagint. I want to review what happened after Abimelech took Sarah to contrast that beauty to the story of Pharaoh and Sarai.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:3 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 20:3 (NET)	Genesis 20:3 (NETS) Table	Genesis 20:3 (English Elpenor)
But G-d came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him: ‘Behold, thou shalt die, because of the woman (הָֽאִשָּׁ֣ה) whom thou hast taken (לָקַ֔חְתָּ); for she is a man’s wife’.	But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman (‘iššâ, האשה) you have taken (lāqaḥ, לקחת), for she is someone else’s wife.”	And God came in to Abimelech in his sleep during the night and said, “Look, you are about to die by reason of the woman (τῆς γυναικός) whom you have taken (ἔλαβες), whereas she is married to a man.”	And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, thou diest for the woman (τῆς γυναικός), whom thou hast taken (ἔλαβες), whereas she has lived with a husband.

God did not warn Pharaoh in a dream:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:17 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 12:17 (NET)	Genesis 12:17 (NETS) Table	Genesis 12:17 (English Elpenor)
And HaShem plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife (אֵ֥שֶׁת).	But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife (‘iššâ, אשת).	And God tried Pharao and his house with great and grievous trials because of Sara, Abram’s wife (τῆς γυναικὸς).	And God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram’s wife (τῆς γυναικὸς).

Was Abimelech somehow different from Pharoah?

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:4a (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 20:4a (NET)	Genesis 20:4a (NETS) Table	Genesis 20:4a (English Elpenor)
Now Abimelech had not come near (קָרַ֖ב) her;	Now Abimelech had not gone near (qāraḇ, קרב) her.	Now Abimelech had not touched (ἥψατο) her,	But Abimelech had not touched (ἥψατο) her,

The implication is strong that Pharoah had…come near (qāraḇ, קָרַ֖ב) her (Tanakh), he had…touched (ἥψατο) her (NETS, English Elpenor). Is that why God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night,⁵ but struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases?⁶ Well, maybe, since the law, which came [more than] 430 years afterward⁷ said, “You shall not commit adultery”⁸?

But that answer only prompts another question, for God said to Abimelech:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:6b (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 20:6b (NET)	Genesis 20:6b (NETS) Table	Genesis 20:6b (English Elpenor)
I also withheld thee from sinning against Me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch (לִנְגֹּ֥עַ) her.	I have kept you from sinning against me and..I did not allow you to touch (nāḡaʿ, לנגע) her.	I was the one who spared you so that you did not sin in regard to me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch (ἅψασθαι) her.	I spared thee, so that thou shouldest not sin against me, therefore I suffered thee not to touch (ἅψασθαι) her.

Here the implication that Pharoah sinned against God by touching Sarai borders on certainty.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 12:18, 19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:18, 19 (NET)	Genesis 12:18, 19 (NETS)	Genesis 12:18, 19 (English Elpenor)
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said: ‘What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife (אִשְׁתְּךָ֖)?	So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife (‘iššâ,אשתך)?	Now when Pharao had called Abram he said, “What is this you have done to me, that you did not tell me that she is your wife (γυνή σού)?	And Pharao having called Abram, said, What is this thou hast done to me, that thou didst not tell me that she was thy wife (γυνή σου)?
Why saidst thou: She is my sister? so that I took (וָֽאֶקַּ֥ח) her to be my wife (לְאִשָּׁ֑ה); now therefore behold thy wife (אִשְׁתְּךָ֖), take her (קַ֥ח), and go thy way.’	Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took (lāqaḥ, ואקח) her to be my wife (‘iššâ, לאשה)? Now, here is your wife (‘iššâ, אשתך). Take her (lāqaḥ, קח) and go!”	Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? And I took (ἔλαβον) her to myself for a wife (γυναῖκα). And now here is your wife (ἡ γυνή σου) before you; take her (λαβὼν); hurry off.”	Wherefore didst thou say, She is my sister? and I took (ἔλαβον) her for a wife (γυναῖκα) to myself; and now, behold, thy wife (ἡ γυνή σου) is before thee, take her (λαβὼν) and go quickly away.

So, if God did not allow [Abimelech] to touch Sarah, why didn’t He do the same for Pharaoh and Sarai? Before I go on, I should acknowledge that Rashi potentially disputed my “certainty” that Pharaoh “touched” Sarai:⁹

And the Lord plagued Pharaoh…[with] great plagues: He was stricken with the plague of “ra’athan,” making intercourse harmful to him. Gen. Rabbah (41:2)

as well as his household: lit. and his house. As the Targum states: and upon the people of his house, (and its midrashic interpretation (Tan. Lech Lecha 8) is that this includes its walls, pillars, and utensils. In an old Rashi).

on account of Sarai: [The words עַל דְבַר שָׂרַי mean literally] according to her words: she would say to the angel, “Strike,” and he would strike. [from Tan. Lech Lecha 5]

From the word דְּבַ֥ר (dāḇār), a word not translated independently into English, Rashi constructed a scene where Sarai called on an angel to strike Pharaoh and his household. The word “strike” was וַיְנַגַּ֨ע (nāḡaʿ), translated plagued (Tanakh, KJV) and struck (NET), from the same root as לִנְגֹּ֥ע (nāḡaʿ), translated to touch (Tanakh, KJV, NET) when God told Abimelech: I did not allow you to touch her.¹⁰ Rashi didn’t say explicitly whether Sarai told the angel to strike before or after Pharaoh “touched” her. But consider God’s command to Abimelech:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:7 (NET)	Genesis 20:7 (NETS)	Genesis 20:7 (English Elpenor)
Now therefore restore the man’s wife (אֵֽשֶׁת); for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.’	But now give back the man’s wife (‘iššâ, אשת). Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”	And now return the woman (τὴν γυναῖκα) to the man, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If, however, you do not restore her, know that you shall die, you and all that are yours.”	But now return the man his wife (τὴν γυναῖκα); for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine.

Then consider Rashi’s commentary:¹¹

return the man’s wife: And do not think that perhaps she will be repugnant to him, and he will not accept her, or that he will hate you and not pray for you. (Abimelech said to Him, “Who will let him know that I did not touch her?” He replied,)

because he is a prophet: And he knows that you did not touch her; therefore, “he will pray for you.” – [from Tan. Buber, Vayera 25]

The suggestion here, that Sarai would or should “be repugnant” to Abram if she told the angel to strike after Pharaoh “touched” her, implies that Rashi intended before Pharaoh “touched” her. I was a little surprised that many if not most commentators seemed to hold that the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases¹² before Pharaoh “touched” Sarai. It was also the hope or expectation of most people I found online.¹³ It would’ve been my own preference. That’s why I’m pursuing the question.

It just seems to me now that the contrast between the two stories implies that Pharaoh “touched” Sarai. I’ll back off from my “certainty.” The text doesn’t explicitly say that Pharaoh “touched” Sarai any more than it says that Sarai “would say to the angel, ‘Strike,’ and he would strike.” The same phrase עַל־דְּבַ֥ר, made up of two words עַל (ʿal) and דְּבַ֥ר (dāḇār), is found in Genesis 20:11.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:11 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 20:11 (NET)	Genesis 20:11 (NETS) Table	Genesis 20:11 (English Elpenor)
And Abraham said: ‘Because I thought: Surely the fear of G-d is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.	Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.	And Abraam said, “Because I said, It appears there is no piety in this place, and so they will kill me because of my wife.	And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.

Here that two word phrase was translated for…sake (Tanakh) and because of (NET). A note (28) in the NET reads: “Heb ‘over the matter of.’” That seems to be the most reasonable understanding of the phrase in Genesis 12:17. The story of Sarai calling on an angel to defend her virtue would have been a good one to tell, if it actually happened. It sounds a little too much like the chivalric code:

The code of chivalry that developed in medieval Europe had its roots in earlier centuries. It arose in the Carolingian Empire from the idealisation of the cavalryman—involving military bravery, individual training, and service to others—especially in Francia, among horse soldiers in Charlemagne’s cavalry.^{[4]: 2 [5]}

It’s not too hard to imagine that a medieval French rabbi, learning and teaching at a time when these ideals of justice and virtue were percolating, thought that God would put his knight at the fair lady Sarai’s disposal. I’m a little distressed how unchivalrous Abram seems 918 years after Rashi died. This is how Abraham explained it to Abimelech:

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Genesis 20:13 (Tanakh) Table	Genesis 20:13 (NET)	Genesis 20:13 (NETS) Table	Genesis 20:13 (English Elpenor)
And it came to pass, when G-d caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness (חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ) which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.’	When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty (ḥeseḏ, חסדך) to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”	Now it came about when God brought me forth from my father’s house, that then I said to her, ‘This righteousness (δικαιοσύνην) you shall do for me: in every place, there where we enter, say about me, He is my brother.’”	And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness (δικαιοσύνην) thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.

The Hebrew word חַסְדֵּ֔ךְ (ḥeseḏ), translated kindness (Tanakh, KJV) and loyalty (NET), was rendered δικαιοσύνην (righteousness) by the rabbis who translated the Septuagint. So, rather than cavil at Abraham’s apparent lack of medieval European moral sensibilities, I should marvel at how far Sarai/Sarah was willing to go to obey her husband, her owner, her lord.

Without speaking a word against Abraham, Peter drew a sharp contrast quietly commending Sarah as one who did good and [did] not fear anything that is frightening.¹⁴ And the Lord didn’t need to constantly critique and criticize Abraham as I am prone to do, since He had already given him a wife who demonstrated such faithful, patient obedience without fear, that he may be won¹⁵ without a word by the conduct of¹⁶ his wife.

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 Genesis 12:10; 12:11; 12:12; 12:13; 12:14; 12:18; 12:19 and 20:7 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 12:10; 12:11; 12:12; 12:13; 12:14; 12:18; 12:19 and 20:7 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing 1 Peter 3:1 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 12:10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:10 (KJV)	Genesis 12:10 (NET)
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.	And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.	There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay for a while because the famine was severe.

Genesis 12:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ κατέβη Αβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον παροικῆσαι ἐκεῖ ὅτι ἐνίσχυσεν ὁ λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς	Καὶ ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ κατέβη ῞Αβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον παροικῆσαι ἐκεῖ, ὅτι ἐνίσχυσεν ὁ λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
Genesis 12:10 (NETS)	Genesis 12:10 (English Elpenor)
And a famine occurred upon the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine prevailed upon the land.	And there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, because the famine prevailed in the land.

Genesis 12:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:11 (KJV)	Genesis 12:11 (NET)
And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife: ‘Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon.	And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:	As he approached Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman.

Genesis 12:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤγγισεν Αβραμ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς Αἴγυπτον εἶπεν Αβραμ Σαρα τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ γινώσκω ἐγὼ ὅτι γυνὴ εὐπρόσωπος εἶ	ἐγένετο δέ, ἡνίκα ἤγγισεν ῞Αβραμ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, εἶπεν ῞Αβραμ Σάρᾳ τῇ γυναικί· γινώσκω ἐγώ, ὅτι γυνὴ εὐπρόσωπος εἶ
Genesis 12:11 (NETS)	Genesis 12:11 (English Elpenor)
And it came about when Abram drew near to enter into Egypt that Abram said to his wife Sara, “I do know that your are a woman beautiful in countenance,	And it came to pass when Abram drew nigh to enter into Egypt, Abram said to Sara his wife, I know that thou art a fair woman.

Genesis 12:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:12 (KJV)	Genesis 12:12 (NET)
And it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but thee they will keep alive.	Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.	When the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.

Genesis 12:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔσται οὖν ὡς ἂν ἴδωσίν σε οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ἐροῦσιν ὅτι γυνὴ αὐτοῦ αὕτη καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσίν με σὲ δὲ περιποιήσονται	ἔσται οὖν, ὡς ἂν ἴδωσί σε οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι, ἐροῦσιν ὅτι γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν αὐτή, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσί με, σὲ δὲ περιποιήσονται
Genesis 12:12 (NETS)	Genesis 12:12 (English Elpenor)
it will be, therefore, that should the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’, and they will kill me, but you they will keep for themselves.	It shall come to pass then that when the Egyptians shall see thee, they shall say, This is his wife, and they shall slay me, but they shall save thee alive.

Genesis 12:13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:13 (KJV)	Genesis 12:13 (NET)
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.’	Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.	So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you.”

Genesis 12:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἰπὸν οὖν ὅτι ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ εἰμι ὅπως ἂν εὖ μοι γένηται διὰ σέ καὶ ζήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου ἕνεκεν σοῦ	εἰπὸν οὖν, ὅτι ἀδελφὴ αὐτοῦ εἰμι, ὅπως ἂν εὖ μοι γένηται διὰ σέ, καὶ ζήσεται ἡ ψυχή μου ἕνεκέν σου
Genesis 12:13 (NETS)	Genesis 12:13 (English Elpenor)
Say, therefore, ‘I am his sister’, so that it may go well with me because of you, and my soul will live on your account.”	Say, therefore, I am his sister, that it may be well with me on account of thee, and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 12:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:14 (KJV)	Genesis 12:14 (NET)
And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.	And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.	When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.

Genesis 12:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα εἰσῆλθεν Αβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἰδόντες οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν γυναῖκα ὅτι καλὴ ἦν σφόδρα	ἐγένετο δέ, ἡνίκα εἰσῆλθεν ῞Αβραμ εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ἰδόντες οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καλὴ ἦν σφόδρα
Genesis 12:14 (NETS)	Genesis 12:14 (English Elpenor)
And it came about when Abram entered into Egypt—as the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful—	And it came to pass when Abram entered into Egypt– the Egyptians having seen his wife that she was very beautiful–

Genesis 12:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:18 (KJV)	Genesis 12:18 (NET)
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said: ‘What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?	And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?	So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?

Genesis 12:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καλέσας δὲ Φαραω τὸν Αβραμ εἶπεν τί τοῦτο ἐποίησάς μοι ὅτι οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι ὅτι γυνή σού ἐστιν	καλέσας δὲ Φαραὼ τὸν ῞Αβραμ εἶπε· τί τοῦτο ἐποίησάς μοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἀπήγγειλάς μοι, ὅτι γυνή σου ἐστίν;
Genesis 12:18 (NETS)	Genesis 12:18 (English Elpenor)
Now when Pharao had called Abram he said, “What is this you have done to me, that you did not tell me that she is your wife?	And Pharao having called Abram, said, What is this thou hast done to me, that thou didst not tell me that she was thy wife?

Genesis 12:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:19 (KJV)	Genesis 12:19 (NET)
Why saidst thou: She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife; now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.’	Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.	Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!”

Genesis 12:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἵνα τί εἶπας ὅτι ἀδελφή μού ἐστιν καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνή σου ἐναντίον σου λαβὼν ἀπότρεχε	ἱνατί εἶπας ὅτι ἀδελφή μου ἐστί; καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὴν ἐμαυτῷ γυναῖκα, καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἡ γυνή σου ἔναντί σου· λαβὼν ἀπότρεχε
Genesis 12:19 (NETS)	Genesis 12:19 (English Elpenor)
Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? And I took her to myself for a wife. And now here is your wife before you; take her; hurry off.”	Wherefore didst thou say, She is my sister? and I took her for a wife to myself; and now, behold, thy wife is before thee, take her and go quickly away.

Genesis 20:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:7 (KJV)	Genesis 20:7 (NET)
Now therefore restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.’	Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.	But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”

Genesis 20:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
νῦν δὲ ἀπόδος τὴν γυναῖκα τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὅτι προφήτης ἐστὶν καὶ προσεύξεται περὶ σοῦ καὶ ζήσῃ εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀποδίδως γνῶθι ὅτι ἀποθανῇ σὺ καὶ πάντα τὰ σά	νῦν δὲ ἀπόδος τὴν γυναῖκα τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, ὅτι προφήτης ἐστὶ καὶ προσεύξεται περὶ σοῦ καὶ ζήσῃ· εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀποδίδως, γνώσῃ ὅτι ἀποθανῇ σὺ καὶ πάντα τὰ σά
Genesis 20:7 (NETS)	Genesis 20:7 (English Elpenor)
And now return the woman to the man, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If, however, you do not restore her, know that you shall die, you and all that are yours.”	But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine.

1 Peter 3:1 (NET)	1 Peter 3:1 (KJV)
In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,	Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

1 Peter 3:1 (NET Parallel Greek)	1 Peter 3:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	1 Peter 3:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Ὁμοίως [αἱ] γυναῖκες, ὑποτασσόμεναι τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν, ἵνα \|καὶ\| εἴ τινες ἀπειθοῦσιν τῷ λόγῳ, διὰ τῆς τῶν γυναικῶν ἀναστροφῆς ἄνευ λόγου κερδηθήσονται	ομοιως αι γυναικες υποτασσομεναι τοις ιδιοις ανδρασιν ινα και ει τινες απειθουσιν τω λογω δια της των γυναικων αναστροφης ανευ λογου κερδηθησωνται	ομοιως αι γυναικες υποτασσομεναι τοις ιδιοις ανδρασιν ινα και ει τινες απειθουσιν τω λογω δια της των γυναικων αναστροφης ανευ λογου κερδηθησονται

Christianity, Part 13

The Children of Promise, Part 1

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

¹ John 12:32 (ESV)

² Christianity, Part 11

³ Christianity, Part 11

⁴ Genesis 12:13 (NETS)

⁵ Genesis 20:3a (NET) Table

⁶ Genesis 12:17a (NET) Table

⁷ Galatians 3:17a (ESV) Table

⁸ Exodus 20:14 (ESV) Table

⁹ From Rashi’s commentary to Genesis 12:17 (Tanakh), chabad.org

¹⁰ Genesis 20:6b (NET) Table

¹¹ From Rashi’s commentary to Genesis 20:7 (Tanakh), chabad.org

¹² Genesis 12:17a (NET) Table

¹³ “Did Sarah sleep with Pharaoh when she was taken to his palace?;” “Did Pharaoh sleep with Sarah?,” on Ask the Pastors: Questions from real people answered by experienced pastors

¹⁴ 1 Peter 3:6b (ESV)

¹⁵ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had κερδηθήσονται (NET: they will be won over) here in the future tense and indicative mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had κερδηθησωνται (KJV: they…may…be won) in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood.

¹⁶ 1 Peter 3:1b (ESV)

Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Posted on January 27, 2017 by admin

This very day, y^ehôvâh (יהוה) said to Moses, I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.^[1] This very day was past as Moses recounted Israel’s history, the not-so-distant past, after all the military men had been eliminated from the community.^[2] The Hebrew word translated and to terrify was yirʼâh (ויראתך), the word I had hoped would distinguish the fear of the Lord from ordinary fear. It was off to a good start.

When Abimelech confronted Abraham for misleading him whether Sarah was his wife, Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears (yirʼâh, יראת) God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) in this place.’”^[3] Abraham assumed that those who did not fear God would kill him to take his beautiful wife and those who fear God would not. But he had completely misjudged Abimelech, who feared God very much (Genesis 20:2-7 NET):

Abraham said about his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife [Table].” Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord (ʼădônây, אדני), would you really slaughter an innocent nation? Did Abraham not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!”

Then in the dream God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, האלהים) replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”

The next morning when Abimelech told his servants about the dream they were terrified (yârêʼ, וייראו + m^eʼôd).^[4] Abimelech’s yirʼâh was no mere emotion but resulted in concrete acts (Genesis 20:14-18 NET):

So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him [Table]. Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please [Table].”

To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your ‘brother.’ This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you [Table].”

Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children. For the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה) had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

If this were the only mention of yirʼâh I would say that fearing God is the answer, no need for Jesus to die. So long as people fear God and He intercedes with a threatening dream and y^ehôvâh inflicts limited reversible bodily harm the kingdom of God can last forever as a police state. But I’m probably extrapolating too far. Realistically, this fear and threatening dream and reversible bodily harm prevented one adultery. That is a long way from universal righteousness.

God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) spoke all these words: “I, the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה), am your God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהיך), who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery [Table].^[5] After y^ehôvâh spoke the ten commandments, Moses said to the people, “Do not fear (yârêʼ, תיראו), for God has come to test you, that the fear (yirʼâh, יראתו) of him may be before you so that you do not sin.”^[6] The commandments begin (Exodus 20:3-6 NET):

“You shall have no other gods (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהים) before me [Table].

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below [Table]. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord (y^ehôvâh, יהוה), your God (ʼĕlôhı̂ym, אלהיך), am a jealous God (ʼêl, אל), responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me [Table], and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love (ʼâhab, לאהבי) me and keep my commandments [Table].”

The first occurrence of ʼâhab in the Bible was Abraham’s love (אהבת; Genesis 22:2) for Sarah’s son Isaac. Isaac loved (ויאהבה; Genesis 24:67) Rebekah and (ויאהב; Genesis 25:28) Esau his son while Rebekah loved (אהבת) his brother Jacob. Isaac also had a love (אהבתי; Genesis 27:4 – אהב; Genesis 27:9 – אהב; Genesis 27:14) for tasty food. Jacob had fallen in love (ויאהב; Genesis 29:18) with Rachel. Working for her father for seven years to acquire her seemed like only a few days to him because his love (באהבתו; Genesis 29:20) for her was so great. Jacob loved (ויאהב; Genesis 29:30) Rachel more than Leah. After she gave birth to Reuben, Leah thought surely Jacob will love (יאהבני; Genesis 29:32) me now, but he loved (אהב; Genesis 37:3) Joseph, Rachel’s firstborn, more than all his sons. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved (ʼâhab, אהב) him more than any of them, they hated Joseph and were not able to speak to him kindly.^[7] They got rid of Joseph but acknowledged to him years later (though they didn’t recognize him yet) their father’s love for his younger brother Benjamin (Genesis 44:20 NET):

We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves (ʼâhab, אהבו) him.

Introduced here in the ten commandments just as the forty-day limit of the yirʼâh of God to restrain sin was about to be made evident, the partiality of Jacob’s ʼâhab, his love for a favorite wife and favorite sons, would have been a step in the right direction if his descendants had loved y^ehôvâh as their favorite God and kept his commandments. If you love me, Jesus told his disciples, you will obey my commandments.^[8] I spent too much of my life trying to obey his commandments to prove that I loved Him. But here I want to contrast this statement to his former statement in the ten commandments.

Exodus 20:6 (NET)	Septuagint	John 14:15 (NET)	Parallel Greek
…who love me and keep my commandments.	ἀγαπῶσίν με καὶ τοῖς φυλάσσουσιν τὰ προστάγματά^[9] μου	If you love me, you will obey my commandments.	Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτε με, τὰς ἐντολὰς (a form of ἐντολή) τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσετε

Under law love me and keep my commandments are joined by the conjunction and (Greek: καὶ), two different things on my to-do list. Under grace you will obey my commandments is a promise predicated on if you love me. The difference is the meaning of love, not the difference of the meaning of ʼâhab in Hebrew and ἀγαπάω in Greek. Both ἀγαπῶσιν and ἀγαπᾶτε above are forms of ἀγαπάω.^[10] But ʼâhab (translated ἀγαπῶσιν) was used to describe the partial love^[11] of human beings before it occurred in the ten commandments, while ἀγαπᾶτε was used to describe God’s love, the fruit of his Spirit^[12] which is patient, kind, not envious, does not brag, is not puffed up or rude, not self-serving, easily angered or resentful, not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never ends.^[13] I didn’t appreciate this difference either the first time I read John’s Gospel narrative.

The word keep above is a translation of the Hebrew word shâmar (ולשמרי). It was translated φυλάσσουσιν (a form of φυλάσσω) in Greek in the Septuagint. And φυλάσσουσιν was translated do…obey in the NET: For those who are circumcised do not obey (φυλάσσουσιν, a form of φυλάσσω) the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.^[14] This is not a particularly common translation, more often translated keep in English. The NET translators chose obey for forms of φυλάσσω any time it made any sense at all.

Jesus, for instance, didn’t pray that He had obeyed (ἐφύλαξα, another form of φυλάσσω) his disciples, but that He had watched over them. A strong man, fully armed does not keep his possessions safe when he obeys (φυλάσσῃ, another form of φυλάσσω) his own palace, but when he guards it. Apart from the obvious exceptions, however, I have no particular objection to translating φυλάσσω obey. Translating forms of τηρέω obey is a bit more problematic: If you love me, you will obey (τηρήσετε, a form of τηρέω) my commandments.^[15]

Again there are obvious counter examples: Jesus did not obey (ἐτήρουν, another form of τηρέω) his disciples, He kept them safe. Mary did not obey (τηρήσῃ, another form of τηρέω) three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard,^[16] She has kept it for the day of my burial,^[17] Jesus said. But there are a few other examples that were not translated obey for no apparent reason except to protect (or, obey) the sensibilities of late 20th century pre-tribulation rapture-believing Protestants, to keep them in the fold, so to speak.

Revelation 3:8 (NET)	Revelation 3:10 (NET)
I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.	Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Both you have obeyed and you have kept are translations of the same Greek word ἐτήρησας (another form of τηρέω). I’ll ignore for the moment that both of these statements were addressed to the singular angel of the church in Philadelphia^[18] and deal with them as I had commonly assumed. (I’m also assuming that the NET translators wanted to translate τηρέω obey as often as possible.) The clause you have obeyed my word is possible if I take Jesus’ word to be his answer to the question—What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?^[19]—This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent.^[20] Even when I believed that faith originated from me rather than an aspect of the fruit of his Spirit, I was more or less comfortable thinking of my faith as my obedience.

There is little more frightening to one who does not know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit than an admonition (λόγον, a form of λόγος; translated word above) to endure steadfastly. “You have obeyed my word to endure steadfastly” (in my own strength and faithfulness) would have seemed a little too steep a price to escape the great tribulation. Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly is not that different, really, but it would have felt a little less works oriented to me when I did not yet know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

I may have balked at hearing Jesus say, if you want to enter into life, obey (τήρησον, another form of τηρέω) the commandments. Or if John had written, by this we know that we have come to know God: if we obey (τηρῶμεν, another form of τηρέω) his commandments. And, whatever we ask we receive from him, because we obey (τηροῦμεν, another form of τηρέω) his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him. Or, the person who obeys (τηρῶν, another form of τηρέω) his commandments resides in God, and God in him. For this is the love of God: that we obey (τηρῶμεν, another form of τηρέω) his commandments. Of course, the NET translators did translate τηροῦντες (another form of τηρέω) so as to define saints as those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.^[21]

On the Christian & Missionary Alliance webpage entitled “Sanctification” [This link is no longer active. See Addendum] I read an amazing confession that “most Christians do not understand or experience…the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives.” I don’t want to hit this too hard since I imagine^[22] that other Christian religions experience a similar phenomenon whether they confess it or not. In one sense I’m gratified that my problem is shared by over half of Christians. Two causes were cited: 1) we “have been badly taught,” or 2) we “have chosen to disregard the clear teaching of the New Testament regarding sanctification.” That diagnosis, however, lights a clear path to a prescription: better teaching on the passages of Scripture that explain that we “can’t make ourselves holy any more than we can make ourselves saved” and that “Christ is our Sanctifier in the same way that He is our Savior.”

While I’m not opposed generally to translating φυλάσσω or τηρέω obey, to also translate ὑπακούω obey causes me to wonder. One of the reasons I enjoy the NET translation is that it feels like the translators and I grew up in the same socially constructed reality and the same religious milieu. What was the impetus to translate all three words obey? Were they pushed by that same impatient just do it attitude I encountered when I tried to discuss my early hesitant and tentative ideas about what the New Testament, Paul in particular, taught about righteousness? Paul and the Holy Spirit were careful to distinguish Old Testament guarding and keeping from New Testament hearing with faith.

I heard a pastor recently (a Baptist not C&MA) say, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t stop me from sinning, just convicts me when I do.” I gave him the benefit of the doubt at the time that he didn’t mean exactly what he had said. His preaching style is so haphazard and stream-of-consciousness it might have meant anything:

From…	To…
Trusting Jesus as I do, believing what I believe, knowing what I know, why does sin ever erupt from this constitution of parts I call me? Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?^[23]	The particular “sin” he had in mind but didn’t confess was man-made and of no concern to the Holy Spirit.

But what if I were still struggling with the concept of sanctification by faith? What if I had taken his words at face value and believed them? Would I have believed that—Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God^[24]—was false? Possibly, maybe even gratefully for a time. But then the Holy Spirit would have kept after me, reminding me of Scriptures that contradicted the Pastor’s words (and my conclusions based on them), prodding me on with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and his control until I saw y^ehôvâh/Jesus again, Love Himself, leading me patiently, kindly, not hatefully, not bragging, not puffed up or rude, not self-serving, not easily angered or resentful, not glad about injustice, but rejoicing in the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things and never failing, until the very verse I thought condemned me became first a promise filled with hope, until that day it becomes a truth in actual fact.

In this particular case there was never a real issue for me. And I can increase attendance at this Pastor’s church by as much as 25% when I show up. So maybe any problem of this sort is self-correcting. Still, I wonder whether the greater than half of Christians who “do not understand or experience…the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their lives” fill the pews only. My children, Paul penned the church in Galatia over this very issue, I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!^[25]

I’ll pick this up again in another essay. The tables I created to study φυλάσσω, τηρέω and ὑπακούω follow.

Forms of φυλάσσω	Reference	NET Translation
ἐφύλαξα	Matthew 19:20	The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws.”
	Luke 18:21	The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.”
	John 17:12	When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name…
ἐφυλαξάμην	Mark 10:20	The man said to him, “Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.”
ἐφυλάξατε	Acts 7:53	You received the law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it.
ἐφύλαξεν	2 Peter 2:5	…and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness…
φυλάσσῃ	Luke 11:21	When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.
φυλάσσῃ	Romans 2:26	…if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law…
φυλάσσειν	Acts 12:4	…he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him.
φυλάσσειν	Acts 16:4	…they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey.
φυλάσσεσθαι	Acts 21:25	…we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols…
φυλάσσεσθαι	Acts 23:35	Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
φυλάσσεσθε	Luke 12:15	Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed…
φυλάσσεσθε	2 Peter 3:17	…be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men…
φυλάσσων	Acts 21:24	…but that you yourself live in conformity with the law.
φυλάσσων	Acts 22:20	…approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.
φυλασσόμενος	Luke 8:29	…bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard…
φυλάσσοντες	Luke 2:8	…living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night.
φυλάσσοντες	Luke 11:28	Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!
φυλάσσοντι	Acts 28:16	Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
φυλάσσου	2 Timothy 4:15	You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.
φυλάσσουσιν	Galatians 6:13	For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves…
φυλάξαι	2 Timothy 1:12	I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me…
φυλάξαι	Jude 1:24	Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence…
φυλάξατε	1 John 5:21	Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
φυλάξῃ	John 12:47	If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him.
φυλάξῃς	1 Timothy 5:21	Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.
φυλάξει	John 12:25	…the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life.
φυλάξει	2 Thessalonians 3:3	But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
φύλαξον	1 Timothy 6:20	O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you.
φύλαξον	2 Timothy 1:14	Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

Forms of τηρέω	Reference	NET Translation
ἐτήρησα	2 Corinthians 11:9	I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way…
ἐτήρησαν	John 15:20	If they obeyed my word…
ἐτήρησας	Revelation 3:8	…but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.
ἐτήρησας	Revelation 3:10	Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly…
ἐτηρεῖτο	Acts 12:5	So Peter was kept in prison…
ἐτήρουν	Matthew 27:36	Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.
	John 17:12	When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name…
	Acts 12:6	…while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.
τηρῇ	1 John 2:5	But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected.
τηρῆσαι	1 Timothy 6:14	…to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ…
τηρήσαντας	Jude 1:6	…the angels who did not keep within their proper domain…
τηρήσατε	Jude 1:21	…maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.
τηρήσῃ	John 8:51	…if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.
	John 8:52	…you say, ‘If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.’
	John 12:7	Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial.
	James 2:10	For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
τηρήσῃς	John 17:15	I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.
τηρήσητε	John 15:10	If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love…
τηρήσει	John 14:23	If anyone loves me, he will obey my word…
τηρήσετε	John 14:15	If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
τηρήσω	2 Corinthians 11:9	…a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
τηρήσω	Revelation 3:10	…I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world…
τήρησον	Matthew 19:17	But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
τήρησον	John 17:11	Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me…
τηρήσουσιν	John 15:20	…they will obey yours too.
τηρηθῆναι	Acts 25:21	But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty…
τηρηθείη	1 Thessalonians 5:23	…may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
τηρεῖ	John 9:16	This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.
	John 14:24	The person who does not love me does not obey my words.
	1 Timothy 5:22	Keep yourself pure.
	1 John 5:18	God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.
	Revelation 3:3	Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent.
τηρεῖν	Matthew 28:20	…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
	Acts 15:5	It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law…
	Acts 16:23	…they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to guard them securely.
	1 Corinthians 7:37	…and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.
	Ephesians 4:3	…making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
	James 1:27	…to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
	2 Peter 2:9	…and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment…
τηρεῖσθαι	Acts 24:23	He ordered the centurion to guard Paul…
	Acts 25:4	Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea…
	Acts 25:21	I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.
τηρεῖτε	Matthew 23:3	Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it.
τηρῶ	John 8:55	But I do know him, and I obey his teaching.
τηρῶμεν	1 John 2:3	…we have come to know [him]: if we keep his commandments.
τηρῶμεν	1 John 5:3	For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments.
τηρῶν	John 14:21	The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me.
	1 John 2:4	The one who says “I have come to know [him]” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar…
	1 John 3:24	And the person who keeps his commandments resides in [him]…
	Revelation 2:26	And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end…
	Revelation 16:15	Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes…
	Revelation 22:7	Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.
τηροῦμεν	1 John 3:22	…whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.
τηρούμενοι	2 Peter 3:7	But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
τηρουμένους	2 Peter 2:4	…but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment…
τηροῦντες	Matthew 27:54	Now when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus…
	Matthew 28:4	The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.
	Revelation 1:3	…blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
	Revelation 14:12	This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints – those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.
τηρούντων	Revelation 12:17	…the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.
τηρούντων	Revelation 22:9	I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book.
τετήρηκα	John 15:10	…just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
τετήρηκα	2 Timothy 4:7	I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
τετήρηκαν	John 17:6	They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.
τετήρηκας	John 2:10	You have kept the good wine until now!
τετήρηκεν	Jude 1:6	…he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.
τετηρημένην	1 Peter 1:4	…an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you…
τετηρημένοις	Jude 1:1	…those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
τετήρηται	2 Peter 2:17	…for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.
τετήρηται	Jude 1:13	…wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.

Forms of ὑπακούω	Reference	NET Translation
ὑπακούει	Mark 4:41	Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!
ὑπακούει	2 Thessalonians 3:14	But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter…
ὑπακούειν	Romans 6:12	…do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires…
ὑπακούετε	Romans 6:16	…you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or…
	Ephesians 6:1	Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
	Ephesians 6:5	Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ…
	Colossians 3:20	Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.
	Colossians 3:22	Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching…
ὑπακούουσιν	Matthew 8:27	What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!
	Mark 1:27	A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.
	Luke 8:25	Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!
	2 Thessalonians 1:8	…those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
	Hebrews 5:9	…he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him…
ὑπακοῦσαι	Acts 12:13	When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered.
ὑπήκουον	Acts 6:7	…and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
ὑπήκουσαν	Romans 10:16	But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says…
ὑπηκούσατε	Romans 6:17	…you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to…
ὑπηκούσατε	Philippians 2:12	…just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence…
ὑπήκουσεν	Luke 17:6	…‘Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
	Hebrews 11:8	By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance…
	1 Peter 3:6	…like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children…

Addendum (June 3, 2023): The current “Statement on Sanctification” seems to contain much better teaching on the subject.

“We are called to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29, 1 John 3:3). Rather than commanding us to imitate Him, the New Testament reveals a truth more profound and dynamic. The New Testament teaches that the life of Christ can be lived in and through us (Galatians 2:20). Jesus, Himself indwells us by His Holy Spirit and lives out His life in and through us. Christ is the life-transforming power of sanctification. In the words of Dr. Simpson, He [Christ] actually comes into our being and becomes the source and strength of our very life, reliving His own life in us.⁷ He further said,

This is the end to which the Spirit is always working, not to develop in us a character, a set of human virtues and high qualities that we call our own, but to form Christ in us and teach us to live in constant dependence upon Him.”⁸

Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 4

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 7

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 4

Back to Romans, Part 90

Back to Believers

Back to To Make Holy, Part 5

Back to Atonement, Part 3

Back to Atonement, Part 8

Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 3

^[1] Deuteronomy 2:25 (NET)

^[2] Deuteronomy 2:16 (NET)

^[3] Genesis 20:11a (NET) [Table]

^[4] Genesis 20:8 (NET)

^[5] Exodus 20:1, 2 (NET)

^[6] Exodus 20:20 (NET)

^[7] Genesis 37:4 (NET)

^[8] John 14:15 (NET)

^[9] http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=prosta%2Fgmata&la=greek&can=prosta%2Fgmata0&prior=leit

^[10] If you love (ἀγαπᾶτε, a form of ἀγαπάω) those who love you, what credit (χάρις; literally graciousness, grace) is that to you? For even sinners love those who love (ἀγαπῶσιν, another form of ἀγαπάω) them. (Luke 6:32 NET)

^[11] Here I’ll add back the occurrence I removed from my survey of ʼâhab: Shechem fell in love (ויאהב; Genesis 34:3 NET) with Jacob’s daughter Dinah after he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her (Genesis 34:2 NET)

^[12] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

^[13] 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 (NET)

^[14] Galatians 6:13 (NET)

^[15] John 14:15 (NET)

^[16] John 12:3 (NET)

^[17] John 12:7b (NET)

^[18] Revelation 3:7 (NET)

^[19] John 6:28 (NET)

^[20] John 6:29 (NET)

^[21] Revelation 14:12 (NET)

^[22] I offer “Five Views on Sanctification” by Mike Sullivan as evidence for my imagining. It’s an interesting survey of others’ struggles with sanctification. Xenos has its critics and defenders.

^[23] Romans 7:24 (NET)

^[24] 1 John 3:9 (NET)

^[25] Galatians 4:19 (NET)

Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Posted on June 5, 2013 by admin

The next occurrence of yârêʼ^[1] in Exodus is found in the song Moses and the Israelites sang…to 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 (t^ehillâh).^[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 cornerstone. This 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 Sinai…completely 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]

Fear – Exodus, Part 6

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 7

Back to Sexual Immorality Revisited, Part 2

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 1

Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 6

^[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)

^[8] expectation http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=do%2Fcais&la=greek&prior=f

^[10] Ezekiel 33:11 (NET)

^[11] Matthew 21:42 (NET)

^[12] Exodus 14:31 (NET)

^[13] Exodus 19:18 (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)

^[24] Genesis 20:11a (TEV-Good News Translation) [Table]

^[29] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

^[30] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

^[31] Romans 9:16 (NET)

^[32] 1 John 2:3-5a (NET)

^[33] Romans 13:10 (NET)

^[34] Exodus 20:20 (TEV-Good News Translation)

^[35] Exodus 24:18 (NET)

^[36] Exodus 32:1-8 (NET)

^[37] Ezekiel 23:1-4 (NET)

^[38] Exodus 19:18 (NET)

^[39] Exodus 24:3, 4, 7 (NET)

^[40] Exodus 22:20 (NET)

Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Posted on December 8, 2012 by admin

I’m studying fear in the Old Testament to better understand how fear has ended in Christ yet the concept of fearing God continued in the New Testament. Peter wrote, Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φόβος)^[1] God, honor the king.^[2] And in Revelation an angel with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^[3] said, Fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!^[5]

Abraham moved to Gerar and continued to pass off his beautiful wife Sarah as his sister. So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.^[6] But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him (Genesis 20:3-7 NET):

“You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife [Table].” Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, “Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation? Did Abraham not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!” Then in the dream God replied to him, “Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”

Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified (yârêʼ).^[7] The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose ἐφοβήθησαν (plus σφόδρα,^[8] very) here, the third person plural of φέβομαι.^[9] The first occurrence of this form in the New Testament is in Matthew’s account of the healing of the paralytic (Matthew 9:2–8 NET).

Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” When Jesus saw their reaction he said, “Why do you respond with evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) on earth to forgive sins” – then he said to the paralytic – “Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.” And he stood up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were afraid (ἐφοβήθησαν, another form of φοβέω) and honored (ἐδόξασαν, a form of δοξάζω) God who had given such authority (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) to men.

I have already written ^[12] that I think the repetition of ἐξουσίαν (a form of ἐξουσία) indicates that it was the authority to forgive sins that caused the crowd to fear and to honor God. The word translated honored above is the same glory that those under God’s wrath in Romans 1:21 withheld from God when they did not glorify him.^[13] And this connection of fear and honor gives me a clue to better understanding, especially when I return to Abimelech’s rebuke of Abraham (Genesis 20:9, 10 NET).

Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!” Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”

Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears (yirʼâh) God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’”^[15] Here, the rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose a different word entirely, θεοσέβεια. It is a compound of θεός and σέβομαι. Negated as ἀσέβεια this is the ungodliness that prompted the revelation of God’s wrath.^[19] In Abimelech and his people, then, I find a fear of punishment that led to obedience and more. Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham untouched. He also gave him sheep, cattle, and male and female servants [Table], and said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please[Table].”^[20]

Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children. For the Lord had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife.^[21] And here I think I see the beginning of the fear of punishment that played such a major, albeit imperfect, role in the keeping of the law.

When Ishmael mocked Isaac, Sarah said to Abraham, “Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!”^[22] Abraham wasn’t happy about this at all, but complied when God said to him, “Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted. But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.”^[23]

Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the wilderness. When the water Abraham gave her was gone she shoved the child under one of the shrubs,^[24] his body apparently limp and lethargic from dehydration. She walked some distance away not wanting to watch her child die. But God heard the boy’s voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid (yârêʼ), for God has heard the boy’s voice right where he is crying.^[25] This was φοβοῦ (another form of φοβέω) in Greek in the Septuagint.

The second occurrence of this form in the New Testament was found in the story of Zechariah and the angelic announcement of his son’s birth, John the Baptist. Zechariah, a priest, was chosen by lot to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense.^[26]

An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear (φόβος). But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ, another form of φοβέω), Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”^[27]

Zechariah didn’t believe the angel’s message and was struck mute. The text doesn’t say whether or not Hagar believed. But God was with the boy [Ishamael] as he grew,^[28] as surely as John was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:57-64 NET):

Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother replied, “No! He must be named John.” They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.” So they made signs to the baby’s father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

Then Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1:67-79 NET):

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant – the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear (ἀφόβως), in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Fear – Genesis, Part 3

^[2] 1 Peter 2:17 (NET)

^[3] Revelation 14:6 (NET)

^[5] Revelation 14:7 (NET)

^[6] Genesis 20:2b (NET)

^[7] Genesis 20:8 (NET)

^[9] φοβέομαι in the New Testament

^[12] Solomon’s Wealth, Part 5

^[13] Romans, Part 2

^[15] Genesis 20:11 (NET) Table

^[19] Romans, Part 2

^[20] Genesis 20:14, 15 (NET)

^[21] Genesis 20:17, 18 (NET)

^[22] Genesis 21:10 (NET)

^[23] Genesis 21:12, 13 (NET)

^[24] Genesis 21:15 (NET)

^[25] Genesis 21:17 (NET)

^[26] Luke 1:9 (NET)

^[27] Luke 1:11-17 (NET)

^[28] Genesis 21:20a (NET)

Romans, Part 20

Posted on September 28, 2012 by admin

For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants [See Addendum below] that he would inherit the world¹ was not fulfilled through the law,² Paul continued. In one sense this was absurdly obvious. God’s law didn’t even exist yet. The law that came four hundred thirty years later, Paul wrote the Galatians about the promise to Abraham, does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God,³ so as to invalidate the promise.⁴ But there is another sense to consider (Genesis 16:1, 2 NET).

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him.

I don’t intend to guess at Sarai’s motives, but she was acting according to law. It may have been a legal requirement according to the Nuzi tablets.⁵ In the law of Hammurabi 144: “If a man take a wife and this woman give her husband a maid-servant, and she bear him children, but this man wishes to take another wife, this shall not be permitted to him; he shall not take a second wife.”⁶ There is some question of the dating of Hammurabi relative to Abram, but if Sarai predated Hammurabi’s law it seems evident that she was aware of that which became his law.

Sarai complained to Abram when Hagar became pregnant and despised her, You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!⁷ This complaint makes a bit more sense in light of Hammurabi’s law 146: “If a man take a wife and she give this man a maid-servant as wife and she bear him children, and then this maid assume equality with the wife: because she has borne him children her master shall not sell her for money, but he may keep her as a slave, reckoning her among the maid-servants.”⁸ It also illuminates the sagacity of Abram’s decision not to exert authority over Sarai’s slave, Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.⁹

Sarai treated Hagar harshly. Hagar ran away. Then the Lord’s angel counseled her (Genesis 16:9-12 NET):

Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. I will greatly multiply your descendants…so that they will be too numerous to count…You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael,¹⁰ for the Lord has heard your painful groans. He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.

Abram seemed perfectly content to accept Ishmael as the heir God promised, the son born to him by the law of Hammurabi (or the law that preceded the law of Hammurabi). When Abram was ninety-nine-years-old God changed his name to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude.” As for your wife, He said, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!¹¹

Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground,¹² but he laughed at God. Sarah was ninety-years-old. O that Ishmael might live before you!¹³ he said. God said (Genesis 17:19-21 NET):

No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac [he laughs]. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.

This was the context Paul considered as he wrote, For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), not the Nuzi tablets nor the law code of Hammurabi, but through the righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) that comes by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις),¹⁴ God’s credited righteousness. I have missed this many times before but πίστεως (faith) at the end of Romans 4:13 (NET) is the same as πίστεως (faithfulness) in Romans 3:26 (NET). It was God’s faithfulness that made the difference, not Abraham’s faith.

Romans 3:26 (NET) Table	Romans 4:13 (NET)
This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness (πίστεως).	For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith (πίστεως).

The Lord had full confidence in his own credited righteousness to change Abraham, I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.¹⁵ While Abraham’s own faith at the time still relied on his initial strategy to preserve his life by claiming his beautiful wife was his sister, Because I thought, “Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.”¹⁶ When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, “This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, ‘He is my brother.’”¹⁷

For if they become heirs by the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), Paul continued, by their own efforts to keep laws, faith (πίστις) is empty (κεκένωται, a form of κενόω) and the promise (ἐπαγγελία) is nullified (κατήργηται, a form of καταργέω).¹⁸ It was the boy David who defeated Goliath¹⁹ by the power of God. God would not allow Gideon to go to battle with 32,000 soldiers: You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, “Our own strength has delivered us.”²⁰ God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside (καταργήσῃ, another form of καταργέω) what is regarded as something, so that no one can boast in his presence,²¹ Paul wrote the Corinthians.

For the law brings wrath, Paul continued in Romans, because where there is no law there is no transgression either.²² God didn’t punish Abraham for pretending that Sarah was his sister. There was no law against that. On the contrary, the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.²³ God threatened Abimelech in a dream before he had the opportunity to take her, You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.²⁴ Abraham made out like a pimp: and [Pharaoh] did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.²⁵ And, Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.” To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your ‘brother.’ This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”²⁶

Obviously in these instances with Pharaoh and Abimelech none of this was due to Abraham’s righteousness or his faith, but rather God’s faithfulness to Abraham (Romans 4:16, 17 NET).

For this reason it is by faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) so that it may be by grace (χάριν, a form of χάρις), with the result that the promise (ἐπαγγελίαν, a form of ἐπαγγελία) may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law (νόμου, a form of νόμος), but also to those who have the faith (πίστεως, a form of πίστις) of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations” [See Addendum below]). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed (ἐπίστευσεν, a form of πιστεύω)– the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.

Perhaps Paul said all of this more succinctly in his letter to the young preacher Timothy, I know whom I have believed (πεπίστευκα, another form of πιστεύω) and am persuaded (πέπεισμαι, a form of πείθω) that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.²⁷ The emphasis is on Him who is believed rather than the faith of the believer.

Addendum: July 11, 2021
The Greek word translated descendants in Romans 4:13 (NET) was σπέρματι.

According to a note (27) in the NET Paul quoted from Genesis 17:5 in Romans 4:17. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows:

Romans 4:17a (NET Parallel Greek)	Genesis 17:5c (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:5c (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικα σε	ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε	ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε
Romans 4:17a (NET)	Genesis 17:5c (NETS)	Genesis 17:5c (English Elpenor)
I have made you the father of many nations	for I have made you an ancestor of many nations	for I have made thee a father of many nations

Tables comparing Genesis 16:1; 16:2; 16:5; 16:6; 16:9; 16:10; 16:11; 16:12; 17:15; 17:16; 17:17; 17:18; 17:19; 17:20; 17:21; 18:19; 20:11; 20:13; Judges 7:2; Genesis 12:17; 20:3; 12:16; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16 and 17:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Genesis 16:1; 16:2; 16:5; 16:6; 16:9; 16:10; 16:11; 16:12; 17:15; 17:16; 17:17; 17:18; 17:19; 17:20; 17:21; 18:19; 20:11; 20:13; Judges 7:2; Genesis 12:17; 20:3; 12:16; 20:14; 20:15; 20:16 and 17:5 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Romans 4:13 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 16:1 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:1 (KJV)	Genesis 16:1 (NET)
Now Sarai Abram’s wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.	Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.	Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

Genesis 16:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
Σαρα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία ᾗ ὄνομα Αγαρ	ΣΑΡΑ δὲ γυνὴ ῞Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ. ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία, ᾗ ὄνομα ῎Αγαρ
Genesis 16:1 (NETS)	Genesis 16:1 (English Elpenor)
Now Sara, Abram’s wife, was not giving birth for him. She, however, had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar.	AND Sara the wife of Abram bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian maid, whose name was Agar.

Genesis 16:2 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:2 (KJV)	Genesis 16:2 (NET)
And Sarai said unto Abram: ‘Behold now, HaShem hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall be builded up through her.’ And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.	And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.	So Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from having children, please sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.” Abram did what Sarai told him.

Genesis 16:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέν με κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου ἵνα τεκνοποιήσῃς ἐξ αὐτῆς ὑπήκουσεν δὲ Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σαρας	εἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς ῞Αβραμ· ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέ με Κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν· εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου, ἵνα τεκνοποιήσωμαι ἐξ αὐτῆς. ὑπήκουσε δὲ ῞Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σάρας
Genesis 16:2 (NETS)	Genesis 16:2 (English Elpenor)
And Sara said to Abram, “See, the Lord has shut me off from giving birth; so go in to my slave-girl in order that you may beget children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sara.	And Sara said to Abram, Behold, the Lord has restrained me from bearing, go therefore in to my maid, that I may get children for myself through her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sara.

Genesis 16:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:5 (KJV)	Genesis 16:5 (NET)
And Sarai said unto Abram: ‘My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: HaShem judge between me and thee.’	And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.	Then Sarai said to Abram, “You have brought this wrong on me! I gave my servant into your embrace, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the Lord judge between you and me!”

Genesis 16:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ ἐγὼ δέδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς κρίναι ὁ θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ	εἶπε δὲ Σάρα πρὸς ῞Αβραμ· ἀδικοῦμαι ἐκ σοῦ· ἐγὼ δέδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ἰδοῦσα δὲ ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει, ἠτιμάσθην ἐναντίον αὐτῆς· κρίναι ὁ Θεὸς ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ.
Genesis 16:5 (NETS)	Genesis 16:5 (English Elpenor)
Then Sara said to Abram, “I am being wronged due to you! I have given my slave-girl into your bosom, but when she saw that she was pregnant, I was dishonored before her. May God judge between you and me!”	And Sara said to Abram, I am injured by thee; I gave my handmaid into thy bosom, and when I saw that she was with child, I was dishonoured before her. The Lord judge between me and thee.

Genesis 16:6 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:6 (KJV)	Genesis 16:6 (NET)
But Abram said unto Sarai: ‘Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes.’ And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.	But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.	Abram said to Sarai, “Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.

Genesis 16:6 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβραμ πρὸς Σαραν ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῗς χερσίν σου χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σαρα καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς	εἶπε δὲ ῞Αβραμ πρὸς Σάραν· ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη σου ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου· χρῶ αὐτῇ ὡς ἄν σοι ἀρεστὸν ᾖ. καὶ ἐκάκωσεν αὐτὴν Σάρα, καὶ ἀπέδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς
Genesis 16:6 (NETS)	Genesis 16:6 (English Elpenor)
But Abram said to Sara, “See, see your slave-girl is in your hands; treat her as it may please you.” And Sara maltreated her, and she ran away from her presence.	And Abram said to Sara, Behold thy handmaid is in thy hands, use her as it may seem good to thee. And Sara afflicted her, and she fled from her face.

Genesis 16:9 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:9 (KJV)	Genesis 16:9 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.’	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.	Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.

Genesis 16:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἀποστράφητι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῗρας αὐτῆς	εἶπε δὲ αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· ἀποστράφηθι πρὸς τὴν κυρίαν σου καὶ ταπεινώθητι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς
Genesis 16:9 (NETS)	Genesis 16:9 (English Elpenor)
But the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hands.”	And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

Genesis 16:10 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:10 (KJV)	Genesis 16:10 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.	I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the angel of the Lord added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Genesis 16:10 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· πληθύνων πληθυνῶ τὸ σπέρμα σου, καὶ οὐκ ἀριθμηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πλήθους
Genesis 16:10 (NETS)	Genesis 16:10 (English Elpenor)
The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will multitudinously multiply your offspring, and it will not be counted for multitude.”	And the angel of the Lord said to her, I will surely multiply thy seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 16:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:11 (KJV)	Genesis 16:11 (NET)
And the angel of HaShem said unto her: ‘Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because HaShem hath heard thy affliction.	And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.	Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans.

Genesis 16:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος κυρίου ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισμαηλ ὅτι ἐπήκουσεν κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου	καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· ἰδού, σὺ ἐν γαστρί ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱὸν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Ισμαήλ, ὅτι ἐπήκουσε Κύριος τῇ ταπεινώσει σου.
Genesis 16:11 (NETS)	Genesis 16:11 (English Elpenor)
And the angel of the Lord said to her, “See, you are pregnant and shall bear a son and shall call his name Ismael. For the Lord has given heed to your humiliation.	And the angel of the Lord said to her, Behold thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ismael, for the Lord hath hearkened to thy humiliation.

Genesis 16:12 (Tanakh)	Genesis 16:12 (KJV)	Genesis 16:12 (NET)
And he shall be a wild ass of a man: his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the face of all his brethren.’	And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.	He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.”

Genesis 16:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 16:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
οὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος αἱ χεῗρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας καὶ αἱ χεῗρες πάντων ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει	οὗτος ἔσται ἄγροικος ἄνθρωπος αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες πάντων ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ κατὰ πρόσωπον πάντων τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ κατοικήσει
Genesis 16:12 (NETS)	Genesis 16:12 (English Elpenor)
He shall be a rustic man; his hands shall be against all, and the hands of all against him, and he shall live facing all his kinfolk.”	He shall be a wild man, his hands against all, and the hands of all against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Genesis 17:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:15 (KJV)	Genesis 17:15 (NET)
And G-d said unto Abraham: ‘As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.	And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.	Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name.

Genesis 17:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ Σαρα ἡ γυνή σου οὐ κληθήσεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Σαρα ἀλλὰ Σαρρα ἔσται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς	Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· Σάρα ἡ γυνή σου οὐ κληθήσεται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Σάρα, ἀλλὰ Σάρρα ἔσται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς
Genesis 17:15 (NETS)	Genesis 17:15 (English Elpenor)
And God said to Abraham, “As for Sara your wife, her name shall not be called Sara, but Sarra shall be her name.	And God said to Abraam, Sara thy wife– her name shall not be called Sara, Sarrha shall be her name.

Genesis 17:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:16 (KJV)	Genesis 17:16 (NET)
And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her; yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.’	And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.	I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!”

Genesis 17:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εὐλογήσω δὲ αὐτὴν καὶ δώσω σοι ἐξ αὐτῆς τέκνον καὶ εὐλογήσω αὐτόν καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἔθνη καὶ βασιλεῗς ἐθνῶν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔσονται	εὐλογήσω δὲ αὐτήν, καὶ δώσω σοι ἐξ αὐτῆς τέκνον· καὶ εὐλογήσω αὐτό, καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἔθνη, καὶ βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἔσονται
Genesis 17:16 (NETS)	Genesis 17:16 (English Elpenor)
And I will bless her, and I will give you a child by her. And I will bless her, and she shall become nations, and kings of nations shall be from her.”	And I will bless her, and give thee a son of her, and I will bless him, and he shall become nations, and kings of nations shall be of him.

Genesis 17:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:17 (KJV)	Genesis 17:17 (NET)
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart: ‘Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?’	Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?	Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”

Genesis 17:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἔπεσεν Αβρααμ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐγέλασεν καὶ εἶπεν ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων εἰ τῷ ἑκατονταετεῗ γενήσεται καὶ εἰ Σαρρα ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν οὖσα τέξεται	καὶ ἔπεσεν ῾Αβραὰμ ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐγέλασε καὶ εἶπεν ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων· εἰ τῷ ἑκατονταετεῖ γενήσεται υἱός; καὶ εἰ ἡ Σάρρα ἐνενήκοντα ἐτῶν τέξεται
Genesis 17:17 (NETS)	Genesis 17:17 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam fell face down and laughed and spoke in his mind, saying, “Shall a son be born to a hundred-year-old, and shall Sarra who is ninety years of age give birth?”	And Abraam fell upon his face, and laughed; and spoke in his heart, saying, Shall there be a child to one who is a hundred years old, and shall Sarrha who is ninety years old, bear?

Genesis 17:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:18 (KJV)	Genesis 17:18 (NET)
And Abraham said unto G-d: ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!’	And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!	Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!”

Genesis 17:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ πρὸς τὸν θεόν Ισμαηλ οὗτος ζήτω ἐναντίον σου	εἶπε δὲ ῾Αβραὰμ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· ᾿Ισμαὴλ οὗτος ζήτω ἐναντίον σου
Genesis 17:18 (NETS)	Genesis 17:18 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam said to God, “As for Ismael, let him live before you!”	And Abraam said to God, Let this Ismael live before thee.

Genesis 17:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:19 (KJV)	Genesis 17:19 (NET)
And G-d said: ”Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.	And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.	God said, “No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him.

Genesis 17:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ ναί ἰδοὺ Σαρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱόν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισαακ καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτόν	εἶπε δὲ ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ῾Αβραὰμ· ναί· ἰδοὺ Σάρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Ισαάκ, καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον, εἶναι αὐτῷ Θεὸς καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτόν
Genesis 17:19 (NETS)	Genesis 17:19 (English Elpenor)
But God said to Abraam, “Indeed; see, your wife Sarra shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaak, and I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant and for his offspring after him.	And God said to Abraam, Yea, behold, Sarrha thy wife shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish my covenant with him, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to him and to his seed after him.

Genesis 17:20 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:20 (KJV)	Genesis 17:20 (NET)
And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.	And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.	As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 17:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
περὶ δὲ Ισμαηλ ἰδοὺ ἐπήκουσά σου ἰδοὺ εὐλόγησα αὐτὸν καὶ αὐξανῶ αὐτὸν καὶ πληθυνῶ αὐτὸν σφόδρα δώδεκα ἔθνη γεννήσει καὶ δώσω αὐτὸν εἰς ἔθνος μέγα	περὶ δὲ ᾿Ισμαὴλ ἰδοὺ ἐπήκουσά σου· καὶ ἰδοὺ εὐλόγηκα αὐτὸν καὶ αὐξανῶ αὐτὸν καὶ πληθυνῶ αὐτὸν σφόδρα· δώδεκα ἔθνη γεννήσει καὶ δώσω αὐτὸν εἰς ἔθνος μέγα
Genesis 17:20 (NETS)	Genesis 17:20 (English Elpenor)
Now concerning Ismael, see, I heard you; see, I have blessed him and will make him increase and will make him very numerous; he shall be the father of twelve nations, and I will appoint him as a great nation.	And concerning Ismael, behold, I have heard thee, and, behold, I have blessed him, and will increase him and multiply him exceedingly; twelve nations shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 17:21 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:21 (KJV)	Genesis 17:21 (NET)
But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.’	But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.	But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

Genesis 17:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τὴν δὲ διαθήκην μου στήσω πρὸς Ισαακ ὃν τέξεταί σοι Σαρρα εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ ἑτέρῳ	τὴν δὲ διαθήκην μου στήσω πρὸς ᾿Ισαάκ, ὃν τέξεταί σοι Σάρρα εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον, ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ ἑτέρῳ
Genesis 17:21 (NETS)	Genesis 17:21 (English Elpenor)
But my covenant I will establish with Isaak, whom Sarra shall bear to you at this season in another year.”	But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarrha shall bear to thee at this time, in the next year.

Genesis 18:19 (Tanakh)	Genesis 18:19 (KJV)	Genesis 18:19 (NET)
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of HaShem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that HaShem may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.’	For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.	I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him.”

Genesis 18:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 18:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ᾔδειν γὰρ ὅτι συντάξει τοῗς υἱοῗς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτόν καὶ φυλάξουσιν τὰς ὁδοὺς κυρίου ποιεῗν δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ κύριος ἐπὶ Αβρααμ πάντα ὅσα ἐλάλησεν πρὸς αὐτόν	ᾔδειν γὰρ ὅτι συντάξει τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ φυλάξουσι τὰς ὁδοὺς Κυρίου ποιεῖν δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν, ὅπως ἂν ἐπαγάγῃ Κύριος ἐπὶ ῾Αβραὰμ πάντα, ὅσα ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτόν
Genesis 18:19 (NETS)	Genesis 18:19 (English Elpenor)
For I knew that he will instruct his sons and his household after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice so that the Lord may bring upon Abraam all the things that he has talked about to him.”	For I know that he will order his sons, and his house after him, and they will keep the ways of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraam all things whatsoever he has spoken to him.

Genesis 20:11 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:11 (KJV)	Genesis 20:11 (NET)
And Abraham said: ‘Because I thought: Surely the fear of G-d is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.	And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.	Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’

Genesis 20:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ εἶπα γάρ ἄρα οὐκ ἔστιν θεοσέβεια ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ ἐμέ τε ἀποκτενοῦσιν ἕνεκεν τῆς γυναικός μου	εἶπε δὲ ῾Αβραάμ· εἶπα γάρ, ἄρα οὐκ ἔστι θεοσέβεια ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ, ἐμέ τε ἀποκτενοῦσιν ἕνεκεν τῆς γυναικός μου
Genesis 20:11 (NETS)	Genesis 20:11 (English Elpenor)
And Abraam said, “Because I said, It appears there is no piety in this place, and so they will kill me because of my wife.	And Abraam said, Why I said, Surely there is not the worship of God in this place, and they will slay me because of my wife.

Genesis 20:13 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:13 (KJV)	Genesis 20:13 (NET)
And it came to pass, when G-d caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.’	And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.	When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”

Genesis 20:13 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἐξήγαγέν με ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ εἶπα αὐτῇ ταύτην τὴν δικαιοσύνην ποιήσεις ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ εἰς πάντα τόπον οὗ ἐὰν εἰσέλθωμεν ἐκεῗ εἰπὸν ἐμὲ ὅτι ἀδελφός μού ἐστιν	ἐγένετο δέ, ἡνίκα ἐξήγαγέ με ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρός μου, καὶ εἶπα αὐτῇ· ταύτην τὴν δικαιοσύνην ποιήσεις εἰς ἐμέ, εἰς πάντα τόπον οὗ ἐὰν εἰσέλθωμεν ἐκεῖ, εἰπὸν ἐμέ, ὅτι ἀδελφός μου ἐστίν
Genesis 20:13 (NETS)	Genesis 20:13 (English Elpenor)
Now it came about when God brought me forth from my father’s house, that then I said to her, ‘This righteousness you shall do for me: in every place, there where we enter, say about me, He is my brother.’”	And it came to pass when God brought me forth out of the house of my father, that I said to her, This righteousness thou shalt perform to me, in every place into which we may enter, say of me, He is my brother.

Judges 7:2 (Tanakh)	Judges 7:2 (KJV)	Judges 7:2 (NET)
And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.	And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.	The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, ‘Our own strength has delivered us.’

Judges 7:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Judges 7:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς Γεδεων πολὺς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ ὥστε μὴ παραδοῦναί με τὴν Μαδιαμ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν μήποτε καυχήσηται Ισραηλ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ λέγων ἡ χείρ μου ἔσωσέν με	καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· πολὺς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ, ὥστε μὴ παραδοῦναί με τὴν Μαδιὰμ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν, μή ποτε καυχήσηται ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ λέγων· ἡ χείρ μου ἔσωσέ με
Judges 7:2 (NETS)	Judges 7:2 (English Elpenor)
And the Lord said to Gedeon, “The people with you are numerous; so I will not give up Madiam in their hand. Israel would only boast against me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’”	And the Lord said to Gedeon, The people with thee [are] many, so that I may not deliver Madiam into their hand, lest at any time Israel boast against me, saying, My hand has saved me.

Genesis 12:17 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:17 (KJV)	Genesis 12:17 (NET)
And HaShem plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.	And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.	But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 12:17 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἤτασεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν Φαραω ἐτασμοῗς μεγάλοις καὶ πονηροῗς καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ περὶ Σαρας τῆς γυναικὸς Αβραμ	καὶ ἤτασεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν Φαραὼ ἐτασμοῖς μεγάλοις καὶ πονηροῖς καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ περὶ Σάρας τῆς γυναικὸς ῞Αβραμ
Genesis 12:17 (NETS)	Genesis 12:17 (English Elpenor)
And God tried Pharao and his house with great and grievous trials because of Sara, Abram’s wife.	And God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram’s wife.

Genesis 20:3 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:3 (KJV)	Genesis 20:3 (NET)
But G-d came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him: ‘Behold, thou shalt die, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.’	But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.	But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”

Genesis 20:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Αβιμελεχ ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀποθνῄσκεις περὶ τῆς γυναικός ἧς ἔλαβες αὕτη δέ ἐστιν συνῳκηκυῗα ἀνδρί	καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Θεὸς πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν ὕπνῳ τὴν νύκτα καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀποθνήσκεις περὶ τῆς γυναικός, ἧς ἔλαβες, αὕτη δέ ἐστι συνῳκηυῖα ἀνδρί
Genesis 20:3 (NETS)	Genesis 20:3 (English Elpenor)
And God came in to Abimelech in his sleep during the night and said, “Look, you are about to die by reason of the woman whom you have taken, whereas she is married to a man.”	And God came to Abimelech by night in sleep, and said, Behold, thou diest for the woman, whom thou hast taken, whereas she has lived with a husband.

Genesis 12:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 12:16 (KJV)	Genesis 12:16 (NET)
And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.	And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.	and he did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

Genesis 12:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 12:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ τῷ Αβραμ εὖ ἐχρήσαντο δι᾽ αὐτήν καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχοι καὶ ὄνοι παῗδες καὶ παιδίσκαι ἡμίονοι καὶ κάμηλοι	καὶ τῷ ῞Αβραμ εὖ ἐχρήσαντο δι᾿ αὐτήν, καὶ ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχοι καὶ ὄνοι καὶ παῖδες καὶ παιδίσκαι καὶ ἡμίονοι καὶ κάμηλοι
Genesis 12:16 (NETS)	Genesis 12:16 (English Elpenor)
And for her sake they dealt well with Abram, and he had sheep and calves and donkeys, male and female slaves, mules and camels.	And they treated Abram well on her account, and he had sheep, and calves, and asses, and men-servants, and women-servants, and mules, and camels.

Genesis 20:14 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:14 (KJV)	Genesis 20:14 (NET)
And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.	And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.	So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.

Genesis 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔλαβεν δὲ Αβιμελεχ χίλια δίδραχμα πρόβατα καὶ μόσχους καὶ παῗδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ ἔδωκεν τῷ Αβρααμ καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ Σαρραν τὴν γυναῗκα αὐτοῦ	ἔλαβε δὲ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ χίλια δίδραχμα καὶ πρόβατα καὶ μόσχους καὶ παῖδας καὶ παιδίσκας καὶ ἔδωκε τῷ ῾Αβραὰμ καὶ ἀπέδωκεν αὐτῷ Σάρραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ
Genesis 20:14 (NETS)	Genesis 20:14 (English Elpenor)
Then Abimelech took a thousand didrachmas, sheep and calves and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraam and restored his wife Sarra to him.	And Abimelech took a thousand pieces of silver, and sheep, and calves, and servants, and maid-servants, and gave them to Abraam, and he returned him Sarrha his wife.

Genesis 20:15 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:15 (KJV)	Genesis 20:15 (NET)
And Abimelech said: ‘Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.’	And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.	Then Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.”

Genesis 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Αβιμελεχ τῷ Αβρααμ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ μου ἐναντίον σου οὗ ἐάν σοι ἀρέσκῃ κατοίκει	καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τῷ ῾Αβραάμ· ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ μου ἐναντίον σου· οὗ ἐάν σοι ἀρέσκῃ, κατοίκει
Genesis 20:15 (NETS)	Genesis 20:15 (English Elpenor)
And Abimelech said to Abraam, “Look, my land is before you; settle where it may please you.”	And Abimelech said to Abraam, Behold, my land is before thee, dwell wheresoever it may please thee.

Genesis 20:16 (Tanakh)	Genesis 20:16 (KJV)	Genesis 20:16 (NET)
And unto Sarah he said: ‘Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and before all men thou art righted.’	And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.	To Sarah he said, “Look, I have given 1,000 pieces of silver to your ‘brother.’ This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.”

Genesis 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τῇ δὲ Σαρρα εἶπεν ἰδοὺ δέδωκα χίλια δίδραχμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου ταῦτα ἔσται σοι εἰς τιμὴν τοῦ προσώπου σου καὶ πάσαις ταῗς μετὰ σοῦ καὶ πάντα ἀλήθευσον	τῇ δὲ Σάρρᾳ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ δέδωκα χίλια δίδραχμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου· ταῦτα ἔσται σοι εἰς τὴν τιμὴ τοῦ προσώπου σου καὶ πάσαις ταῖς μετὰ σοῦ· καὶ πάντα ἀλήθευσον
Genesis 20:16 (NETS)	Genesis 20:16 (English Elpenor)
And to Sarra he said, “Look, I have given your brother a thousand drachmas; these shall be to you for the honor of your person and to all those with you, and tell the whole truth.”	And to Sarrha he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, those shall be to thee for the price of thy countenance, and to all the women with thee, and speak the truth in all things.

Genesis 17:5 (Tanakh)	Genesis 17:5 (KJV)	Genesis 17:5 (NET)
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.	Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.	No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.

Genesis 17:5 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 17:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι τὸ ὄνομά σου Αβραμ ἀλλ᾽ ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου Αβρααμ ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε	καὶ οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι τὸ ὄνομά σου ῞Αβραμ, ἀλλ᾿ ἔσται τὸ ὄνομά σου ῾Αβραάμ, ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε
Genesis 17:5 (NETS)	Genesis 17:5 (English Elpenor)
And no longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraam, for I have made you an ancestor of many nations.	And thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraam, for I have made thee a father of many nations.

Romans 4:13 (NET)	Romans 4:13 (KJV)
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.	For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Οὐ γὰρ διὰ νόμου ἡ ἐπαγγελία τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἢ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ, τὸ κληρονόμον αὐτὸν εἶναι κόσμου, ἀλλὰ διὰ δικαιοσύνης πίστεως	ου γαρ δια νομου η επαγγελια τω αβρααμ η τω σπερματι αυτου το κληρονομον αυτον ειναι του κοσμου αλλα δια δικαιοσυνης πιστεως	ου γαρ δια νομου η επαγγελια τω αβρααμ η τω σπερματι αυτου το κληρονομον αυτον ειναι του κοσμου αλλα δια δικαιοσυνης πιστεως

Romans, Part 21

Back to Romans, Part 35

Back to Romans, Part 40

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 6

Back to Son of God – 1 John, Part 3

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 8

Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Back to Jephthah

Back to Christianity, Part 11

Back to Christianity, Part 12

Back to The Children of Promise, Part 2

Back to Exploration, Part 1

¹ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding world. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

² Romans 4:13 (NET)

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις χριστον (KJV: in Christ) following God. The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ did not.

⁴ Galatians 3:17 (NET) Table

⁵ “Sarah’s prolonged barrenness prompted her to give her handmaid Hagar to Abraham in order that she might bear him a child in her mistress’ place (16:12). This unusual device, found only once again in the Bible (cf. Gen. 30:1–8), is also attested to in the Nuzi documents and elsewhere, where it is stipulated that if a wife is childless, she must provide her husband with a female slave as a concubine.”
From the article “Sarah” on the Jewish Virtual Library online.

⁶ “The Code of Hammurabi,” The Avalon Project, Yale Law School

⁷ Genesis 16:5 (NET)

⁸ “The Code of Hammurabi,” The Avalon Project, Yale Law School

⁹ Genesis 16:6 (NET)

¹⁰ NET note 34: The name Ishmael consists of the imperfect or jussive form of the Hebrew verb with the theophoric element added as the subject. It means “God hears” or “may God hear.”

¹¹ Genesis 17:15, 16 (NET)

¹² Genesis 17:17a (NET)

¹³ Genesis 17:18 (NET)

¹⁴ Romans 4:13 (NET)

¹⁵ Genesis 18:19a (NET)

¹⁶ Genesis 20:11 (NET)

¹⁷ Genesis 20:13 (NET)

¹⁸ Romans 4:14 (NET)

¹⁹ 1 Samuel 17 (NET)

²⁰ Judges 7:2 (NET)

²¹ 1 Corinthians 1:28, 29 (NET) Table

²² Romans 4:15 (NET)

²³ Genesis 12:17 (NET)

²⁴ Genesis 20:3 (NET)

²⁵ Genesis 12:16 (NET)

²⁶ Genesis 20:14-16 (NET)

²⁷ 2 Timothy 1:12b (NKJV)

The Gospel and the Religious Mind

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

Tag Archives: Genesis 20:11

Christianity, Part 12

Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 3

Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Fear – Genesis, Part 2

Romans, Part 20