3 John, Part 2

Posted on July 6, 2025 by admin

This is a continuation of my notes on 3 John for the preaching class I’m taking. One feature of a sermon introduction is to “establish the context of the passage.” I have my own sketchy ideas about the historical context of 3 John, but would prefer to “establish the context” from John’s writings instead (Revelation 19:11-16 ESV).

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God [Table]. And the armies¹ of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on² white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury³ of the wrath of God the Almighty [Table]. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name⁴ written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Greek is: Καὶ εἶδον τὸν οὐρανὸν ἠνεῳγμένον, Then I saw heaven opened, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἵππος λευκός, and behold, a white horse! καὶ ὁ καθήμενος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν, The one sitting on it (literally “and the one sitting on him”), [καλούμενος] |πιστὸς| καὶ ἀληθινός, is called Faithful and True (or “is called faithful and truthful”), καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ κρίνει, and in righteousness he judges (or “and by means of righteousness He judges”), καὶ πολεμεῖ, and makes war; οἱ δὲ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ [ὡς] φλὸξ πυρός, His eyes like a flame of fire, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ διαδήματα πολλά, and on his head many diadems, ἔχων ὄνομα γεγραμμένον ὃ οὐδεὶς οἶδεν εἰ μὴ αὐτός, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself (or “having a name written that no one has seen except himself”).

The Greek verb translated knows was οἶδεν, a form of εἴδω in the perfect tense, rather than ἔγνωκε(ν), a form of γινώσκω. It feels like a deliberate word choice to accentuate the more visual aspect of knowing inherent in εἴδω. John’s vision continued: καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον |βεβαμμένον| αἵματι, He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, and the name by which he is called is (or “and He was named his name”), ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ, The Word of God.

The ESV translators understood τὸ ὄνομα in the nominative case as the subject of the clause. In my alternative version I understood it as the direct object in the accusative case. The difference seems inconsequential to me. The received texts had καλειται, a middle/passive form of καλέω in the present tense, where the critical text had κέκληται in the perfect tense. It is difficult to determine which verb the ESV translators encountered (ESV: he is called) since they also translated περιβεβλημένος, a participle of περιβάλλω (also in the perfect tense) He is clothed, along with οἶδεν, translated knows. But again, the difference seems inconsequential.

The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect. In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence. Unlike the English perfect, which indicates a completed past action, the Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action.⁵

Understanding καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ as “and He was named his name” leads me to suspect that ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ (The Word of God) was the “name written that no one has seen (or ‘known’) except himself.” For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, Jesus promised, nor is anything secret that will not⁶ be known⁷ and come to light.⁸

By comparing occurrences of λόγος to occurrences of θεοῦ I found eleven other examples (see Table below) of the phrase ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ (the word of God) in the New Testament. None of them seem to be a personal name, with the possible exception of another example penned by John (1 John 2:14 ESV).

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God (ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ) abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Even if John alluded to Jesus abiding with the young men through his indwelling Holy Spirit, it would not exclude Jesus’ teaching or the written word of God. By comparing occurrences of λόγος to occurrences of θεοῦ in the Septuagint, I found one example of λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ in the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 1:2 (Tanakh/KJV)	Jeremiah 1:2 (NET)	Jeremiah 1:2 (NETS)	Jeremiah 1:2 (English Elpenor)
To whom the word (דְבַר) of the LORD (יְהֹוָה֙) came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	The Lord’s (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) message (dāḇār, דבר) came to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah.	a word (λόγος) of God (τοῦ θεοῦ) which came to him in the days of King Iosias son of Amos of Iouda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	[accordingly] as the word (λόγος) of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ) came to him in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

This was unusual. The Hebrew phrase was usually translated λόγος κυρίου (see Table below). The NET translation, the Lord’s message, though not as literal as the word of the Lord, is fairly accurate. The name ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ (The Word of God) is revealed for the first time in:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…⁹

John described Jesus in the majestic opening of his Gospel narrative in the light of this revelation of his name: The Word of God (John 1:1-5 ESV):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Greek is: Ἐν ἀρχῇ, In the beginning, ἦν ὁ λόγος, was the Word, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, and the Word was with God, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος, and the Word was God (or “and God was the Word); οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, He was in the beginning with God (or “this was in the beginning with God,” e.g., “this is the way it was in the beginning with God”); πάντα δι᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, All through him were made, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν ὃ γέγονεν, and without him was not any thing made that was made (or “and without Him was made nothing which existed and continues to exist”); ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, In him was life (or “by means of Him life was”), καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, and the life was the light of men (or “and that life was the light of the human beings”); καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, The light shines in the darkness (or “and the light to the darkness gives light” or “and the light gives light to the darkness”), καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν, and the darkness has not overcome it (or “and that darkness has not grasped it with the mind”).

As Jesus said (John 6:44a ESV):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him [Table].

The revelation of Jesus Christ continued: Καὶ τὰ στρατεύματα, And the armies, [τὰ] ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ἐφ᾿ ἵπποις λευκοῖς, of heaven were following him on white horses (or “those who by means of heaven had followed continually after by means of Him on white horses”), ἐνδεδυμένοι βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure (or, “were clothed in pure white fine linen” or “had clothed themselves in pure white fine linen”); καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, From his mouth (or “and out of his mouth”), ἐκπορεύεται ρομφαία ὀξεῖα, comes a sharp sword, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη, with which to strike down the nations (or “in order that by means of it He may strike the nations”), καὶ αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ράβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, and he will rule them with a rod of iron (or “and He will shepherd them by means of a rod of iron”).

The difference between he will rule, αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ, and “He will shepherd” is a matter of connotation only:

Occurrences of ποιμανεῖ, a form of ποιμαίνω, in the New Testament
Reference	ESV	NA²⁸
Matthew 2:6	“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”	καὶ σὺ Βηθλέεμ, γῆ Ἰούδα, οὐδαμῶς ἐλαχίστη εἶ ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται ἡγούμενος, ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ἰσραήλ
Revelation 2:27	and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.	καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ὡς τὰ σκεύη τὰ κεραμικὰ συντρίβεται (28a) ὡς κἀγὼ εἴληφα παρὰ τοῦ πατρός μου
Revelation 7:17	For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”	ὅτι τὸ ἀρνίον τὸ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ θρόνου ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς καὶ ὁδηγήσει αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ ζωῆς πηγὰς ὑδάτων, καὶ ἐξαλείψει ὁ θεὸς πᾶν δάκρυον ἐκ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν
Revelation 19:15	From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.	καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται ῥομφαία ὀξεῖα, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, καὶ αὐτὸς πατεῖ τὴν ληνὸν τοῦ οἴνου τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ παντοκράτορος

I’ll take the time here to consider the five occurrences of ποιμανεῖ, a form of ποιμαίνω, in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 48:14 (Tanakh/KJV)	Psalm 48:14 (NET)	Psalm 47:15 (NETS)	Psalm 47:15 (English Elpenor)
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide (יְנַֽהֲגֵ֥נוּ) even unto death.	For God, our God, is our defender forever. He guides (nāhaḡ, ינהגנו) us.	that this is God, our God forever, even forever and ever. He himself will shepherd (ποιμανεῖ) us for ages.	For this is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide (ποιμανεῖ) for evermore.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Isaiah 40:11 (Tanakh/KJV)	Isaiah 40:11 (NET)	Isaiah 40:11 (NETS)	Isaiah 40:11 (English Elpenor)
He shall feed (יִרְעֶ֔ה) his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.	Like a shepherd he tends (rāʿâ, ירעה) his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.	He will tend (ποιμανεῖ) his flock like a shepherd and gather lambs with his arm and comfort those that are with young.	He shall tend (ποιμανεῖ) his flock as a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and shall soothe them that are with young.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Jeremiah 22:22 (Tanakh/KJV)	Jeremiah 22:22 (NET)	Jeremiah 22:22 (NETS)	Jeremiah 22:22 (English Elpenor)
The wind shall eat up (תִּרְעֶה) all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.	My judgment will carry off (rāʿâ, תרעה) all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done.	A wind shall shepherd (ποιμανεῖ) all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go out in captivity, because then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all who would kiss you.	The wind shall tend (ποιμανεῖ) all thy shepherds, and thy lovers shall go into captivity; for then shalt thou be ashamed and disgraced because of all thy lovers.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Ezekiel 34:23 (Tanakh/KJV)	Ezekiel 34:23 (NET)	Ezekiel 34:23 (NETS)	Ezekiel 34:23 (English Elpenor)
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed (וְרָעָ֣ה) them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.	I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed (rāʿâ, ורעה) them—namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd.	And I will raise up over them another shepherd, and he shall shepherd (ποιμανεῖ) them, my slave Dauid, and he shall be their shepherd,	And I will raise up one shepherd over them, and he shall tend (ποιμανεῖ) them, [even] my servant David, and he shall be their shepherd;

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Micah 5:4 (Tanakh/KJV)	Micah 5:4 (NET)	Micah 5:4 (NETS)	Micah 5:3 (English Elpenor)
And he shall stand and feed (וְרָעָה֙) in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.	He will assume his post and shepherd (rāʿâ, ורעה) the people by the Lord’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.	And he shall stand and see and tend (ποιμανεῖ) his flock in the strength of the Lord. And they shall exist in the glory of the name of the Lord their God, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth,	And the Lord shall stand, and see, and feed (ποιμανεῖ) his flock with power, and they shall dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their God: for now shall they be magnified to the ends of the earth.

Four of the five occurrences of ποιμανεῖ were translations of forms of רָעָה (rāʿâ), which occurs first in Moses’ description of Abel: Now Abel was a keeper (rāʿâ, רֹ֣עֵה) of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.¹⁰ The fifth was a translation of a form of נָהַג (nāhaḡ), an allied word which first occurs in the beginning of the account of Jacob’s return journey to Canaan: He drove away (nāhaḡ, וַיִּנְהַ֣ג) all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.¹¹

According to a note (41) in the NET, he will rule them with a rod of iron¹² is a quotation from Psalm 2:9 (see Table below).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 2:9 (Tanakh/KJV)	Psalm 2:9 (NET)	Psalm 2:9 (NETS)	Psalm 2:9 (English Elpenor)
Thou shalt break (תְּרֹעֵֽם) them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.	You will break (rāʿaʿ, תרעם) them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”	You shall shepherd (ποιμανεῖς) them with an iron rod; like a potter’s vessel you shall shatter them’.”	Thou shalt rule (ποιμανεῖς) them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.

In the Septuagint תְּרֹעֵֽם (rāʿaʿ) was translated ποιμανεῖς, another form of ποιμαίνω. There are no occurrences of ποιμανεῖς in the New Testament. There are two other occurrences in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
2 Samuel 5:2 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 5:2 (NET)	2 Reigns 5:2 (NETS)	2 Kings 5:2 (English Elpenor)
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and HaShem said to thee: Thou shalt feed (תִרְעֶ֚ה) My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.’	In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd (rāʿâ, תרעה) my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”	And yesterday and the third day, while Saoul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord said to you: It is you who shall shepherd (ποιμανεῖς) my people Israel, and it is you who shall become a ruler over Israel.”	And heretofore Saul being king over us, thou wast he that didst lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed (ποιμανεῖς) my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a leader to my people Israel.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
1 Chronicles 11:2 (Tanakh/KJV)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (NET)	1 Supplements 11:2 (NETS)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (English Elpenor)
And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed (תִרְעֶ֚ה) my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.	In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd (rāʿâ, תרעה) my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’”	And yesterday and the third day when Saoul was king, you were the one to lead Israel out and in, and the Lord God said to you, “You will shepherd (ποιμανεῖς) my people Israel, and you will be a leader over Israel.”	And heretofore when Saul was king, thou wast he that led Israel in and out, and the Lord of Israel said to thee, Thou shalt feed (ποιμανεῖς) my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a ruler over Israel.

Here, two of three occurrences of ποιμανεῖς were translations of forms of רָעָה (rāʿâ), but the third is an outlier: The first occurrence of a form of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ)—Thou shalt break (תְּרֹעֵֽם, Tanakh, KJV), You will break (תרעם, NET)—occurs in Lot’s entreaty to the men of Sodom threatening to break down his door (Genesis 19:7 ESV).

…and [Lot] said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly (rāʿaʿ, תָּרֵֽעוּ).

For any who has ears to hear, the Greek translator’s choice of ποιμανεῖς, a 2^nd person singular form of ποιμαίνω, in Psalm 2:9 and John’s and the Holy Spirit’s choice of ποιμανεῖ, a 3^rd person singular form, in Revelation 19:15 are at least three witnesses that either תְּרֹעֵֽם or its parse as a form of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ) was not original to the Hebrew text of Psalm 2:9.

An excerpt from Jewish Concepts: Masoretic Text on Jewish Virtual Library online describing the Masoretic text follows:

The Torah texts that we read today are believed by some to be the same as those given to Moses and the people of Israel by God. It is believed by scholars that the word of God and history of the Jewish people was imprinted on the minds of the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Over the years as tradition was orally passed on and eventually written down, many disparities of the Torah emerged as countless scribes wrote numerous scrolls.
After being exiled from Israel, and as the Jewish Diaspora grew more widespread across the World, many Jews understood the importance of creating a single text of the Torah. This uniformity would enable the consistency of the Jewish faith outside the land of Israel. Specific scholars and scribes were chosen for this task, these men were called Masoretes. Masoretes derives its name from the word “masorah” meaning “tradition;” their ultimate goal was to uphold the traditions of the Jewish people. The Masoretes had to decipher the authentic word of God and eliminate the dissimilarities…
In 930 C.E. Aaron ben Moses ben Asher produced the first complete Bible, called the Aleppo Codex, utilizing masoretic symbols and ordering. For several centuries, various Masoretes continued to influence the pronunciation and writing of the text. However, the first “official” Bible text that is still used today was the Great Rabbinic Bible, published in 1524-1525 by Daniel Bomberg (a Christian in Venice).

Though negative evidence is more time consuming to acquire—scrutinizing all 102 occurrences of forms of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ) in both the Hebrew of the Masoretic text and the Greek of the Septuagint (which I didn’t do)—I did search for ποιμαίνω and all its forms listed in the Koine Greek Lexicon online in the BLB Septuagint, and compared those results against the results listed for רָעַע (rāʿaʿ) on Blue Letter Bible online. I got no other matches. In other words, it doesn’t appear likely that any of the other occurrences of forms of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ) in the Masoretic text were translated with forms of ποιμαίνω in the Septuagint.

The nearest proximity I recognized from those searches was in Psalm 37:1-3, a contrast which is probably worth pursuing here.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Psalm 37:1-3 (KJV)	Psalm 37:1-3 (NET)	Psalm 36:1-3 (NETS)	Psalm 36:1-3 (English Elpenor)
A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers (בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים), neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.	By David. Do not fret when wicked men (rāʿaʿ, במרעים) seem to succeed. Do not envy evildoers.	Pertaining to Dauid. Do not fret among wicked people (ἐν πονηρευομένοις), nor be envious of those that do lawlessness,	[[A Psalm] of David.] Fret not thyself because of evil-doers (ἐν πονηρευομένοις), neither be envious of them that do iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.	For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.	because like grass they will quickly wither and like green herbs they will quickly fall off.	For they shall soon be withered as the grass, and shall soon fall away as the green herbs.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (וּרְעֵ֥ה).	Trust in the Lord and do what is right. Settle in the land and maintain (rāʿâ, ורעה) your integrity.	Hope in the Lord, and keep doing kindness, and encamp in the land, and you will be tended (ποιμανθήσῃ) by its wealth.	Hope in the Lord, and do good; and dwell on the land, and thou shalt be fed (ποιμανθήσῃ) with the wealth of it.

A note (5) in the NET reads:

Heb “tend integrity.” The verb רָעָה (raʿah, “tend, shepherd”) is probably used here in the sense of “watch over, guard.” The noun אֱמוּנָה (ʾemunah, “faithfulness, honesty, integrity”) is understood as the direct object of the verb, though it could be taken as an adverbial accusative, “[feed] securely,” if the audience is likened to a flock of sheep.

Somehow it makes perfect sense to me that the NET translators would turn a promise into a work. It’s what I love about the NET. The translators are my contemporaries, who grew up in the same religious milieu, and translated the Bible accordingly.¹³ They keep me from feeling absolutely insane. Perhaps I should rephrase that to say, they keep me from feeling absolutely alone in my insanity. They confirm that I had some company and encouragement in it along the way.

For comparison, The Complete Jewish Bible on chabad.org reads (Psalm 37:3 CJB):

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and be nourished by faith.

My Hebrew isn’t good enough to comment on this as translation, but it’s excellent expository preaching. Rashi’s commentary on Psalm 37:3 follows:

Trust in the Lord. and do not say, “If I do not rob and steal,” or “If I give charity to a poor man, how will I sustain myself?”

and do good. Then you will dwell in the land for a long time.

and be nourished by faith. You will eat and be sustained from the reward of [your] faith, that you believed in the Holy One, blessed be He, to rely on Him and do good.

It’s not too difficult to appreciate why Masoretes, as champions of Jewish traditions, might want to read תְּרֹעֵֽם in Psalm 2:9 (or whatever word was in the original text) as a form of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ) rather than as a form of רָעָה (rāʿâ).

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Joshua 24:19-23 (Tanakh/KJV)	Joshua 24:19-23 (NET)	Joshua 24:19-23 (NETS)	Joshua 24:19-23 (English Elpenor)
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins [Table].	Joshua warned the people, “You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.	And Iesous said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy god. And since he is jealous, he will not forgive your sins and your acts of lawlessness [Table].	And Joshua said to the people, Indeed ye will not be able to serve the Lord, for God is holy; and he being jealous will not forgive your sins and your transgressions.
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt (וְהֵרַ֚ע), and consume you, after that he hath done you good.	If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster (rāʿaʿ, והרע) on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well.”	Whenever you forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he will come upon you and do you harm (κακώσει) and consume you, instead of having done you good.”	Whensoever ye shall forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he shall come upon you and afflict (κακώσει) you, and consume you, because he has done you good.
And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.	The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will worship the Lord.”	And the people said to Iesous, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”	And the people said to Joshua, Nay, but we will serve the Lord.
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.	Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?” They replied, “We are witnesses!”	And Iesous said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.	And Joshua said to the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him.
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.	Joshua said, “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the Lord God of Israel.”	And now put away the foreign gods that are among you, and direct your heart toward the Lord, God of Israel.”	And now take away the strange gods that are among you, and set your heart right toward the Lord God of Israel.

Israel, including the Masoretes, lived through the fulfillment of Joshua’s prophecy: Indeed ye will not be able to serve the Lord, for God is holy; and he being jealous will not forgive your sins and your transgressions;¹⁴ he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you…¹⁵ Could David prophesy anything less (or, more) concerning the heathen (Tanakh, KJV) or the nations (NET)—ג֖וֹיִם (gôy) in Hebrew in the Masoretic text—or nations (NETS) or the heathen (English Elpenor)—ἔθνη, a form of ἔθνος, in Greek in the Septuagint?

Psalm 2:7-9, along with Rashi’s commentary from The Complete Jewish Bible on chabad.org, follows:

I will tell of the decree; The Lord said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you [Table].
I will tell of the decree. Said David, “This is an established decree, and [one] that I have received to tell this and to make known.”
The Lord said to me. through Nathan, Gad, and Samuel.
You are My son. The head over Israel, who are called “My firstborn son.” And they will endure through you, as is stated concerning Abner (II Sam. 3:18): “for God said, etc., ‘By the hand of My bondsman David shall I deliver… Israel.’” And for their sake, you are before Me as a son because they are all dependent upon you.
this day have I. for I have enthroned you over them.
begotten you. to be called My son and to be beloved to Me as a son for their sake, as it is stated (II Sam. 7:14) concerning Solomon: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to Me a son.” We find further concerning David (Ps. 89:27) “He shall call Me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’”
Request of Me, and I will make nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Request of Me. Pray to Me whenever you come to battle your enemies.
You shall break them with an iron rod; like a potter’s vessel you shall shatter them.”
You shall break them. Heb. תרעם [like] תרוצצם.
with an iron rod. That is the sword.
you shall shatter them. Heb. תנפצם, you shall break them, and that is the expression of נפוץ throughout the Scriptures, a potsherd that is broken into fine pieces.

Understood as a promise of Israel’s military conquest of the heathen nations, תְּרֹעֵֽם (or whatever word was in the original text) in Psalm 2:9 could only be understood by the Masoretes as a form of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ, break), rather than as a form of רָעָה (rāʿâ, shepherd). But those of us heathen who recognize the benefit of the shepherding of the Lord Jesus Christ, the son of David, the One condemned as a blasphemer by the High Priest and the Council (Mark 14:55-65), crucified by the Romans (Mark 15:1-39) and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead,¹⁶ find it easier to see that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint had it right as a form of רָעָה (rāʿâ) all along.

In The Complete Jewish Bible on chabad.org, the book of Joshua (Ἰησοῦς in Greek in the Septuagint) is listed as the first book of the prophets. The response of the people to Joshua’s prophecy near the beginning of the old covenant is virtually identical to that of Peter and all the disciples when Jesus (Ἰησοῦς in Greek in the New Testament) revealed what was about to happen to them, according to the written word of God, near the end of the old covenant. I belabor this point of connotation between he will rule and “He will shepherd” in Revelation 19:15 because the connotations of the English words which translate the warlike imagery describing the absolute power and authority of the Lord in the revelation of Jesus Christ are offered as excuses to doubt, dispute or deny Jesus’ clear declaration of God’s judgment (John 12:31, 32 ESV).

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

The Greek is: νῦν κρίσις ἐστὶν, Now is the judgment (or “now judgment is”), τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, of this world; νῦν ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, now the ruler of this world, ἐκβληθήσεται ἔξω, will be cast out;¹⁷ καγὼ, And I, ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, when I am lifted up from the earth (or “if I am lifted up from the earth”¹⁸), πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, all “I” will draw to myself.

The revelation of Jesus Christ continued: καὶ αὐτὸς πατεῖ, He will tread (or “and He treads”), τὴν ληνὸν, the winepress, τοῦ οἴνου, “of the wine,” τοῦ θυμοῦ, of the fury, τῆς ὀργῆς, of the wrath, τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ παντοκράτορος, of God the Almighty; καὶ ἔχει, “and” he has, ἐπὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν αὐτοῦ, On his robe and on his thigh, ὄνομα γεγραμμένον, a name written, Βασιλεὺς βασιλέων καὶ κύριος κυρίων, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Though The Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords is never mentioned in John’s third letter, this vision of the omnipotent Lord Jesus Christ is ever present in the confidence the author exudes throughout.

According to a note (41) in the NET, Revelation 19:15 contains a quotation from Psalm 2:9. The following table compares the Greek of that quotation with that of the Septuagint.

Revelation 19:15b (NET Parallel Greek)	Psalm 2:9a (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 2:9a (Septuagint Elpenor)
αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ράβδῳ σιδηρᾷ	ποιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ	ποιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ
Revelation 19:15b (NET)	Psalm 2:9a (NETS)	Psalm 2:9a (English Elpenor)
He will rule them with an iron rod	You shall shepherd them with an iron rod	Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron

Examples of ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ in the New Testament
Reference	ESV	NA²⁸
Luke 8:11	Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.	Ἔστιν δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή· ὁ σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ
John 10:35	If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—	εἰ ἐκείνους εἶπεν θεοὺς πρὸς οὓς ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ οὐ δύναται λυθῆναι ἡ γραφή
Acts 6:7	And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.	Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει
Acts 12:24	But the word of God increased and multiplied.	Ὁ δὲ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν καὶ ἐπληθύνετο
Acts 17:13	But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.	Ὡς δὲ ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Θεσσαλονίκης Ἰουδαῖοι ὅτι καὶ ἐν τῇ Βεροίᾳ κατηγγέλη ὑπὸ τοῦ Παύλου ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ, ἦλθον κἀκεῖ σαλεύοντες καὶ ταράσσοντες τοὺς ὄχλους
Romans 9:6	But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,	Οὐχ οἷον δὲ ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ. οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραὴλ οὗτοι Ἰσραήλ
1 Corinthians 14:36	Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?	ἢ ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐξῆλθεν, ἢ εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους κατήντησεν
2 Timothy 2:9	for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!	ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ μέχρι δεσμῶν ὡς κακοῦργος, ἀλλ’ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται
Titus 2:5	to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.	σώφρονας ἁγνὰς οἰκουργοὺς ἀγαθάς, ὑποτασσομένας τοῖς ἰδίοις ἀνδράσιν, ἵνα μὴ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ βλασφημῆται
Hebrews 4:12	For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.	Ζῶν γὰρ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐνεργὴς καὶ τομώτερος ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν μάχαιραν δίστομον καὶ διϊκνούμενος ἄχρι μερισμοῦ ψυχῆς καὶ πνεύματος, ἁρμῶν τε καὶ μυελῶν, καὶ κριτικὸς ἐνθυμήσεων καὶ ἐννοιῶν καρδίας
1 John 2:14	I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.	ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, παιδία, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν πατέρα. ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, πατέρες, ὅτι ἐγνώκατε τὸν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς. ἔγραψα ὑμῖν, νεανίσκοι, ὅτι ἰσχυροί ἐστε καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν μένει καὶ νενικήκατε τὸν πονηρόν.
Revelation 19:13	He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.	καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον βεβαμμένον αἵματι, καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Zechariah 11:11 (Tanakh/KJV)	Zechariah 11:11 (NET)	Zechariah 11:11 (NETS)	Zechariah 11:11 (English Elpenor)
And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word (דְבַר) of the LORD (יְהֹוָ֖ה).	So it was annulled that very day, and then the most afflicted of the flock who kept faith with me knew that it was the Lord’s (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) message (dāḇār, דבר).	And it shall be scattered on that day, and the Chananites will know the sheep that are kept, for it is the Lord’s (κυρίου) word (λόγος).	And it shall be broken in that day; and the Chananites, the sheep that are kept for me, shall know that it is the word (λόγος) of the Lord (Κυρίου).

Tables comparing Psalm 2:9; Jeremiah 1:2; Zechariah 11:11; Psalm 48:14; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 22:22; Ezekiel 34:23; Micah 5:4; Genesis 4:2; 31:18; 2 Samuel 5:2; 1 Chronicles 11:2; Genesis 19:7; Psalm 37:1; 37:2; 37:3; Joshua 24:20; 24:21; 24:22; 24:23 and Psalm 2:8 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Psalm 2:9; Jeremiah 1:2; Zechariah 11:11; Psalm 48:14 (47:15); Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 22:22; Ezekiel 34:23; Micah 5:4 (5:3); Genesis 4:2; 31:18; 2 Samuel (2 Reigns, 2 Kings) 5:2; 1 Chronicles (1 Supplements) 11:2; Genesis 19:7; Psalm 37:1 (36:1); 37:2 (36:2); 37:3 (36:3); Joshua 24:20; 24:21; 24:22; 24:23 and Psalm 2:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Revelation 19:14; 19:16 and Luke 8:17 in the KJV and NET follow.

Psalm 2:9 (Tanakh)	Psalm 2:9 (KJV)	Psalm 2:9 (NET)
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.	Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.	You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”

Psalm 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ποιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ὡς σκεῦος κεραμέως συντρίψεις αὐτούς	ποιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, ὡς σκεύη κεραμέως συντρίψεις αὐτούς
Psalm 2:9 (NETS)	Psalm 2:9 (English Elpenor)
You shall shepherd them with an iron rod; like a potter’s vessel you shall shatter them’.”	Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.

Jeremiah 1:2 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 1:2 (KJV)	Jeremiah 1:2 (NET)
To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	The Lord’s message came to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah.

Jeremiah 1:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 1:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὃς ἐγενήθη λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ιωσια υἱοῦ Αμως βασιλέως Ιουδα ἔτους τρισκαιδεκάτου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ	ὡς ἐγενήθη λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ᾿Ιωσία υἱοῦ ᾿Αμὼς βασιλέως ᾿Ιούδα, ἔτους τρισκαιδεκάτου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ
Jeremiah 1:2 (NETS)	Jeremiah 1:2 (English Elpenor)
a word of God which came to him in the days of King Iosias son of Amos of Iouda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	[accordingly] as the word of God came to him in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Zechariah 11:11 (Tanakh)	Zechariah 11:11 (KJV)	Zechariah 11:11 (NET)
And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.	And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.	So it was annulled that very day, and then the most afflicted of the flock who kept faith with me knew that it was the Lord’s message.

Zechariah 11:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Zechariah 11:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ διασκεδασθήσεται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ καὶ γνώσονται οἱ Χαναναῖοι τὰ πρόβατα τὰ φυλασσόμενα διότι λόγος κυρίου ἐστίν	καὶ διασκεδασθήσεται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καί γνώσονται οἱ Χαναναῖοι τὰ πρόβατα τὰ φυλασσόμενα, διότι λόγος Κυρίου ἐστί
Zechariah 11:11 (NETS)	Zechariah 11:11 (English Elpenor)
And it shall be scattered on that day, and the Chananites will know the sheep that are kept, for it is the Lord’s word.	And it shall be broken in that day; and the Chananites, the sheep that are kept for me, shall know that it is the word of the Lord.

Psalm 48:14 (Tanakh)	Psalm 48:14 (KJV)	Psalm 48:14 (NET)
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.	For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.	For God, our God, is our defender forever. He guides us.

Psalm 48:14 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 47:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας	ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος· αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας
Psalm 47:15 (NETS)	Psalm 47:15 (English Elpenor)
that this is God, our God forever, even forever and ever. He himself will shepherd us for ages.	For this is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide for evermore.

Isaiah 40:11 (Tanakh)	Isaiah 40:11 (KJV)	Isaiah 40:11 (NET)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.	He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.	Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.

Isaiah 40:11 (Septuagint BLB)	Isaiah 40:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὡς ποιμὴν ποιμανεῖ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ βραχίονι αὐτοῦ συνάξει ἄρνας καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσας παρακαλέσει	ὡς ποιμὴν ποιμανεῖ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ βραχίονι αὐτοῦ συνάξει ἄρνας καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσας παρακαλέσει
Isaiah 40:11 (NETS)	Isaiah 40:11 (English Elpenor)
He will tend his flock like a shepherd and gather lambs with his arm and comfort those that are with young.	He shall tend his flock as a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and shall soothe them that are with young.

Jeremiah 22:22 (Tanakh)	Jeremiah 22:22 (KJV)	Jeremiah 22:22 (NET)
The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.	The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.	My judgment will carry off all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done.

Jeremiah 22:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Jeremiah 22:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
πάντας τοὺς ποιμένας σου ποιμανεῖ ἄνεμος καὶ οἱ ἐρασταί σου ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ ἐξελεύσονται ὅτι τότε αἰσχυνθήσῃ καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν φιλούντων σε	πάντας τοὺς ποιμένας σου ποιμανεῖ ἄνεμος, καὶ οἱ ἐρασταί σου ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ ἐξελεύσονται· ὅτι τότε αἰσχυνθήσῃ καὶ ἀτιμωθήσῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν φιλούντων σε
Jeremiah 22:22 (NETS)	Jeremiah 22:22 (English Elpenor)
A wind shall shepherd all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go out in captivity, because then you will be ashamed and disgraced because of all who would kiss you.	The wind shall tend all thy shepherds, and thy lovers shall go into captivity; for then shalt thou be ashamed and disgraced because of all thy lovers.

Ezekiel 34:23 (Tanakh)	Ezekiel 34:23 (KJV)	Ezekiel 34:23 (NET)
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.	And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.	“‘I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them—namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:23 (Septuagint BLB)	Ezekiel 34:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀναστήσω ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ποιμένα ἕνα καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς τὸν δοῦλόν μου Δαυιδ καὶ ἔσται αὐτῶν ποιμήν	καὶ ἀναστήσω ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ποιμένα ἕνα καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς, τὸν δοῦλόν μου Δαυίδ, καὶ ἔσται αὐτῶν ποιμήν
Ezekiel 34:23 (NETS)	Ezekiel 34:23 (English Elpenor)
And I will raise up over them another shepherd, and he shall shepherd them, my slave Dauid, and he shall be their shepherd,	And I will raise up one shepherd over them, and he shall tend them, [even] my servant David, and he shall be their shepherd;

Micah 5:4 (Tanakh)	Micah 5:4 (KJV)	Micah 5:4 (NET)
And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.	And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.	He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the Lord’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.

Micah 5:4 (Septuagint BLB)	Micah 5:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ στήσεται καὶ ὄψεται καὶ ποιμανεῖ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἰσχύι κυρίου καὶ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ ὀνόματος κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ αὐτῶν ὑπάρξουσιν διότι νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται ἕως ἄκρων τῆς γῆς	καὶ στήσεται καὶ ὄψεται καὶ ποιμανεῖ τὸ ποίμνιον αὐτοῦ ἐν ἰσχύϊ Κύριος, καὶ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ ὀνόματος Κυρίου Θεοῦ αὐτῶν ὑπάρξουσι, διότι νῦν μεγαλυνθήσονται ἕως ἄκρων τῆς γῆς
Micah 5:4 (NETS)	Micah 5:3 (English Elpenor)
And he shall stand and see and tend his flock in the strength of the Lord. And they shall exist in the glory of the name of the Lord their God, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth,	And the Lord shall stand, and see, and feed his flock with power, and they shall dwell in the glory of the name of the Lord their God: for now shall they be magnified to the ends of the earth.

Genesis 4:2 (Tanakh)	Genesis 4:2 (KJV)	Genesis 4:2 (NET)
And again she bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.	And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.	Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.

Genesis 4:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 4:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ προσέθηκεν τεκεῖν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν Αβελ καὶ ἐγένετο Αβελ ποιμὴν προβάτων Καιν δὲ ἦν ἐργαζόμενος τὴν γῆν	καὶ προσέθηκε τεκεῖν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, τὸν ῎Αβελ. καὶ ἐγένετο ῎Αβελ ποιμὴν προβάτων, Κάϊν δὲ ἦν ἐργαζόμενος τὴν γῆν
Genesis 4:2 (NETS)	Genesis 4:2 (English Elpenor)
And she proceeded to bear his brother Habel. And Habel became a herder of sheep, but Kain was tilling the earth.	And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Genesis 31:18 (Tanakh)	Genesis 31:18 (KJV)	Genesis 31:18 (NET)
and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father unto the land of Canaan.	And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.	He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac.

Genesis 31:18 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 31:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἀπήγαγεν πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀποσκευὴν αὐτοῦ ἣν περιεποιήσατο ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτοῦ ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς Ισαακ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ εἰς γῆν Χανααν	καὶ ἀπήγαγε πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτῷ, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀποσκευὴν αὐτοῦ, ἣν περιεποιήσατο ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ, καὶ πάντα τὰ αὐτοῦ ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς ᾿Ισαὰκ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ εἰς γῆν Χαναάν
Genesis 31:18 (NETS)	Genesis 31:18 (English Elpenor)
and he carried off all his possessions and all his chattels that he had procured in Mesopotamia and all that was his, to go off to his father Isaak in the land of Canaan.	and he took away all his possessions and all his store, which he had gotten in Mesopotamia, and all that belonged to him, to depart to Isaac his father in the land of Chanaan.

2 Samuel 5:2 (Tanakh)	2 Samuel 5:2 (KJV)	2 Samuel 5:2 (NET)
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and HaShem said to thee: Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.’	Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.	In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

2 Samuel 5:2 (Septuagint BLB)	2 Kings 5:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ὄντος Σαουλ βασιλέως ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν σὺ ἦσθα ὁ ἐξάγων καὶ εἰσάγων τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν κύριος πρὸς σέ σὺ ποιμανεῖς τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ σὺ ἔσει εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ	καὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ὄντος Σαοὺλ βασιλέως ἐφ᾿ ἡμῖν, σὺ ἦσθα ὁ ἐξάγων καὶ εἰσάγων τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς σέ· σὺ ποιμανεῖς τὸν λαόν μου τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν μου ᾿Ισραήλ
2 Reigns 5:2 (NETS)	2 Kings 5:2 (English Elpenor)
And yesterday and the third day, while Saoul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel, and the Lord said to you: It is you who shall shepherd my people Israel, and it is you who shall become a ruler over Israel.”	And heretofore Saul being king over us, thou wast he that didst lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a leader to my people Israel.

1 Chronicles 11:2 (Tanakh)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (KJV)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (NET)
And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.	And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.	In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’”

1 Chronicles 11:2 (Septuagint BLB)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ὄντος Σαουλ βασιλέως σὺ ἦσθα ὁ ἐξάγων καὶ εἰσάγων τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπεν κύριος ὁ θεός σού σοι σὺ ποιμανεῖς τὸν λαόν μου τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ Ισραηλ	καὶ ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ὄντος Σαοὺλ βασιλέως, σὺ ἦσθα ὁ ἐξάγων καὶ εἰσάγων τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ισραὴλ Κύριός σοι· σὺ ποιμανεῖς τὸν λαόν μου τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ σὺ ἔσῃ εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραήλ
1 Supplements 11:2 (NETS)	1 Chronicles 11:2 (English Elpenor)
And yesterday and the third day when Saoul was king, you were the one to lead Israel out and in, and the Lord God said to you, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be a leader over Israel.”	And heretofore when Saul was king, thou wast he that led Israel in and out, and the Lord of Israel said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a ruler over Israel.

Genesis 19:7 (Tanakh)	Genesis 19:7 (KJV)	Genesis 19:7 (NET)
And he said: ‘I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly.	And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.	He said, “No, my brothers! Don’t act so wickedly!

Genesis 19:7 (Septuagint BLB)	Genesis 19:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)
εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς μηδαμῶς ἀδελφοί μὴ πονηρεύσησθε	εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· μηδαμῶς ἀδελφοί, μὴ πονηρεύσησθε
Genesis 19:7 (NETS)	Genesis 19:7 (English Elpenor)
And he said to them, “By no means, brothers, do not act wickedly.	and said to them, By no means, brethren, do not act villainously.

Psalm 37:1 (Tanakh)	Psalm 37:1 (KJV)	Psalm 37:1 (NET)
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.	Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.	By David. Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed. Do not envy evildoers.

Psalm 37:1 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 36:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)
τοῦ Δαυιδ μὴ παραζήλου ἐν πονηρευομένοις μηδὲ ζήλου τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὴν ἀνομίαν	Τῷ Δαυΐδ. – ΜΗ ΠΑΡΑΖΗΛΟΥ ἐν πονηρευομένοις μηδὲ ζήλου τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὴν ἀνομίαν
Psalm 36:1 (NETS)	Psalm 36:1 (English Elpenor)
Pertaining to Dauid. Do not fret among wicked people, nor be envious of those that do lawlessness,	[[A Psalm] of David.] Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be envious of them that do iniquity.

Psalm 37:2 (Tanakh)	Psalm 37:2 (KJV)	Psalm 37:2 (NET)
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.	For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.	For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.

Psalm 37:2 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 36:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ὅτι ὡσεὶ χόρτος ταχὺ ἀποξηρανθήσονται καὶ ὡσεὶ λάχανα χλόης ταχὺ ἀποπεσοῦνται	ὅτι ὡσεὶ χόρτος ταχὺ ἀποξηρανθήσονται καὶ ὡσεὶ λάχανα χλόης ταχὺ ἀποπεσοῦνται
Psalm 36:2 (NETS)	Psalm 36:2 (English Elpenor)
because like grass they will quickly wither and like green herbs they will quickly fall off.	For they shall soon be withered as the grass, and shall soon fall away as the green herbs.

Psalm 37:3 (Tanakh)	Psalm 37:3 (KJV)	Psalm 37:3 (NET)
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.	Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.	Trust in the Lord and do what is right. Settle in the land and maintain your integrity.

Psalm 37:3 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 36:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἔλπισον ἐπὶ κύριον καὶ ποίει χρηστότητα καὶ κατασκήνου τὴν γῆν καὶ ποιμανθήσῃ ἐπὶ τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῆς	ἔλπισον ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ ποίει χρηστότητα καὶ κατασκήνου τὴν γῆν, καὶ ποιμανθήσῃ ἐπὶ τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῆς
Psalm 36:3 (NETS)	Psalm 36:3 (English Elpenor)
Hope in the Lord, and keep doing kindness, and encamp in the land, and you will be tended by its wealth.	Hope in the Lord, and do good; and dwell on the land, and thou shalt be fed with the wealth of it.

Joshua 24:20 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:20 (KJV)	Joshua 24:20 (NET)
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.	If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.	If you abandon the Lord and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well.”

Joshua 24:20 (Septuagint BLB)	Joshua 24:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἡνίκα ἐὰν ἐγκαταλίπητε κύριον καὶ λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ ἐπελθὼν κακώσει ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξαναλώσει ὑμᾶς ἀνθ᾽ ὧν εὖ ἐποίησεν ὑμᾶς	ἡνίκα ἂν ἐγκαταλίπητε Κύριον καὶ λατρεύσητε θεοῖς ἑτέροις, καὶ ἐπελθὼν κακώσει ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξαναλώσει ὑμᾶς ἀνθ’ ὧν εὖ ἐποίησεν ὑμᾶς
Joshua 24:20 (NETS)	Joshua 24:20 (English Elpenor)
Whenever you forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he will come upon you and do you harm and consume you, instead of having done you good.”	Whensoever ye shall forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he shall come upon you and afflict you, and consume you, because he has done you good.

Joshua 24:21 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:21 (KJV)	Joshua 24:21 (NET)
And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.	And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.	The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will worship the Lord.”

Joshua 24:21 (Septuagint BLB)	Joshua 24:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ἰησοῦν οὐχί ἀλλὰ κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν	καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς ᾿Ιησοῦν· οὐχί, ἀλλὰ Κυρίῳ λατρεύσομεν
Joshua 24:21 (NETS)	Joshua 24:21 (English Elpenor)
And the people said to Iesous, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”	And the people said to Joshua, Nay, but we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:22 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:22 (KJV)	Joshua 24:22 (NET)
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.	And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.	Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?” They replied, “We are witnesses!”

Joshua 24:22 (Septuagint BLB)	Joshua 24:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ᾽ ὑμῶν ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε κύριον λατρεύειν αὐτῷ	καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν· μάρτυρες ὑμεῖς καθ’ ὑμῶν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε Κυρίῳ λατρεύειν αὐτῷ
Joshua 24:22 (NETS)	Joshua 24:22 (English Elpenor)
And Iesous said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.	And Joshua said to the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him.

Joshua 24:23 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:23 (KJV)	Joshua 24:23 (NET)
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.	Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.	Joshua said, “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the Lord God of Israel.”

Joshua 24:23 (Septuagint BLB)	Joshua 24:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ νῦν περιέλεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ εὐθύνατε τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν πρὸς κύριον θεὸν Ισραηλ	καὶ νῦν περιέλεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ εὐθύνατε τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν πρὸς Κύριον Θεὸν ᾿Ισραήλ
Joshua 24:23 (NETS)	Joshua 24:23 (English Elpenor)
And now put away the foreign gods that are among you, and direct your heart toward the Lord, God of Israel.”	And now take away the strange gods that are among you, and set your heart right toward the Lord God of Israel.

Psalm 2:8 (Tanakh)	Psalm 2:8 (KJV)	Psalm 2:8 (NET)
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.	Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.	Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.

Psalm 2:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Psalm 2:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
αἴτησαι παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ δώσω σοι ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν σου καὶ τὴν κατάσχεσίν σου τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς	αἴτησαι παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ, καὶ δώσω σοι ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν σου καὶ τὴν κατάσχεσίν σου τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς
Psalm 2:8 (NETS)	Psalm 2:8 (English Elpenor)
Ask of me, and I will give you nations as your heritage, and as your possession the ends of the earth.	Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth [for] thy possession.

Revelation 19:14 (NET)	Revelation 19:14 (KJV)
The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses.	And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Revelation 19:14 (NET Parallel Greek)	Revelation 19:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Revelation 19:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)
Καὶ τὰ στρατεύματα [τὰ] ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ἐφ᾿ ἵπποις λευκοῖς, ἐνδεδυμένοι βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν	και τα στρατευματα εν τω ουρανω ηκολουθει αυτω εφ ιπποις λευκοις ενδεδυμενοι βυσσινον λευκον και καθαρον	και τα στρατευματα τα εν τω ουρανω ηκολουθει αυτω επι ιπποις λευκοις ενδεδυμενοι βυσσινον λευκον καθαρον

Revelation 19:16 (NET)	Revelation 19:16 (KJV)
He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”	And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:16 (NET Parallel Greek)	Revelation 19:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Revelation 19:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)
καὶ ἔχει ἐπὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν αὐτοῦ ὄνομα γεγραμμένον· Βασιλεὺς βασιλέων καὶ κύριος κυρίων	και εχει επι το ιματιον και επι τον μηρον αυτου το ονομα γεγραμμενον βασιλευς βασιλεων και κυριος κυριων	και εχει επι το ιματιον και επι τον μηρον αυτου ονομα γεγραμμενον βασιλευς βασιλεων και κυριος κυριων

Luke 8:17 (NET)	Luke 8:17 (KJV)
For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.	For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Luke 8:17 (NET Parallel Greek)	Luke 8:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)	Luke 8:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν κρυπτὸν ὃ οὐ φανερὸν γενήσεται οὐδὲ ἀπόκρυφον ὃ οὐ μὴ γνωσθῇ καὶ εἰς φανερὸν ἔλθῃ	ου γαρ εστιν κρυπτον ο ου φανερον γενησεται ουδε αποκρυφον ο ου γνωσθησεται και εις φανερον ελθη	ου γαρ εστιν κρυπτον ο ου φανερον γενησεται ουδε αποκρυφον ο ου γνωσθησεται και εις φανερον ελθη

3 John, Part 3

Back to Justice and Mercy Revisited, Part 2

¹ The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text had the article [τὰ] (NET: that are) following armies. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not, though the KJV translators added which were at the same location in their translation.

² The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the preposition ἐφ᾿ (KJV: upon) preceding white horses, where the Byzantine Majority Text had επι.

³ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the conjunction και following the fury (KJV: the fierceness and wrath). The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁴ The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article το preceding a name. The NET parallel Greek text, NA²⁸ and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

⁵ From Verb Tenses: Perfect Tense, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions) on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online.

⁶ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had the intensified negation οὐ μὴ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply ου.

⁷ The NET parallel Greek text and NA²⁸ had γνωσθῇ here, a form of γινώσκω in the aorist tense and subjunctive mood, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had γνωσθησεται in the future tense and indicative mood.

⁸ Luke 8:17 (ESV)

⁹ Revelation 1:1 (ESV)

¹⁰ Genesis 4:2b (ESV)

¹¹ Genesis 31:18 (ESV)

¹² Revelation 19:15b (ESV) Table

¹³ In fairness, I’ve also learned some good things from the NET translators. Their translation of ἄνωθεν as from above in John 3:3 began a process that culminated in the clearest understanding of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus that I had ever had.

¹⁴ Joshua 24:19b (English Elpenor)

¹⁵ Joshua 24:20b (Tanakh, KJV)

¹⁶ Romans 1:4a (ESV)

¹⁷ The Greek ἐκβληθήσεται ἔξω, will be cast out, seems a bit redundant, perhaps for emphasis: “will be cast out outside.”

¹⁸ The conjunction ἐάν translated if is to be understood as introducing the logic of a conditional statement (Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Part 11), rather than Jesus doubting his crucifixion. John’s clarification immediately following—He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die [Table]—focuses ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς on Jesus’ crucifixion; otherwise I would be inclined to understand ἐκ, “out from, from within,” as a reference to his resurrection.

Romans, Part 5

Posted on August 1, 2012 by admin

I’m not homophobic in the sense that I find the idea so repugnant I can’t imagine it. In my twenties I was homophobic in the sense that I watched the guy I was most likely to have sex with change from slightly effeminate to flaming queer in a matter of weeks. I was afraid that might happen to me if I acted on my impulses. Subsequently, I’ve been mistaken often enough in my assessments to know that men can be both homosexual and manly, but I haven’t revisited that youthful curiosity. Recalling these things to write this essay I realize I was probably homophobic in another sense. In my late teens I never even broached the subject with the guy I most wanted to have a sexual relationship with. And he wasn’t even particularly physically attractive. It was his mind and personality that appealed to me—to us. My girlfriend and I talked about what it would be like to have sex with him.

As I write this, sitting in a crowded airport waiting for a flight, I realize that I may still be homophobic in the sense that I’m not entirely comfortable with people next to me looking over at my screen and seeing what’s written there. But I want to get this written, and now is as good a time as any. I’ve certainly gone round and round in my own mind concerned that if I acknowledged these things people might think I’m a latent homosexual. I finally decided that even if I am it hasn’t caused any serious issues. I’ve had my share of homoerotic fantasies, but all and all it has been relatively easy to write off those thoughts as sin in my flesh.

I was single for twenty years after my first divorce, half of my twenties, all of my thirties and the beginning of my forties. Since I wasn’t pursuing women most people assumed I was gay or a pedophile. Actually, I stayed single so long because soon after my first divorce I met the “only woman I would ever consider marrying again.” She, of course, was already married—to a good friend. So I had twenty years of intensive training in self-control. (“Self,” by the way, has nothing to do with it. It is ἐγκράτεια an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. Bible translators, I assume, are loathe to coin theological words like Holy-Spirit-control.)

So while I haven’t experienced the dilemma of homosexuality as part of my identity and self-image, I’m not completely unsympathetic either. I began to really appreciate this dilemma through a film. I enjoy movies as a way of experiencing things and people I may not otherwise experience. Mostly I prefer R-rated dramas because when they deal with issues of sin and vice they tend to deal with them more honestly than PG comedies. A PG comedy will often touch on all the same issues of sin and vice but it’s just for laughs, and everything works out in the end. (It seems there are a lot more PG comedies with an R-rating these days.)

The movie that helped me experience the gay Christian dilemma is Save Me. Chad Allen was one of the producers and principal actors along with Judith Light. I first heard of Chad Allen because he played the dual role of Nate and Steve Saint, both the martyred missionary and his adult son confronted by the man who killed his father, in End of the Spear. Searching online for others who enjoyed End of the Spear I learned that Chad Allen was a gay Christian. [December 10, 2014: I didn’t source “Christian” at the time and can’t find it now.] The blog sites I read were full of debate, some from the filmmakers trying to justify themselves for using a gay actor in a Christian film and others from angry, indignant Christians who felt betrayed, some of whom never saw, and would never see, the movie. When I stumbled across Save Me and recognized Chad Allen’s name I wanted to see it, even if it was his angry rebuttal and knee jerk response to the way he was treated by Christian bloggers after End of the Spear.

I say “stumbled across,” but I do look for out of the way films. They are often much more interesting than blockbusters. Don’t get me wrong. I like blockbusters, too, and see them with my kids. The Avengers, apart from being a comic book action adventure, is the best comedy I’ve seen all year. But there are only so many wars between Autobots and Decepticons I can take before I need to see a movie about people. Comparing and contrasting The Island (another Michael Bay film) and Never Let Me Go, for instance, is part of the joy of watching movies. Part of the beauty and poignancy of the final line in Never Let Me Go, is that I expected, and maybe even hoped, that it would be more like The Island.

Still, I hesitate to recommend movies. I come from a very conservative fundamentalist Christian background. Some people just shouldn’t watch films; it’s like meat sacrificed to idols to them.

Frankly, I was blown away by Save Me. What Chariots of Fire was to Christians and Jews Save Me is to gay Christians and those who aren’t so gay. But that is not a recommendation to anyone unaccustomed to this kind of movie. It opens with a sex scene intended to be as erotic as any heterosexual sex scene in R-rated movies. It succeeds. Then a few moments later the memory of that steamy sex scene is intended to ring hollow and empty and ultimately as unsatisfying to the viewer as it was to the protagonist played by Chad Allen. Again, it succeeds. Then the protagonist is forced into an Exodus-International-style gay rescue mission where we meet the antagonist played by Judith Light.

In a Michael Bay film with a setup like this, all movie buffs know the uppity Christian lady is about to get her comeuppance. Not so in Save Me. The antagonist is treated with as much respect as the protagonist. (This is my “Spoiler Alert” for those who would find the movie ruined if they already knew the ending.) Ultimately the protagonist is grateful for the antagonist’s love and concern that did rescue him from a life of drug and alcohol fueled promiscuity as he embarks on a new journey, hoping to love and live monogamously with a man he met at the rescue mission. The antagonist crosses a great divide in her own heart to affirm her love for him even as she fears and regrets his choice.

The final thing the movie did for me was introduce me to the Gay Christian Network, people learning to coexist and commune with one another despite their division into “Side A,” those who believe God blesses same-sex marriages, and “Side B,” those who believe that God calls gay Christians to lifelong celibacy.

I don’t care much for arguments that attempt to justify homosexual acts by law, but I am constantly reminded of James’ enigmatic saying, My¹ brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s² soul from death and will cover (καλύψει, a form of καλύπτω) a multitude (πλῆθος) of sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία).³ Then I am reminded of Peter’s similar saying regarding love. Above⁴ all, Peter wrote, keep your love (ἀγάπην, a form of ἀγάπη) for one another fervent, because love (ἀγάπη) covers⁵ (καλύπτει, another form of καλύπτω) a multitude (πλῆθος) of sins (ἁμαρτιῶν, a form of ἁμαρτία).⁶

Will love cover the multitude of homosexual sins? I don’t know. Apparently there are gay Christians who are all-in, as it were, conducting that faith experiment for me. I can certainly appreciate that to one who came out of a life of drug and alcohol fueled promiscuity, a stable, committed relationship might look like the promised land. I certainly know that “Further” isn’t always written on my bus. I’ve reached many plateaus in my journey. Twenty years lusting after a married woman isn’t something I’m particularly proud of, but the Lord was always patient with me, and eventually I learned a lot. And yes, many people attempted to dissuade me from staying there so long. But it’s hard to give up on the “only woman I would ever consider marrying again.”

To get back to Paul’s letter to the Romans I want to jump ahead just a little and say something about the wrath (ὀργὴ) of God…revealed (Ἀποκαλύπτεται, a form of ἀποκαλύπτω) from heaven.⁷ Paul wrote, For while we were still⁸ helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous (δικαιωθέντες, a form of δικαιόω) by his blood, we will be saved (σωθησόμεθα, a form of σώζω) through him from God’s wrath (ὀργῆς, another form of ὀργή).⁹

Had anyone else written these lines anywhere else I would assume that the writer meant some future wrath. But Paul wrote these lines in his letter to the Romans after spending so much ink discussing the wrath of God revealed from heaven: God in his wrath gave me over to impurity, to dishonorable passions, and to a depraved mind. Is this the wrath He intends to save me from? It encourages me to pray again, God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!¹⁰ and to reach up, figuratively speaking, to the destination marquee of my bus and twist the dial to “Further.”¹¹

Addendum: May 21, 2020
NET note 24 indicated that Peter quoted Proverbs 10:12. He didn’t quote the Septuagint.

1 Peter 4:8b (NET Parallel Greek)	Proverbs 10:12b (Septuagint BLB)	Proverbs 10:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀγάπη καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν	πάντας δὲ τοὺς μὴ φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία	πάντας δὲ τοὺς μὴ φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία
1 Peter 4:8b (NET)	Proverbs 10:12b (NETS)	Proverbs 10:12b (English Elpenor)
love covers a multitude of sins.	but friendship covers all who are not fond of strife.	but affection covers all that do not love strife.

Here is a table comparing English translations of Proverbs 10:12 from the Masoretic text and Septuagint.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Proverbs 10:12 (Tanakh)	Proverbs 10:12 (NET)	Proverbs 10:12 (NETS)	Proverbs 10:12 (Elpenor English)
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love (אַהֲבָֽה) covereth all sins (פְּ֜שָׁעִ֗ים).	Hatred stirs up dissension, but love (ʼahăbâh, אהבה) covers all transgressions (peshaʽ, פשעים).	Hatred stirs up strife, but friendship (φιλία) covers all who are not fond of strife (φιλονεικοῦντας).	Hatred stirs up strife; but affection (φιλία) covers all that do not love strife (φιλονεικοῦντας).

Did Peter do his own translation into Greek from Hebrew? The Hebrew word אַהֲבָֽה (‘ahăḇâ; Tanakh: love) in the Masoretic text was the noun φιλία in the Septuagint but ἀγάπη in Peter’s letter. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose the verb ἀγαπᾶν (a form of ἀγαπάω) for another form מֵאַֽהֲבַ֨ת (ʼahăbâh) in the following verse.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Deuteronomy 7:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (NET)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (Elpenor English)
but because HaShem loved (מֵאַֽהֲבַ֨ת) you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore unto your fathers, hath HaShem brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.	Rather it is because of his love (ʼahăbâh, מאהבת) for you and his faithfulness to the promise he solemnly vowed to your ancestors that the Lord brought you out with great power, redeeming you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.	Rather, because the Lord loved (ἀγαπᾶν) you, and since he was keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, the Lord brought you out with a strong hand and with a high arm and redeemed you from a house of slavery, from the hand of Pharao king of Egypt.	But because the Lord loved (ἀγαπᾶν) you, and as keeping the oath which he sware to your fathers, the Lord brought you out with a strong hand, and the Lord redeemed thee from the house of bondage, out of the hand of Pharao king of Egypt.

The Hebrew word פְּ֜שָׁעִ֗ים (peshaʽ; Tanakh: sins) in the Masoretic text was φιλονεικοῦντας (a form of φιλονεικέω) and ἁμαρτιῶν (a form of ἁμαρτία) in Peter’s letter. The rabbis chose ἁμαρτήματα (a form of ἁμάρτημα) for another לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖ם (peshaʽ) in the following verse.

Masoretic Text		Septuagint
Joshua 24:19 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:19 (NET)	Joshua 24:19 (NETS)	Joshua 24:19 (Elpenor English)
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions (לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖ם) nor your sins.	Joshua warned the people, “You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion (peshaʽ, לפשעכם) or your sins.	And Iesous said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy god. And since he is jealous, he will not forgive your sins (ἁμαρτήματα) and your acts of lawlessness.	And Joshua said to the people, Indeed ye will not be able to serve the Lord, for God is holy; and he being jealous will not forgive your sins (ἁμαρτήματα) and your transgressions.

Peter’s quotation gives me confidence that the Masoretic text is closer to the original Hebrew than the Septuagint here. In this proverb the rabbis didn’t understand אַהֲבָֽה (ʼahăbâh) as God’s love, but as human affection. They couldn’t see then any way that human affection covers (Masoretic text: kâsâh, תְּכַסֶּ֥ה; Septuagint: καλύπτει, a form of καλύπτω; Peter’s letter: καλύπτει) all sins, only all that do not love strife.

The word all is interesting. It was כָּל (kôl) in the Masoretic text, πάντας (a form of πᾶς) in the Septuagint, yet Peter chose πλῆθος (NET: a multitude). Peter, after some had called the Holy Spirit Beelzebul (Matthew 12:22-32), had heard Jesus say: people will be forgiven for every (πᾶσα, another form of πᾶς) sin (ἁμαρτία) and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.¹²

I won’t spend any more time here trying to understand why the contemporary translation of the Masoretic text into English in the Tanakh is more like Peter’s translation than that of the rabbis who translated the Septuagint. I’ll simply thank God for it.

Tables comparing Proverbs 10:12; Deuteronomy 7:8 and Joshua 24:19 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Proverbs 10:12; Deuteronomy 7:8 and Joshua 24:19 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Tables comparing James 5:19, 20; 1 Peter 4:8; Romans 5:6 and Matthew 12:31 in the NET and KJV follow those.

Proverbs 10:12 (Tanakh)	Proverbs 10:12 (KJV)	Proverbs 10:12 (NET)
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.	Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.	Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Proverbs 10:12 (Septuagint BLB)	Proverbs 10:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)
μῗσος ἐγείρει νεῗκος πάντας δὲ τοὺς μὴ φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία	μῖσος ἐγείρει νεῖκος, πάντας δὲ τοὺς μὴ φιλονεικοῦντας καλύπτει φιλία
Proverbs 10:12 (NETS)	Proverbs 10:12 (English Elpenor)
Hatred stirs up strife, but friendship covers all who are not fond of strife.	Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.

Deuteronomy 7:8 (Tanakh)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (KJV)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (NET)
but because HaShem loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore unto your fathers, hath HaShem brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.	But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.	Rather it is because of his love for you and his faithfulness to the promise he solemnly vowed to your ancestors that the Lord brought you out with great power, redeeming you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:8 (Septuagint BLB)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)
ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν κύριον ὑμᾶς καὶ διατηρῶν τὸν ὅρκον ὃν ὤμοσεν τοῗς πατράσιν ὑμῶν ἐξήγαγεν κύριος ὑμᾶς ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ καὶ ἐλυτρώσατο ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραω βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου	ἀλλὰ παρὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν Κύριον ὑμᾶς καὶ διατηρῶν τὸν ὅρκον, ὃν ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν, ἐξήγαγεν ὑμᾶς Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ καὶ βραχίονι ὑψηλῷ καὶ ἐλυτρώσατό σε Κύριος ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας, ἐκ χειρὸς Φαραὼ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου
Deuteronomy 7:8 (NETS)	Deuteronomy 7:8 (English Elpenor)
Rather, because the Lord loved you, and since he was keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, the Lord brought you out with a strong hand and with a high arm and redeemed you from a house of slavery, from the hand of Pharao king of Egypt.	But because the Lord loved you, and as keeping the oath which he sware to your fathers, the Lord brought you out with a strong hand, and the Lord redeemed thee from the house of bondage, out of the hand of Pharao king of Egypt.

Joshua 24:19 (Tanakh)	Joshua 24:19 (KJV)	Joshua 24:19 (NET)
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.	And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.	Joshua warned the people, “You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.

Joshua 24:19 (Septuagint BLB)	Joshua 24:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν οὐ μὴ δύνησθε λατρεύειν κυρίῳ ὅτι θεὸς ἅγιός ἐστιν καὶ ζηλώσας οὗτος οὐκ ἀνήσει ὑμῶν τὰ ἁμαρτήματα καὶ τὰ ἀνομήματα ὑμῶν	καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιησοῦς πρὸς τὸν λαόν· οὐ μὴ δύνησθε λατρεύειν Κυρίῳ, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἅγιός ἐστι, καὶ ζηλώσας οὗτος οὐκ ἀνήσει τὰ ἁμαρτήματα ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ ἀνομήματα ὑμῶν
Joshua 24:19 (NETS)	Joshua 24:19 (English Elpenor)
And Iesous said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy god. And since he is jealous, he will not forgive your sins and your acts of lawlessness.	And Joshua said to the people, Indeed ye will not be able to serve the Lord, for God is holy; and he being jealous will not forgive your sins and your transgressions.

James 5:19, 20 (NET)	James 5:19, 20 (KJV)
My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,	Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Ἀδελφοί μου, ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ τις αὐτόν	αδελφοι εαν τις εν υμιν πλανηθη απο της αληθειας και επιστρεψη τις αυτον	αδελφοι εαν τις εν υμιν πλανηθη απο της αληθειας και επιστρεψη τις αυτον

he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\|γινωσκέτω\| ὅτι ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου καὶ καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν	γινωσκετω οτι ο επιστρεψας αμαρτωλον εκ πλανης οδου αυτου σωσει ψυχην εκ θανατου και καλυψει πληθος αμαρτιων	γινωσκετω οτι ο επιστρεψας αμαρτωλον εκ πλανης οδου αυτου σωσει ψυχην εκ θανατου και καλυψει πληθος αμαρτιων

1 Peter 4:8 (NET)	1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.	And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
πρὸ πάντων τὴν εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἀγάπην ἐκτενῆ ἔχοντες, ὅτι ἀγάπη καλύπτει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν	προ παντων δε την εις εαυτους αγαπην εκτενη εχοντες οτι αγαπη καλυψει πληθος αμαρτιων	προ παντων δε την εις εαυτους αγαπην εκτενη εχοντες οτι αγαπη καλυψει πληθος αμαρτιων

Romans 5:6 (NET)	Romans 5:6 (KJV)
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.	For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
\| Ἔτι γὰρ\| Χριστὸς ὄντων ἡμῶν ἀσθενῶν ἔτι κατὰ καιρὸν ὑπὲρ ἀσεβῶν ἀπέθανεν	ετι γαρ χριστος οντων ημων ασθενων κατα καιρον υπερ ασεβων απεθανεν	ετι γαρ χριστος οντων ημων ασθενων κατα καιρον υπερ ασεβων απεθανεν

Matthew 12:31 (NET)	Matthew 12:31 (KJV)
For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.	Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

NET Parallel Greek	Stephanus Textus Receptus	Byzantine Majority Text
Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, πᾶσα ἁμαρτία καὶ βλασφημία ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, ἡ δὲ τοῦ πνεύματος βλασφημία οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται	δια τουτο λεγω υμιν πασα αμαρτια και βλασφημια αφεθησεται τοις ανθρωποις η δε του πνευματος βλασφημια ουκ αφεθησεται τοις ανθρωποις	δια τουτο λεγω υμιν πασα αμαρτια και βλασφημια αφεθησεται τοις ανθρωποις η δε του πνευματος βλασφημια ουκ αφεθησεται τοις ανθρωποις