Exploration, Part 16

I want to continue hearing with faith1 the truth of the Gospel in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Another essay concluded with (Ephesians 2:11-13 EXP15):

Therefore remember that at one time you, the Gentiles by means of the flesh, those called foreskin by those called the circumcision (by means of flesh made by hand) since you were by means of that time apart from Christ, had become an outsider of citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and godless by means of the world [Table]. But now by means of Christ Jesus you, who at any time are far off, have come into existence near at hand by means of Christ’s bloodshed.

Paul continued (Ephesians 2:14-16 ESV):

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself2 one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

The Greek is: Αὐτὸς γάρ, For himself (literally, “For He”), ἐστιν, he is, εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, our peace. The 3rd person singular verb ἐστιν translates he is as the personal pronoun αὐτός (ESV: himself) adds emphasis. I chose He to remind me that αὐτός is in the nominative case: “For He, He is our peace.”

In one sense, this is a simple practical statement, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (εἰρήνη). It is also profound. Jesus said, (Matthew 10:34-36 ESV):

Do not think that I have come to bring peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη) to the earth. I have not come to bring peace (εἰρήνην, a form of εἰρήνη), but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies (ἐχθροὶ, a form of ἐχθρός) will be those of his own household [Table].3

This seems like an odd thing for the Prince of Peace to say.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Isaiah 9:6, 7 (Tanakh/KJV)

Isaiah 9:6, 7 (NET)

Isaiah 9:6, 7 (NETS)

Isaiah 9:6, 7 (English Elpenor)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (שָׁלֽוֹם). For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (šālôm, שלום). because a child was born for us, a son also given to us, whose sovereignty was upon his shoulder, and he is named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him. For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder, and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel, < Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Potentate, Prince of Peace (εἰρήνης), Father of the Age to come >: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.
Of the increase of his government and peace (וּלְשָׁל֣וֹם) there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity (šālôm, ולשלום). He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this. His sovereignty is great, and his peace (τῆς εἰρήνης αὐτοῦ) has no boundary upon the throne of Dauid and his kingdom, to make it prosper and to uphold it with righteousness and with judgment from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord Sabbaoth will do these things. His government shall be great, and of his peace (τῆς εἰρήνης αὐτοῦ) there is no end: [it shall be] upon the throne of David, and [upon] his kingdom, to establish it, and to support [it] with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

A comparison of the English translations of identical Hebrew word strings found in Isaiah 9:6, 7 (9:5, 6) from the ESV and The Complete Jewish Bible follows:

Isaiah 9:6, 7 (ESV)

Isaiah 9:5, 6 (The Complete Jewish Bible)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. For a child has been born to us, a son given to us, and the authority is upon his shoulder, and the wondrous adviser, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, called his name, “the prince of peace.” To him who increases the authority, and for peace without end, on David’s throne and on his kingdom, to establish it and to support it with justice and with righteousness; from now and to eternity, the zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall accomplish this.

The Prince of Peace comes to bring peace without end. The difficulty seems to arise from translating two occurrences of βαλεῖν in Matthew 10:34 to bring. It is a form of βάλλω: “to throw, cast, thrust; to put, place, lay, set up (a mound); to pour; to rush (intrans.); to send forth (roots).” The same word was translated throw it in Jesus’ second response to a Canaanite woman’s request for healing of her demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15:21-28 ESV).

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us” [Table]. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me” [Table]. And he answered, “It is not right (καλὸν, a form of καλός; e.g., beautiful) to take the children’s bread and throw it (βαλεῖν, a form of βάλλω) to the dogs.”4 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire (θέλεις, a form of θέλω).” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Behold, the hour is coming, Jesus clarified the relationship of his peace and faith for his disciples, indeed it5 has come, when you will be scattered (σκορπισθῆτε, a form of σκορπίζω), each to his own home, and will leave me6 alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me (ἐν ἐμοὶ; or, “by means of me”) you may have peace (εἰρήνην ἔχητε).7 In the world (ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, or “by means of the world”)8 you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.9 In other words, believing Jesus’ words about them—you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alonerather than arguing that they were better—more faithful—than that, Jesus’ disciples could have shared his peace as they scattered, rather than being confronted with the proof of their lying hearts.

But perhaps they learned something from that experience, as Paul did from his (Romans 7:15, 18b, 19 ESV):

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want (θέλω), but I do the very thing I hate…I have the desire (θέλειν, another form of θέλω) to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want (θέλω), but the evil I do not want (θέλω) is what I keep on doing [Table].

In all fairness, Jesus’ peace was directly related to fervently expressing his desire, not to be tortured to death, to his Father in prayer. Yet still He prayed, not my will (τὸ θέλημα μου), but yours, be done.10 His disciples had the same opportunity to express their desires, to be bold faithful followers of the Lord Jesus, and their own willingness to submit their wills to God’s will, but they slept instead. My purpose here is to understand how He is our peace in a world of tribulation, not to criticize Jesus’ disciples. I’m nearly seventy-two-years-old and am only occasionally as present in the moment as I am suggesting they might have been, despite having the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and the whole Bible at my disposal.

And his disciples did fulfill the prophetic word of Jesus (and the prophet) after Jesus said (Matthew 26:53-56a ESV):

“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [Table] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me [Table]. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples left him and fled.11 As much as I might wish that Jesus’ words brought them to their senses, that they hurried away to fulfill the prophets’ words, I’m skeptical and suspect that their divided hearts feared those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, more than him (e.g., Jesus) who can destroy both soul and body in hell (γεέννῃ, or “by means of hell”).12

Again, my point is not to criticize Jesus’ disciples but to use the Gospel narratives to contrast who they were before his crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and their receiving of the promised indwelling Holy Spirit, and the book of Acts to recognize who they became after. (Frankly, I prefer not to be compared to them at all, though I recognize the same indwelling Holy Spirit in me, causing me to see the transformation He worked in them and leading me on to be more like them.)

Ephesians 2:14 continued: ποιήσας, who has made, τὰ ἀμφότερα ἓν, us both one (literally, “the both one”; e.g., Gentiles…those called foreskin, and those called the circumcision), καὶ, and, τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ, the dividing wall, λύσας, has broken down, τὴν ἔχθραν, of hostility (literally, “the hostility”), ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ, in his flesh (or “by means of his flesh”). Three different English translations of καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας follow:

Ephesians 2:14c (ESV)

Ephesians 2:14c (NET)

Ephesians 2:14c (KJV)

and has broken down…the dividing wall and who destroyed the middle wall of partition and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

These English translations change some with the addition of the words which follow those above: τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ.

Ephesians 2:14cd (ESV)

Ephesians 2:14cd, 15b (NET)

Ephesians 2:14c, 15b (KJV)

and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, …in his flesh and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; …in his flesh the enmity

It slows me down and prompts me to wonder what καὶ, and (ESV, NET, KJV), means here. All three translations render τὸ μεσότοιχον, the dividing wall (ESV, though this is more likely the translation of τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ), the middle wall (NET, KJV), in the accusative case as the direct object of the nominative participle λύσας. Both τὸ and μεσότοιχον might be understood in the nominative case as well. I want to consider that possibility if for no other reason than to reject it.

So, if τὸ μεσότοιχον was intended as the subject of its own clause, it needs to do something.

…who has made the both one and the middle wall of partition has broken down the hostility.

Here, and coordinates two relatively independent clauses. The direct object of the second clause, τὴν ἔχθραν, the hostility, is in the accusative case. It fits grammatically, but whose hostility? What hostility is broken down by a middle wall of partition? “For He, He is our peace, who has made the both one and good fences make good neighbors”? If I add ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ, in his flesh, to this word string, things get very strange.

…who has made the both one and the middle wall of partition has broken down the hostility in his flesh.

The second independent clause sounds like the opposite of the truth. Frankly, I would feel better understanding the middle wall as the subject of its own independent clause if it were followed by a verb like λύσῃ or ἔλυσε rather than a nominative participle λύσας, like ποιήσας, has made (ESV), in the previous clause. And that’s a good clue to accepting that τὸ μεσότοιχον, the dividing wall (ESV), the middle wall (NET, KJV), should probably be understood in the accusative case.

The translators of the NET did something interesting: and who destroyed the middle wall of partition. With the addition of the pronoun who, they brought the article across the conjunction and (καὶ), yielding λύσας to mirror ποιήσας, who has made, in the clause preceding the conjunction. They may have been on to something. But why stop at ?

For He, He is our peace, who has made the both one and who has made the middle wall of partition.

Here, and indicates a second dependent clause. But now what do I do with the nominative participle λύσας? I could treat it like the verbal adjective that it is.

For He, He is our peace, who has made the both one and who has made the broken down (ESV, KJV), (or) the destroyed (NET), middle wall of partition.

That the Lord made this middle wall of partition is a given.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Leviticus 20:26 (Tanakh) Table

Leviticus 20:26 (NET)

Leviticus 20:26 (NETS) Table

Leviticus 20:26 (English Elpenor)

And ye shall be holy unto Me; for I HaShem am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples (הָֽעַמִּ֖ים), that ye should be Mine. You must be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the other peoples (ʿam, העמים) to be mine. And you shall be holy to me, for I the Lord your God am holy, who has separated you from all the nations (πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν) to be mine. And ye shall be holy to me; because I the Lord your God [am] holy, who separated you from all nations (πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν), to be mine.

And Israel, notorious for desiring to be like all the nations, has attempted to break down this dividing wall or destroy this middle wall of partition (1 Samuel 8:4-8 ESV).

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations (gôy, הַגּוֹיִם; Septuagint: ἔθνη).” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them [Table]. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you [Table].

And the Lord spoke through the prophet Ezekiel:

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.

“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations (gôy, כַגּוֹיִם; Septuagint: τὰ ἔθνη), like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’13

A broken down (ESV, KJV) middle wall of partition corresponds to the nuanced relationship Paul described, though destroyed (NET) is a bit overstated (Romans 11:28-32 ESV).

As regards the gospel, they14 are enemies (ἐχθροὶ, a form of ἐχθρός) for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy [Table]. For God has consigned all (τοὺς πάντας, “the all,” “them all,” rather than τὰ ἀμφότερα, “the both”) to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all (τοὺς πάντας, “the all,” “them all,” rather than τὰ ἀμφότερα, “the both”).

I liked the ESV rendering of Ephesians 2:14bc: who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Then I looked at it in Greek and noticed that the translators had rendered τὴν ἔχθραν, the hostility, in the accusative case as if it were in the genitive case, of hostility. I asked, Is that what You meant? The path He led me on (as recorded above) alerted me to some aspects of the importance of “beloved enemies.”

The “beloved enemies” who translated the Hebrew—and the wondrous adviser, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, called his name, “the prince of peace”15—rather than—and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace16—could become overly persuasive apart from their status as “beloved enemies.” Even the “beloved enemies” who translated the Septuagint struggled with this Hebrew text (see table above). A son called Mighty God, Everlasting Father sounds wrong to monotheists until one meets the Lord Jesus Christ and knows Him personally.

Though they didn’t use the word who, the ESV and KJV translators have effectively brought the article across the and (καὶ) to the next clause: and [who] has broken down (ESV), and [who] hath broken down (KJV). But only the ESV translators brought τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ back across the nominative participle λύσας into the preceding clause.

Ephesians 2:14cd (NA28)

Ephesians 2:14cd (NET Parallel Greek)

Ephesians 2:14c, 15a (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκὶ αὐτοῦ και το μεσοτοιχον του φραγμου λυσας την εχθραν εν τη σαρκι αυτου

Ephesians 2:14cd (ESV)

Ephesians 2:14cd, 15b (NET)

Ephesians 2:14c, 15b (KJV)

and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, …in his flesh and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; …in his flesh the enmity

I favor treating the next phrase in the accusative case, τὴν ἔχθραν, as the beginning of a third dependent clause, second in the list following καὶ, another direct object of ποιήσας, who has made.

…who has made the hostility by means of his flesh…

This rendering clarifies the hostility (Matthew 26:57, 59-68).

Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered…Now the chief priests17 and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.18 At last two19 came forward and said,20 “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it21 in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” [Table]. Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death” [Table] Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped22 him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

John didn’t soft pedal the hostility engendered by Jesus’ flesh (1 John 4:1-6 ESV).

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already [Table]. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God (ἡμεῖς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν, or “We from God exist”). Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Ephesians 2:15 continued: τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν, the law of commandments, ἐν δόγμασιν καταργήσας, expressed in ordinances by abolishing. Clearly, the ESV word order seemed to make more sense: by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances. Translating καταργήσας by abolishing sounds wrong to me, however.

The plural noun δόγμασιν which precedes καταργήσας is in the dative case and might be understood as the means by which something was accomplished, but καταργήσας is a singular participle in the nominative case. So, I’m inclined to drop by, leaving: abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances. But καταργήσας is in the aorist rather than the present tense. So, I’m inclined to treat this clause as a fourth dependent clause, third in the list following καὶ, another direct object of ποιήσας, and to treat καταργήσας as a verbal adjective describing the state of the law of commandments by means of δόγμασιν.

…who has made the law of commandments abolished by means of ordinances…

A translators’ note (29) in the NET makes a fairly strong case for the word nullify as a translation of καταργήσας:

Or “rendered inoperative.” This is a difficult text to translate because it is not easy to find an English term which communicates well the essence of the author’s meaning, especially since legal terminology is involved. Many other translations use the term “abolish” (so NRSV, NASB, NIV84), but this term implies complete destruction which is not the author’s meaning here. The verb καταργέω (katargeō) can readily have the meaning “to cause someth. to lose its power or effectiveness” (BDAG 525 s.v. 2, where this passage is listed), and this meaning fits quite naturally here within the author’s legal mindset. A proper English term which communicates this well is “nullify” since this word carries the denotation of “making something legally null and void.” This is not, however, a common English word. An alternate term like “rendered inoperative [or ineffective]” is also accurate but fairly inelegant. For this reason, the translation retains the term “nullify”; it is the best choice of the available options, despite its problems.

That gives me: “who has made the law of commandments nullified by means of ordinances,” or “by means of ordinances nullified” for a word order identical to the Greek: ἐν δόγμασιν καταργήσας. The plural noun δόγμασιν is a neuter form of δόγμα, dogma, in the dative case, “nullified by means of dogmas”: “a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church.”23 In other words: “who has made the law of commandments (e.g., promises to be pursued by faith) nullified by means of dogmas” (which incite people to pursue a law that would lead to righteousnessas if it were based on works). 

As Paul wrote (Romans 9:31, 32 ESV):

Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law [Table]. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone [Table].

That the Lord made the law of commandments is a given (Exodus 20). And pursuing righteousness as if it were based on works was the upshot of the partial hardening [that] has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.24

For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people, to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear. And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.25

What I have, then, in relatively few words is another26 of Paul’s panoramic history lessons: “For He, He is our peace: who has made the both one, and who has made the broken down middle wall of partition, who has made the hostility by means of his flesh, who has made the law of commandments nullified by means of dogmas” ἵνα, that (or “in order that”), τοὺς δύο, the two, κτίσῃ ἐν αὐτῷ, he might create in himself (or “He might create by means of himself”), εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, “into” one new man (or “into one new human”), ποιῶν εἰρήνην, making peace (Ephesians 2:14, 15 EXP16):

For He, He is our peace: who has made the both one, and who has made the broken down middle wall of partition, who has made the hostility by means of his flesh, who has made the law of commandments nullified by means of dogmas in order that He might create by means of himself the two into one new human, making peace.

Laid out like this I’m more inclined to understand the both who [He] has made one ( ποιήσας) differently from the two He might create (κτίσῃ, a form of κτίζω) into one new human (εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον). The former one is probably more akin to Paul’s insight that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,27 while the latter one is the sum total of all who did receive him (e.g., Jesus: The true light, which gives light to everyone28), who believed in his name, [who were given] the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God29: the new self (τὸν καινὸν ἄνθρωπον), created (κτισθέντα, a participle of κτίζω) after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.30 And remember, the verb κτίσῃ, He might create, a form of κτίζω in the subjunctive mood is both the result and the purpose of the list of things the Lord has made:

…if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.31

This one new human (ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον) is happening, no matter what I see with my eyes or imagine in my mind: For God has consigned all to disobedience, that (ἵνα) he may have mercy (ἐλεήσῃ, a form of ἐλεέω in the subjunctive mood) on all (τοὺς πάντας, “the all,” “them all”).32

Ephesians 2:16 continued: καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ, and might reconcile, τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους, us both (literally “the both”), ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι, in one body (or “by means of one body”), τῷ θεῷ, to God (or “by means of God”), διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, through the cross, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ, thereby killing the hostility (or “having killed the hostility by means of Him”). The ESV translators seem to have understood ἀποκτείνας in the present tense rather than the aorist tense.

For He, He is our peace: who has made the both one, and who has made the broken down middle wall of partition, who has made the hostility by means of his flesh, who has made the law of commandments nullified by means of dogmas in order that He might create by means of himself the two into one new human, making peace, and might reconcile the both by means of one body to God (by means of God) through the cross, having killed the hostility by means of Him (ἐν αὐτῷ).33

The ESV translators chose thereby for ἐν αὐτῷ. While it encourages me that their customary translation in him means “by means of Him,” it gives me pause to wonder why they chose thereby here. Did they understand αὐτῷ as a neuter, it, referencing the cross? Though the article τοῦ, the, can be neuter, σταυροῦ, cross, is masculine. Were they concerned that in him raised too many questions to whom him might refer? Truly, ἐν αὐτῷ here refers to God the Father, God the Son, through God the indwelling Holy Spirit, and all that He, the One God, has done.

For by means of grace you are, were and continue to be saved through faith, and this not from within you, God’s gift, not out from works, so that no one may boast [about oneself]. For we are his workmanship, created by means of Christ Jesus to good works which God prepared beforehand, so that by means of them we (e.g., the one new human) may walk.34

According to a note (80) in the NET Jesus alluded to Psalm 110:1 in Matthew 26:64. The following table compares the Greek of that allusion with the Septuagint.

Matthew 26:64c (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 110:1b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Psalm 110:1b (Septuagint Elpenor)

καθήμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου

Matthew 26:64c (NET)

Psalm 110:1b (NETS)

Psalm 110:1b (English Elpenor)

sitting at the right hand Sit on my right hand Sit thou on my right hand

According to a note (82) in the NET Jesus alluded to Daniel 7:13 in Matthew 26:64. The following table compares the Greek of that allusion with the Septuagint.

Matthew 26:64d (NET Parallel Greek)

Daniel 7:13b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Daniel 7:13b (Septuagint Elpenor)

τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου…ἐρχόμενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ μετὰ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὡς υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενος ἦν μετὰ τῶν νεφελῶν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὡς υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐρχόμενος ἦν

Matthew 26:64d (NET)

Daniel 7:13b (NETS)

Daniel 7:13b (English Elpenor)

the Son of Man…coming on the clouds of heaven. as it were a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man

Tables comparing Isaiah 9:6; 9:7; 1 Samuel 8:4; 8:5; 8:6; Ezekiel 20:30; 20:31; 20:32; Isaiah 28:11; 28:12 and 28:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Isaiah 9:6; 9:7; 1 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 8:4; 8:5; 8:6; Ezekiel 20:30; 20:31; 20:32; Isaiah 28:11; 28:12 and 28:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and comparing Ephesians 2:15; John 16:32; Matthew 26:59-61 and 26:67 in the KJV and NET follow.

Isaiah 9:6 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Isaiah 9:6 (NET)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 9:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγενήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄξω εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας εἰρήνην καὶ ὑγίειαν αὐτῷ ὅτι παιδίον ἐγενήθη ἡμῖν, υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν, οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγεννήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ, καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελoς, < θαυμαστὸς σύμβουλος, Θεὸς ἰσχυρός, ἐξουσιαστής, ἄρχων εἰρήνης, πατὴρ τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος· >: ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄξω εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, εἰρήνην καὶ ὑγίειαν αὐτῷ

Isaiah 9:6 (NETS)

Isaiah 9:6 (English Elpenor)

because a child was born for us, a son also given to us, whose sovereignty was upon his shoulder, and he is named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him. For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder, and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel, < Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Potentate, Prince of Peace, Father of the Age to come >: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.

Isaiah 9:7 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 9:7 (KJV)

Isaiah 9:7 (NET)

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 9:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μεγάλη ἡ ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς εἰρήνης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ὅριον ἐπὶ τὸν θρόνον Δαυιδ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ κατορθῶσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀντιλαβέσθαι αὐτῆς ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἐν κρίματι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον ὁ ζῆλος κυρίου σαβαωθ ποιήσει ταῦτα μεγάλη ἡ ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῆς εἰρήνης αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ὅριον ἐπὶ τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ καὶ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ κατορθῶσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀντιλαβέσθαι αὐτῆς ἐν κρίματι καὶ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ὁ ζῆλος Κυρίου σαβαὼθ ποιήσει ταῦτα

Isaiah 9:7 (NETS)

Isaiah 9:7 (English Elpenor)

His sovereignty is great, and his peace has no boundary upon the throne of Dauid and his kingdom, to make it prosper and to uphold it with righteousness and with judgment from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord Sabbaoth will do these things. His government shall be great, and of his peace there is no end: [it shall be] upon the throne of David, and [upon] his kingdom, to establish it, and to support [it] with judgment and with righteousness, from henceforth and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this.

1 Samuel 8:4 (Tanakh)

1 Samuel 8:4 (KJV)

1 Samuel 8:4 (NET)

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

1 Samuel 8:4 (Septuagint BLB)

1 Kings 8:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ συναθροίζονται ἄνδρες Ισραηλ καὶ παραγίνονται εἰς Αρμαθαιμ πρὸς Σαμουηλ καὶ συναθροίζονται ἄνδρες ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ παραγίνονται εἰς ᾿Αρμαθαὶμ πρὸς Σαμουὴλ

1 Reigns 8:4 (NETS)

1 Kings 8:4 (English Elpenor)

And the men of Israel gathered together and came to Harmathaim to Samouel And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,

1 Samuel 8:5 (Tanakh)

1 Samuel 8:5 (KJV)

1 Samuel 8:5 (NET)

And they said unto him: ‘Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”

1 Samuel 8:5 (Septuagint BLB)

1 Kings 8:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ ἰδοὺ σὺ γεγήρακας καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου οὐ πορεύονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου καὶ νῦν κατάστησον ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ σὺ γεγήρακας, καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου οὐ πορεύονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου· καὶ νῦν κατάστησον ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς, καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη

1 Reigns 8:5 (NETS)

1 Kings 8:5 (English Elpenor)

and said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not go in your way, and now appoint over us a king to judge us just like all the nations.” and they said to him, Behold, thou art grown old, and thy sons walk not in thy way; and now set over us a king to judge us as also the other nations [have].

1 Samuel 8:6 (Tanakh)

1 Samuel 8:6 (KJV)

1 Samuel 8:6 (NET)

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed unto HaShem. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

1 Samuel 8:6 (Septuagint BLB)

1 Kings 8:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἦν πονηρὸν τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμουηλ ὡς εἶπαν δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς καὶ προσηύξατο Σαμουηλ πρὸς κύριον καὶ πονηρὸν τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμουήλ, ὡς εἶπαν, δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς· καὶ προσηύξατο Σαμουὴλ πρὸς Κύριον

1 Reigns 8:6 (NETS)

1 Kings 8:6 (English Elpenor)

And the message was evil in the eyes of Samouel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” and Samouel prayed to the Lord. And the thing [was] evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Ezekiel 20:30 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 20:30 (KJV)

Ezekiel 20:30 (NET)

Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers and engage in prostitution with detestable idols?

Ezekiel 20:30 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 20:30 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὸν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ισραηλ τάδε λέγει κύριος εἰ ἐν ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ὑμεῖς μιαίνεσθε καὶ ὀπίσω τῶν βδελυγμάτων αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ἐκπορνεύετε διὰ τοῦτο εἰπὸν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· εἰ ἐν ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ὑμεῖς μιαίνεσθε καὶ ὀπίσω τῶν βδελυγμάτων αὐτῶν ὑμεῖς ἐκπορνεύετε

Ezekiel 20:30 (NETS)

Ezekiel 20:30 (English Elpenor)

Therefore, speak to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord says: Are you defiling yourselves in the lawless acts of your fathers, and are you playing the whore after their abominations? Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord, Do ye pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do ye go a-whoring after their abominations,

Ezekiel 20:31 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 20:31 (KJV)

Ezekiel 20:31 (NET)

For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. When you present your sacrifices—when you make your sons pass through the fire—you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not allow you to seek me!

Ezekiel 20:31 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 20:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀπαρχαῖς τῶν δομάτων ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς ἀφορισμοῖς ὑμεῖς μιαίνεσθε ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν ὑμῶν ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας καὶ ἐγὼ ἀποκριθῶ ὑμῖν οἶκος τοῦ Ισραηλ ζῶ ἐγώ λέγει κύριος εἰ ἀποκριθήσομαι ὑμῖν καὶ εἰ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὑμῶν τοῦτο καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἀπαρχαῖς τῶν δομάτων ὑμῶν, ἐν τοῖς ἀφορισμοῖς, οἷς ὑμεῖς μιαίνεσθε ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν ὑμῶν ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας, καὶ ἐγὼ ἀποκριθῶ ὑμῖν, οἶκος τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ; ζῶ ἐγώ, λέγει Κύριος, εἰ ἀποκριθήσομαι ὑμῖν, καὶ εἰ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὑμῶν τοῦτο

Ezekiel 20:31 (NETS)

Ezekiel 20:31 (English Elpenor)

And by the first fruits of your gifts, with what has been set apart, you defile yourselves in all your notions to this day. And am I to answer you, O house of Israel? I live, says the Lord, if I will answer you and if it will come upinto this spirit of yours. and [do ye pollute yourselves] with the first-fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith ye pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.

Ezekiel 20:32 (Tanakh)

Ezekiel 20:32 (KJV)

Ezekiel 20:32 (NET)

And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. “‘What you plan will never happen. You say, “We will be like the nations, like the clans of the lands, who serve gods of wood and stone.”

Ezekiel 20:32 (Septuagint BLB)

Ezekiel 20:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ὑμεῖς λέγετε ἐσόμεθα ὡς τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ὡς αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς τοῦ λατρεύειν ξύλοις καὶ λίθοις καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὃν τρόπον ὑμεῖς λέγετε· ἐσόμεθα ὡς τὰ ἔθνη καὶ ὡς αἱ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς τοῦ λατρεύειν ξύλοις καὶ λίθοις

Ezekiel 20:32 (NETS)

Ezekiel 20:32 (English Elpenor)

And it shall not be as you say: We will be like the nations and like the tribes of the earth by serving wood and stones. And it shall not be as ye say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.

Isaiah 28:11 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 28:11 (KJV)

Isaiah 28:11 (NET)

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. For with mocking lips and a foreign tongue he will speak to these people.

Isaiah 28:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 28:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ φαυλισμὸν χειλέων διὰ γλώσσης ἑτέρας ὅτι λαλήσουσιν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ διὰ φαυλισμὸν χειλέων διὰ γλώσσης ἑτέρας, ὅτι λαλήσουσι τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ

Isaiah 28:11 (NETS)

Isaiah 28:11a (English Elpenor)

because of contempt from lips, through a different tongue, because they will speak to this people, by reason of the contemptuous [words] of the lips, by means of another language: for they shall speak to this people,

Isaiah 28:12 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 28:12 (KJV)

Isaiah 28:12 (NET)

To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. In the past he said to them, “This is where security can be found. Provide security for the one who is exhausted. This is where rest can be found.” But they refused to listen.

Isaiah 28:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 28:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λέγοντες αὐτῷ τοῦτο τὸ ἀνάπαυμα τῷ πεινῶντι καὶ τοῦτο τὸ σύντριμμα καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν ἀκούειν λέγοντες αὐτῷ· τοῦτο τὸ ἀνάπαυμα τῷ πεινῶντι καὶ τοῦτο τὸ σύντριμμα, καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησαν ἀκούειν

Isaiah 28:12 (NETS)

Isaiah 28:11b, 12 (English Elpenor)

saying to them, “This is the rest for the hungry, and this is the destruction”; yet they would not hear. saying to them, (12) This is the rest to him that is hungry, and this is the calamity: but they would not hear.

Isaiah 28:13 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 28:13 (KJV)

Isaiah 28:13 (NET)

But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. So the Lord’s message to them will sound like meaningless gibberish, senseless babbling, a syllable here, a syllable there. As a result, they will fall on their backsides when they try to walk, and be injured, ensnared, and captured.

Isaiah 28:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 28:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῖς τὸ λόγιον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ θλῖψις ἐπὶ θλῖψιν ἐλπὶς ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι ἔτι μικρὸν ἔτι μικρόν ἵνα πορευθῶσιν καὶ πέσωσιν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ κινδυνεύσουσιν καὶ συντριβήσονται καὶ ἁλώσονται καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῖς τὸ λόγιον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ θλῖψις ἐπὶ θλῖψιν, ἐλπὶς ἐπ᾿ ἐλπίδι, ἔτι μικρὸν ἔτι μικρόν, ἵνα πορευθῶσι καὶ πέσωσιν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω καὶ κινδυνεύσουσι καὶ συντριβήσονται καὶ ἁλώσονται

Isaiah 28:13 (NETS)

Isaiah 28:13 (English Elpenor)

And the oracle of the Lord God will be to them affliction upon affliction, hope upon hope, yet a little, yet a little, in order that they may go and fall backward, and they will be in danger and crushed and taken. Therefore the oracle of God shall be to them affliction on affliction, hope on hope, yet a little, [and] yet a little, that they may go and fall backward; and they shall be crushed and shall be in danger, and shall be taken.

Ephesians 2:15 (NET)

Ephesians 2:15 (KJV)

when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Ephesians 2:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Ephesians 2:15b (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Ephesians 2:15b (Byzantine Majority Text)

τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν καταργήσας, ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν αὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον ποιῶν εἰρήνην τον νομον των εντολων εν δογμασιν καταργησας ινα τους δυο κτιση εν εαυτω εις ενα καινον ανθρωπον ποιων ειρηνην τον νομον των εντολων εν δογμασιν καταργησας ινα τους δυο κτιση εν εαυτω εις ενα καινον ανθρωπον ποιων ειρηνην

John 16:32 (NET)

John 16:32 (KJV)

Look, a time is coming—and has come—when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone because my Father is with me. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 16:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 16:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 16:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ ἐλήλυθεν ἵνα σκορπισθῆτε ἕκαστος εἰς τὰ ἴδια καμὲ μόνον ἀφῆτε· καὶ οὐκ εἰμὶ μόνος, ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐστιν ιδου ερχεται ωρα και νυν εληλυθεν ινα σκορπισθητε εκαστος εις τα ιδια και εμε μονον αφητε και ουκ ειμι μονος οτι ο πατηρ μετ εμου εστιν ιδου ερχεται ωρα και νυν εληλυθεν ινα σκορπισθητε εκαστος εις τα ιδια και εμε μονον αφητε και ουκ ειμι μονος οτι ο πατηρ μετ εμου εστιν

Matthew 26:59-61 (NET)

Matthew 26:59-61 (KJV)

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Matthew 26:59 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 26:59 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 26:59 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Οἱ δὲ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ τὸ συνέδριον ὅλον ἐζήτουν ψευδομαρτυρίαν κατὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὅπως αὐτὸν θανατώσωσιν οι δε αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι και το συνεδριον ολον εζητουν ψευδομαρτυριαν κατα του ιησου οπως αυτον θανατωσωσιν οι δε αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι και το συνεδριον ολον εζητουν ψευδομαρτυριαν κατα του ιησου οπως θανατωσωσιν αυτον
But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Matthew 26:60 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 26:60, 61a (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 26:60, 61a (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οὐχ εὗρον πολλῶν προσελθόντων ψευδομαρτύρων. ὕστερον δὲ προσελθόντες δύο και ουχ ευρον και πολλων ψευδομαρτυρων προσελθοντων ουχ ευρον (61) υστερον δε προσελθοντες δυο ψευδομαρτυρες και ουχ ευρον και πολλων ψευδομαρτυρων προσελθοντων ουχ ευρον (61) υστερον δε προσελθοντες δυο ψευδομαρτυρες
and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Matthew 26:61 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 26:61b (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 26:61b (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπαν· οὗτος ἔφη· δύναμαι καταλῦσαι τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διὰ τριῶν ἡμερῶν οἰκοδομῆσαι ειπον ουτος εφη δυναμαι καταλυσαι τον ναον του θεου και δια τριων ημερων οικοδομησαι αυτον ειπον ουτος εφη δυναμαι καταλυσαι τον ναον του θεου και δια τριων ημερων οικοδομησαι αυτον

Matthew 26:67 (NET)

Matthew 26:67 (KJV)

Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Matthew 26:67 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 26:67 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 26:67 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τότε ἐνέπτυσαν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκολάφισαν αὐτόν, οἱ δὲ ἐράπισαν τοτε ενεπτυσαν εις το προσωπον αυτου και εκολαφισαν αυτον οι δε ερραπισαν τοτε ενεπτυσαν εις το προσωπον αυτου και εκολαφισαν αυτον οι δε ερραπισαν

1 Galatians 3:2b (ESV)

2 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτῷ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εαυτω (KJV: himself).

3 Romans, Part 22 for a table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ allusion to Micah 7:6 to that of the Septuagint.

4 NET note 36 reads:

sn The term dogs does not refer to wild dogs (scavenging animals roaming around the countryside) in this context, but to small dogs taken in as house pets. It is thus not a derogatory term per se, but is instead intended by Jesus to indicate the privileged position of the Jews (especially his disciples) as the initial recipients of Jesus’ ministry. The woman’s response of faith and her willingness to accept whatever Jesus would offer pleased him to such an extent that he granted her request.
tn Or “lap dogs, house dogs,” as opposed to dogs on the street. The diminutive form originally referred to puppies or little dogs, then to house pets. In some Hellenistic uses κυνάριον (kunarion) simply means “dog.”

5 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had νυν (KJV: is now come) preceding has come. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

6 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καμὲ (NET: and I) here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και εμε (KJV: and…me).

7 The verb ἔχητε, you may have, is a form of ἔχω in the present tense and subjunctive mood. The clause begins with ἵνα, that, and is a result clause: “The subjunctive mood indicates probability or objective possibility. The action of the verb will possibly happen, depending on certain objective factors or circumstances…However if the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause, then the action should not be thought of as a possible result, but should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action.” From Verbal Moods: Subjunctive Mood, Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions) on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online.

8 The words ἐμοὶ and τῷ κόσμῳ are in the dative case: “The dative is the case of the indirect object, or may also indicate the means by which something is done.” From Noun Cases: Dative Case, GREEK NOUNS (Shorter Definitions), on Resources for Learning New Testament Greek online.

9 John 16:32, 33 (ESV)

10 Luke 22:42b (ESV) Table

11 Matthew 26:56b (ESV)

12 Matthew 10:28 (ESV) Table

13 Ezekiel 20:30-32 (ESV)

14 …a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25b ESV [Table]).

16 Isaiah 9:6b (ESV)

17 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και οι πρεσβυτεροι (KJV: and elders) following the chief priests. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

18 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουχ ευρον (KJV: yet found they none) repeated here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

19 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ψευδομαρτυρες (KJV: false witnesses) following two. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

22 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐράπισαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ερραπισαν. These appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

23 From definition 2 of dogma on Merriam-Webster Dictionary online.

24 Romans 11:25b (ESV) Table

25 Isaiah 28:11-13 (ESV)

27 Romans 3:9b (ESV)

28 John 1:9a (ESV)

29 John 1:12, 13 (ESV)

30 Ephesians 4:24b (ESV)

32 Romans 11:32 (ESV)

33 Ephesians 2:14-16 (EXP16)

34 Ephesians 2:8-10 (EXP14)

Peter’s Third Gospel Proclamation

Peter’s third Gospel proclamation followed his arrest (Acts 4:1-7 NET):

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.1

On the next day, their rulers, elders,2 and experts in the law3 came together in4 Jerusalem. Annas the high priest5 was there, and Caiaphas,6 John,7 Alexander,8 and others who were members of the high priest’s family. After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

What a perfect setup for the Gospel. This was exactly what Jesus promised (Matthew 10:18-20 NET):

And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time [Table]. For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

And the Spirit of Peter’s Father spoke just as Jesus had promised (Acts 4:8-12 NET):

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders,9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man (Acts 3:1-10)—by what means this man was healed10—let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders,11 that has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no12 other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

Luke described how the rulers, elders and experts in the law, Annas the high priestand Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family13 responded to Peter’s Gospel proclamation (Acts 4:13, 14 NET):

When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. And14 because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.

Today people who reject Peter’s Gospel proclamation deny the truth of the Bible. They claim it is just a story. The rulers, elders, and experts in the law, Annas the high priestand Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family didn’t have that option available to them. The healed man was apparently well known to them and standing before them.

Paul credited what happened next to a partial hardening of Israel (Romans 11:25 NET):

For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening (πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους) has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in [Table].

I have assumed that πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν (NET: A partial hardening has happened to Israel) meant that only some in Israel were hardened. Now I’m willing to consider that even that hardening of the some was merely partial (Romans 10:1-4 NET):

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation [Table]. For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth. For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.

But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, [the rulers, elders and experts in the law, Annas the high priestand Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family] began to confer15 with one another, saying (Acts 4:15-18 NET),

What should we do16 with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny17 it. But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn18 them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” And they called them in and ordered them19 not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Unable (οὐ δυνάμεθα) to deny the truth of what happened, they used their authority to enlist Peter and John in a scheme to rewrite history. They would’ve preferred that Peter and John made the lame man walk by their own power or piety as good Jews, rather than have any of it attributed to Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus had said (Matthew 23:2, 3 NET [Table]):

The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.

I admit that on my own I would have stumbled around trying to apply Jesus’ command to the situation in which Peter and John found themselves. But these uneducated (ἀγράμματοι,20 a form of ἀγράμματος) and ordinary (ἰδιῶται, a form of ἰδιώτης) men filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised did not stumble. They saw quickly and clearly that to obey their rulers in this command was to do what they do, e.g., rewrite history to suit their own narrative.

Peter and John replied (Acts 4:19, 20 NET):

Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible (οὐ δυνάμεθα) for us not to speak about what we have seen21 and heard.

They even sounded like Jesus. Paul described this transformation as follows (Galatians 2:20 NET):

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I have assumed that καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ (and gave himself for me) referred to Jesus’ death on a cross. In this context it seems overwhelmingly clear that He also gave his resurrection and his life, filled with his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness and his self-control, a new mind filled with his knowledge and a new heart filled with his understanding to the glory of God.

After threatening [Peter and John] further, [the rulers, elders, and experts in the law, Annas the high priestand Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family] released them, for they could not find how to punish22 them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.23

But the rulers, elders, and experts in the law, Annas the high priestand Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family set official Israel firmly on course to become one of the nations that rage, one of the peoples that plot foolish things as they assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ’24 until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.25

Paul concluded (Romans 11:28-32 NET):

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

A note in the NET (32) claimed that Peter quoted from Psalm 118:22. A table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation to that of the Septuagint follows.

Acts 4:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 118:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 117:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λίθος, ἐξουθενηθεὶς ὑφ᾿ ὑμῶν τῶν οἰκοδόμων, γενόμενος εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας λίθον, ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας

Acts 4:11 (NET)

Psalm 117:22 (NETS)

Psalm 117:22 (English Elpenor)

the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. A stone which the builders rejected, this one became the chief cornerstone. The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.

Peter’s quotation appears to be a relatively independent translation of the Hebrew. I focused particularly on מָֽאֲס֣וּ (mā’as), translated ἀπεδοκίμασαν (a form of ἀποδοκιμάζω) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Psalm 118:22 (Tanakh/KJV)

Psalm 118:22 (NET)

Psalm 117:22 (NETS)

IPsalm 117:22 (Elpenor English)

The stone which the builders refused (מָֽאֲס֣וּ) is become the head stone of the corner. The stone that the builders discarded (mā’as, מאסו) has become the cornerstone. A stone which the builders rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν), this one became the chief cornerstone. The stone which the builders rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν), the same is become the head of the corner.

The rabbis, it seems, gave the builders the benefit of the doubt, that they had carefully considered their rejection. It’s not that hard to see why the Holy Spirit preferred ἐξουθενηθεὶς (a form of ἐξουθενέω).

Holy Spirit: ἐξουθενέω

Septuagint: ἀποδοκιμάζω

to despise, disdain, scorn; to reject (with contempt); to treat with contempt; to be of no account to reject on scrutiny; to reject after failing testing; to reject as unworthy, reject as unfit; to reject for lack of qualification, disapprove, repudiate, disallow

The quotation of Psalm 2:1, 2 (NET note 65) in Acts 4:25, 26 however was verbatim from the Septuagint.

Acts 4:25b, 26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 2:1, 2 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 2:1, 2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἱνατί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ ἵνα τί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῗς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ ΙΝΑΤΙ ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη, καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ

Acts 4:25b, 26 (NET)

Psalm 2:1, 2 (NETS)

Psalm 2:1, 2 (English Elpenor)

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things? The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’ Why did nations grow insolent, and peoples contemplate vain things? The kings of the earth stood side by side, and the rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his anointed, Wherefore did the heathen rage, and the nations imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers gathered themselves together, against the Lord, and against his Christ;

Tables comparing Psalm 118:22; 2:1 and 2:2 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Psalm 118:22 (117:22); 2:1 and 2:2 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Acts 4:4-6; 4:8, 9; 4:11, 12; 4:14; 4:15-18; 4:20; 4:21 and 4:25 in the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 118:22 (Tanakh)

Psalm 118:22 (KJV)

Psalm 118:22 (NET)

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner. The stone that the builders discarded has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 117:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας λίθον, ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας

Psalm 117:22 (NETS)

Psalm 117:22 (English Elpenor)

A stone which the builders rejected, this one became the chief cornerstone. The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.

Psalm 2:1 (Tanakh)

Psalm 2:1 (KJV)

Psalm 2:1 (NET)

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

Psalm 2:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 2:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵνα τί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά ΙΝΑΤΙ ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη, καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά

Psalm 2:1 (NETS)

Psalm 2:1 (English Elpenor)

Why did nations grow insolent, and peoples contemplate vain things? Wherefore did the heathen rage, and the nations imagine vain things?

Psalm 2:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 2:2 (KJV)

Psalm 2:2 (NET)

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king.

Psalm 2:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 2:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῗς τῆς γῆς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ διάψαλμα παρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ κατὰ τοῦ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ (διάψαλμα)

Psalm 2:2 (NETS)

Psalm 2:2 (English Elpenor)

The kings of the earth stood side by side, and the rulers gathered together, against the Lord and against his anointed, Interlude on strings The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers gathered themselves together, against the Lord, and against his Christ;

Acts 4:4-6 (NET)

Acts 4:4-6 (KJV)

But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

πολλοὶ δὲ τῶν ἀκουσάντων τὸν λόγον ἐπίστευσαν καὶ ἐγενήθη [ὁ] ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἀνδρῶν [ὡς] χιλιάδες πέντε πολλοι δε των ακουσαντων τον λογον επιστευσαν και εγενηθη ο αριθμος των ανδρων ωσει χιλιαδες πεντε πολλοι δε των ακουσαντων τον λογον επιστευσαν και εγενηθη ο αριθμος των ανδρων ωσει χιλιαδες πεντε
On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον συναχθῆναι αὐτῶν τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ εγενετο δε επι την αυριον συναχθηναι αυτων τους αρχοντας και πρεσβυτερους και γραμματεις εγενετο δε επι την αυριον συναχθηναι αυτων τους αρχοντας και πρεσβυτερους και γραμματεις εις ιερουσαλημ
Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest’s family. And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ Ἅννας ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ Καϊάφας καὶ Ἰωάννης καὶ Ἀλέξανδρος καὶ ὅσοι ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ εις ιερουσαλημ και ανναν τον αρχιερεα και καιαφαν και ιωαννην και αλεξανδρον και οσοι ησαν εκ γενους αρχιερατικου και ανναν τον αρχιερεα και καιαφαν και ιωαννην και αλεξανδρον και οσοι ησαν εκ γενους αρχιερατικου

Acts 4:8, 9 (NET)

Acts 4:8, 9 (KJV)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, “Rulers of the people and elders, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τότε Πέτρος πλησθεὶς πνεύματος ἁγίου εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ πρεσβύτεροι τοτε πετρος πλησθεις πνευματος αγιου ειπεν προς αυτους αρχοντες του λαου και πρεσβυτεροι του ισραηλ τοτε πετρος πλησθεις πνευματος αγιου ειπεν προς αυτους αρχοντες του λαου και πρεσβυτεροι του ισραηλ
if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man—by what means this man was healed— If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

εἰ ἡμεῖς σήμερον ἀνακρινόμεθα ἐπὶ εὐεργεσίᾳ ἀνθρώπου ἀσθενοῦς – ἐν τίνι οὗτος |σέσωται| ει ημεις σημερον ανακρινομεθα επι ευεργεσια ανθρωπου ασθενους εν τινι ουτος σεσωσται ει ημεις σημερον ανακρινομεθα επι ευεργεσια ανθρωπου ασθενους εν τινι ουτος σεσωσται

Acts 4:11, 12 (NET)

Acts 4:11, 12 (KJV)

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ λίθος, ὁ ἐξουθενηθεὶς ὑφ᾿ ὑμῶν τῶν οἰκοδόμων, ὁ γενόμενος εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας ουτος εστιν ο λιθος ο εξουθενηθεις υφ υμων των οικοδομουντων ο γενομενος εις κεφαλην γωνιας ουτος εστιν ο λιθος ο εξουθενηθεις υφ υμων των οικοδομουντων ο γενομενος εις κεφαλην γωνιας
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἄλλῳ οὐδενὶ ἡ σωτηρία, οὐδὲ γὰρ ὄνομα ἐστιν ἕτερον ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν τὸ δεδομένον ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἐν ᾧ δεῖ σωθῆναι ἡμᾶς και ουκ εστιν εν αλλω ουδενι η σωτηρια ουτε γαρ ονομα εστιν ετερον υπο τον ουρανον το δεδομενον εν ανθρωποις εν ω δει σωθηναι ημας και ουκ εστιν εν αλλω ουδενι η σωτηρια ουτε γαρ ονομα εστιν ετερον υπο τον ουρανον το δεδομενον εν ανθρωποις εν ω δει σωθηναι ημας

Acts 4:14 (NET)

Acts 4:14 (KJV)

And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τόν τε ἄνθρωπον βλέποντες σὺν αὐτοῖς ἑστῶτα τὸν τεθεραπευμένον οὐδὲν εἶχον ἀντειπεῖν τον δε ανθρωπον βλεποντες συν αυτοις εστωτα τον τεθεραπευμενον ουδεν ειχον αντειπειν τον δε ανθρωπον βλεποντες συν αυτοις εστωτα τον τεθεραπευμενον ουδεν ειχον αντειπειν

Acts 4:15-18 (NET)

Acts 4:15-18 (KJV)

But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

κελεύσαντες δὲ αὐτοὺς ἔξω τοῦ συνεδρίου ἀπελθεῖν συνέβαλλον πρὸς ἀλλήλους κελευσαντες δε αυτους εξω του συνεδριου απελθειν συνεβαλον προς αλληλους κελευσαντες δε αυτους εξω του συνεδριου απελθειν συνεβαλλον προς αλληλους
saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λέγοντες· τί ποιήσωμεν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τούτοις; ὅτι μὲν γὰρ γνωστὸν σημεῖον γέγονεν δι᾿ αὐτῶν πᾶσιν τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν Ἰερουσαλὴμ φανερὸν καὶ οὐ δυνάμεθα ἀρνεῖσθαι λεγοντες τι ποιησομεν τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις οτι μεν γαρ γνωστον σημειον γεγονεν δι αυτων πασιν τοις κατοικουσιν ιερουσαλημ φανερον και ου δυναμεθα αρνησασθαι λεγοντες τι ποιησομεν τοις ανθρωποις τουτοις οτι μεν γαρ γνωστον σημειον γεγονεν δι αυτων πασιν τοις κατοικουσιν ιερουσαλημ φανερον και ου δυναμεθα αρνησασθαι
But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖον διανεμηθῇ εἰς τὸν λαὸν ἀπειλησώμεθα αὐτοῖς μηκέτι λαλεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ μηδενὶ ἀνθρώπων αλλ ινα μη επι πλειον διανεμηθη εις τον λαον απειλη απειλησωμεθα αυτοις μηκετι λαλειν επι τω ονοματι τουτω μηδενι ανθρωπων αλλ ινα μη επι πλειον διανεμηθη εις τον λαον απειλη απειλησομεθα αυτοις μηκετι λαλειν επι τω ονοματι τουτω μηδενι ανθρωπων
And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Καὶ καλέσαντες αὐτοὺς παρήγγειλαν |τὸ| καθόλου μὴ φθέγγεσθαι μηδὲ διδάσκειν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι |τοῦ| Ἰησοῦ και καλεσαντες αυτους παρηγγειλαν αυτοις το καθολου μη φθεγγεσθαι μηδε διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου και καλεσαντες αυτους παρηγγειλαν αυτοις το καθολου μη φθεγγεσθαι μηδε διδασκειν επι τω ονοματι του ιησου

Acts 4:20 (NET)

Acts 4:20 (KJV)

for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἃ εἴδαμεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν μὴ λαλεῖν ου δυναμεθα γαρ ημεις α ειδομεν και ηκουσαμεν μη λαλειν ου δυναμεθα γαρ ημεις α ειδομεν και ηκουσαμεν μη λαλειν

Acts 4:21 (NET)

Acts 4:21 (KJV)

After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οἱ δὲ προσαπειλησάμενοι ἀπέλυσαν αὐτούς, μηδὲν εὑρίσκοντες τὸ πῶς κολάσωνται αὐτούς, διὰ τὸν λαόν, ὅτι πάντες ἐδόξαζον τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ τῷ γεγονότι οι δε προσαπειλησαμενοι απελυσαν αυτους μηδεν ευρισκοντες το πως κολασωνται αυτους δια τον λαον οτι παντες εδοξαζον τον θεον επι τω γεγονοτι οι δε προσαπειλησαμενοι απελυσαν αυτους μηδεν ευρισκοντες το πως κολασονται αυτους δια τον λαον οτι παντες εδοξαζον τον θεον επι τω γεγονοτι

Acts 4:25 (NET)

Acts 4:25 (KJV)

who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things? Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου στόματος Δαυὶδ παιδός σου εἰπών· ἱνατί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά ο δια στοματος δαβιδ του παιδος σου ειπων ινα τι εφρυαξαν εθνη και λαοι εμελετησαν κενα ο δια στοματος δαυιδ παιδος σου ειπων ινα τι εφρυαξαν εθνη και λαοι εμελετησαν κενα

2 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τοὺς preceding elders. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

3 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τοὺς preceding experts in the law (KJV: scribes). The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

4 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐν here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had εις. The Stephanus Textus Receptus also had εις but at the beginning of verse 6.

9 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του ισραηλ (KJV: of Israel) following elders. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

10 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σέσωται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σεσωσται (KJV: is made whole).

12 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐδὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτε (KJV: none).

13 Acts 4:6 (NET)

18 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απειλη (KJV: straitly) preceding warn (KJV: threaten). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

20 NET note 37: Uneducated does not mean “illiterate,” that is, unable to read or write. Among Jews in NT times there was almost universal literacy, especially as the result of widespread synagogue schools. The term refers to the fact that Peter and John had no formal rabbinic training and thus, in the view of their accusers, were not qualified to expound the law or teach publicly. The objection is like Acts 2:7.

23 Acts 4:21, 22 (NET)

24 Acts 4:25b, 26b (NET)

25 Romans 11:25b (NET) Table

Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 7

This is a continuation of a consideration of the differences between the Masoretic text and the Septuagint, a translation of the Hebrew before Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah.  The final clause of the first verse under consideration follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Isaiah 53:10d (Tanakh) Table Isaiah 53:10d (NET) Isaiah 53:10d (NETS)

Isaiah 53:11a (Elpenor English)

and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand (בְּיָד֥וֹ). and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him (yāḏ, בידו). And the Lord wishes to take away (ἀφελεῗν) the Lord also is pleased to take away (ἀφελεῖν) from

I’ve been considering other negative examples[1] in Isaiah of forms of יָד (yāḏ) in the Masoretic text which were not translated literally with forms of χείρ in the Septuagint.  That exercise has yielded two classes of negative examples: “vapor trail” and “no trace.”

Negative Examples

vapor trail

no trace

Isaiah 47:14 Isaiah 10:13
Isaiah 50:11 Isaiah 19:25
Isaiah 56:5 Isaiah 20:2
Isaiah 57:8 Isaiah 25:10
Isaiah 57:10 Isaiah 29:23
Isaiah 64:7
Isaiah 65:22

A vapor trail (contrail) left by an airplane may be fresh and obvious or very diffuse.  Likewise the trail of forms of יָד (yāḏ) left in some of these negative examples is more obvious than others.  There are other examples where the trail back to a form of יָד (yāḏ) has vanished without a trace.  Those cause me to wonder whether a form of יָד (yāḏ) was in the Hebrew text the rabbis translated into Greek.  Which class best describes Isaiah 53:10d, where the rabbis chose ἀφελεῖν (a form of ἀφαιρέω) in the Septuagint?

There are four other occurrences of ἀφελεῖν in the Septuagint to consider.  The first includes יַד (yāḏ) as well.

Masoretic Text Septuagint
Genesis 48:17 (Tanakh) Genesis 48:17 (NET) Genesis 48:17 (NETS)

Genesis 48:17 (Elpenor English)

And when Joseph saw that his father was laying his right hand (יַד) upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he held up his father’s hand (יַד), to remove (לְהָסִ֥יר) it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand (yad, יד) on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him.  So he took his father’s hand (yad, יד) to move (sûr, להסיר) it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Now when Ioseph saw that his father laid his right hand (δεξιὰν) on the head of Ephraim, it seemed grievous to him, and Ioseph took hold of his father’s hand (χειρὸς) to remove (ἀφελεῗν) it from Ephraim’s head to Manasse’s head. And Joseph having seen that his father put his right (δεξιὰν) hand (χεῖρα) on the head of Ephraim– it seemed grievous to him; and Joseph took hold of the hand (χειρὸς) of his father, to remove (ἀφελεῖν) it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasse.

I haven’t yet begun to consider יִצְלָֽח (ṣālēaḥ), shall prosper (Tanakh), will be accomplished (NET).  I will need to consider whether the rabbis understood בְּיָד֥וֹ (yāḏ) יִצְלָֽח (ṣālēaḥ) idiomatically when I do.  Here though, לְהָסִ֥יר (sûr) does not occur in Isaiah 53:10d.  The next example of לְהָסִ֣יר (sûr) translated ἀφελεῖν follows.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
2 Kings 6:32 (Tanakh) 2 Kings 6:32 (NET) 4 Reigns 6:32 (NETS)

4 Kings 6:32 (Elpenor English)

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him; but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders: ‘See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away (לְהָסִ֣יר) my head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him; is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?’ Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders.  The king sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the leaders, “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off (sûr, להסיר) my head?  Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it.  His master will certainly be right behind him.” And Elisaie was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him.  And he sent a man before his presence.  Before the messenger came to him, he also said to the elders, “Are you aware that this son of the murderer sent someone to take off (ἀφελεῗν) my head?  Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and detain him at the door.  Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” And Elisaie was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and [the king] sent a man before him: before the messenger came to him, he also said to the elders, Do ye see that this son of a murderer has sent to take away (ἀφελεῖν) my head? See, as soon as the messenger shall have come, shut the door, and forcibly detain him at the door: [is] not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

In the next example לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙ (ʿāḇar) was translated ἀφελεῖν.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Esther 8:3 (Tanakh) Esther 8:3 (NET) Esther 8:3 (NETS)

Esther 8:3 (Elpenor English)

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away (לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙) the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet.  She wept and begged him for mercy that he might nullify (ʿāḇar, להעביר) the evil of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had intended against the Jews. Then she spoke again to the king, and she fell before his feet and pleaded that he revoke (ἀφελεῗν) the evil of Haman and what he had done to the Judeans. And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and besought [him] to do away (ἀφελεῖν) the mischief of Aman, and all that he had done against the Jews.

Finally, in the following example לִגְר֑וֹעַ (gāraʿ) was translated ἀφελεῖν in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Tanakh) Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NET) Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Elpenor English)

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken (לִגְר֑וֹעַ) from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away (gāraʿ, לגרע) from it.  God has made it this way, so that men will fear him. I know that everything that God has done—it will be forever; to it there is nothing to add, and from it there is nothing to take away (ἀφελεῗν); God has done this so that all should stand in awe before him. I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away (ἀφελεῖν) from it: and God has done [it], that [men] may fear before him.

I searched the BLB Septuagint for all the forms of ἀφαιρέω listed in the Koine Greek Lexicon online (Table below), then made the following table of the forms found in Isaiah.

Reference Chabad.org Tanakh NET Septuagint BLB Septuagint Elpenor
Isaiah 1:16 הָסִ֛ירוּ H5493 put away Remove ἀφέλετε ἀφέλετε
Isaiah 1:25 וְאָסִ֖ירָה H5493 take away remove ἀφελῶ ἀφελῶ
Isaiah 3:1 מֵסִ֚יר H5493 doth take away remove ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 3:18 יָסִ֣יר H5493 will take away will remove ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 4:1 אֱסֹ֖ף H622 to take away take away ἄφελε ἄφελε
Isaiah 5:5 הָסֵ֚ר H5493 I will take away I will remove ἀφελῶ ἀφελῶ
Isaiah 5:8 n/a n/a n/a ἀφέλωνται ἀφέλωνταί
Isaiah 6:7 וְסָ֣ר H5493 is taken away is removed ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 7:17 סוּר H5493 departed departed ἀφεῖλεν ἀφεῖλεν
Isaiah 7:20 תִּסְפֶּֽה H5595 and it shall also consume it will also shave off ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 8:8 וְחָלַ֚ף H2498 And he shall pass It will spill ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 9:4 n/a n/a n/a ἀφῄρηται ἀφῄρηται
Isaiah 9:14 וַיַּכְרֵ֨ת H3772 will cut off cut off ἀφεῖλεν ἀφεῖλε
Isaiah 10:13 וְאָסִ֣יר H5493 and I have removed I invaded ἀφελῶ ἀφελῶ
Isaiah 10:27 יָס֚וּר H5493 shall be taken away will remove ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
Isaiah 11:13 וְסָ֙רָה֙ H5493 shall depart will end ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
Isaiah 14:25 וְסָ֚ר H5493 depart will be removed ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
יָסֽוּר H5493 depart will be lifted ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
Isaiah 16:2 מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח H7971 cast out forced from ἀφῃρημένος ἀφηρημένος
Isaiah 18:5 הֵסִ֥יר H5493 and take away Note 13: he will remove ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 20:2 וּפִתַּחְתָּ֚ H6605 and loose remove ἄφελε ἄφελε
Isaiah 22:17 n/a n/a n/a ἀφελεῖ ἀφελεῖ
Isaiah 22:19 וַֽהֲדַפְתִּ֖יךָ H1920 And I will drive I will remove ἀφαιρεθήσῃ ἀφαιρεθήσῃ
Isaiah 22:25 תָּמוּשׁ֙ H4185 be removed will come loose ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
Isaiah 25:8 וּמָחָ֨ה H4229 will wipe away will wipe away ἀφεῗλεν ἀφεῖλε
יָסִיר֙ H5493 shall he take away and remove ἀφεῖλεν ἀφεῖλεν
Isaiah 27:9 יְכֻפַּ֣ר H3722 be purged will be forgiven ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀφαιρεθήσεται
הָסִ֣ר H5493 to take away are finished ἀφέλωμαι ἀφέλωμαι
Isaiah 28:18 וְכֻפַּ֚ר H3722 shall be disannulled will be dissolved ἀφέλῃ ἀφέλῃ
Isaiah 30:11 הַטּ֖וּ H5186 turn aside stray ἀφέλετε ἀφέλετε
הַשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ H7673 to cease Remove ἀφέλετε ἀφέλετε
Isaiah 38:15 אֶדַּדֶּ֥ה H1718 I shall go softly I will walk slowly ἀφείλατο ἀφείλατό
Isaiah 40:27 יַֽעֲבֽוֹר H5674 is passed over Note 55: passes away ἀφεῖλεν ἀφεῖλε
Isaiah 53:10 n/a n/a n/a ἀφελεῖν ἀφελεῖν
Isaiah 58:9 תָּסִ֚יר H5493 thou take away You…remove ἀφέλῃς ἀφέλῃς

There are sixteen more examples where forms of ἀφαιρέω were chosen for forms of סוּר (sûr).  I’ll consider two of those in detail because they also contain forms of יָד (yāḏ).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Isaiah 1:25 (Tanakh) Table Isaiah 1:25 (NET) Isaiah 1:25 (NETS)

Isaiah 1:25 (Elpenor English)

And I will turn my hand (יָדִי֙) upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away (וְאָסִ֖ירָה) all thy tin: I will attack you [Note 66: turn my hand (yad, ידי) against you]; I will purify your metal with flux.  I will remove (sûr, ואסירה) all your slag. And I will turn my hand (τὴν χεῗρά μου) against you and will burn you to bring about purity.  But the disobedient I will destroy, and I will remove (ἀφελῶ) from you all the lawless and humble all who are arrogant. And I will bring my hand (τὴν χεῖρά μου) upon thee, and purge thee completely, and I will destroy the rebellious, and will take away (ἀφελῶ) from thee all transgressors.

I considered this briefly in another essay.  Here I can focus a bit more attention on it.  There are two clauses in the Septuagint which are no longer found in the Masoretic text:

Isaiah 1:25 (Septuagint BLB) Isaiah 1:25 (NETS) Isaiah 1:25 (Elpenor)

Isaiah 1:25 (Elpenor English)

τοὺς δὲ ἀπειθοῦντας ἀπολέσω But the disobedient I will destroy, τοὺς δὲ ἀπειθοῦντας ἀπολέσω and I will destroy the rebellious,
καὶ πάντας ὑπερηφάνους ταπεινώσω and humble all who are arrogant. καὶ πάντας ὑπηφάνους ταπεινώσω n/a

The Greek word ἀπειθοῦντας, the disobedient (NETS), the rebellious (Elpenor English), is a form of ἀπειθέωBut the Jews who refused to believe (ἀπειθήσαντες, another form of ἀπειθέω) stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers,[2] Luke wrote of Paul and Barnabas in Iconium.  And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient (ἀπειθήσασιν, another form of ἀπειθέω)?[3]  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not (ἀπειθῶν, another form of ἀπειθέω) the Son shall not see life;[4] but the wrath of God abideth on him.[5]

They stumble because they disobey (ἀπειθοῦντες, another form of ἀπειθέω) the word, as they were destined to do,[6] Peter wrote.  For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God.  And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient (ἀπειθούντων, another form of ἀπειθέω) to the gospel of God?[7]  Paul wrote (Romans 2:3-8 NET):

And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment?  Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?  But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed [Table]!  He will reward each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey (ἀπειθοῦσι, another form of ἀπειθέω) the truth but follow unrighteousness [Table].

Paul also wrote (Romans 11:28-32 NET):

In regard to the gospel they [the descendants of Israel who do not obey the truth; e.g., Jesus] are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.  For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.  Just as you[8] were formerly disobedient (ἠπειθήσατε, another form of ἀπειθέω) to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience (ἀπειθείᾳ), so they too have now been disobedient (ἠπείθησαν, another form of ἀπειθέω) in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now[9] receive mercy.  For God has consigned all people to disobedience (ἀπείθειαν, a form of ἀπείθεια) so that he may show mercy to them all.

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

Present

ἀφαιρεῖται
Exodus 5:11 Leviticus 4:10 Job 9:21 Proverbs 13:18 Proverbs 14:35
ἀφαιρῆτε
Numbers 18:30 Numbers 18:32
ἀφαιροῦνται
Proverbs 1:19 Proverbs 11:30
ἀφαιροῦσιν
Leviticus 22:15 1 Samuel 17:39 2 Samuel 4:7

Present Participles

ἀφαιρῶν
Exodus 34:7 Exodus 35:24 Numbers 4:18
ἀφαιρουμένῳ
Psalm 76:12

Future

ἀφαιρεθήσετα
Numbers 36:3 Numbers 36:4 Isaiah 10:27 Isaiah 11:13 Isaiah 14:25
Isaiah 22:25 Isaiah 27:9 Jeremiah 6:2 Ezekiel 48:14 Zechariah 10:11
ἀφαιρεθήσῃ
Isaiah 22:19
ἀφελεῖ
Genesis 40:9 Leviticus 1:16 Leviticus 2:9 Leviticus 6:10 Leviticus 6:15
Job 36:7 Isaiah 3:1 Isaiah 3:18 Isaiah 6:7 Isaiah 7:20
Isaiah 8:8 Isaiah 18:5 Isaiah 22:17
ἀφελεῖς
Exodus 5:8 Exodus 13:12 Exodus 34:9 Deuteronomy 12:32
ἀφελεῖτε
Numbers 15:19 Numbers 15:20 Numbers 18:26 Numbers 18:28 Numbers 18:29
Numbers 31:28 Deuteronomy 4:2
ἀφελοῦμαι
Hosea 2:9
ἀφελοῦνται
Ezekiel 26:16
ἀφελοῦσιν
Jeremiah 11:15 Ezekiel 23:25
ἀφελῶ
Exodus 33:23 Numbers 11:17 1 Samuel 17:36 1 Samuel 17:46 2 Samuel 16:9
Isaiah 1:25 Isaiah 5:5 Isaiah 10:13 Ezekiel 36:26

Aorist

ἀφείλαντο
Genesis 21:25 1 Samuel 7:14 Job 24:7 Job 24:10
ἀφεῖλας
Job 38:15
ἀφείλατο
Genesis 31:9 Genesis 31:16 1 Samuel 30:18 1 Chronicles 11:23 Esther 8:2
Job 1:21 Isaiah 38:15
ἀφεῖλεν
Genesis 30:23 Leviticus 8:29 Leviticus 19:21 1 Samuel 17:51 1 Samuel 24:4
1 Samuel 24:5 2 Samuel 20:22 1 Kings 15:12 1 Kings 20:41 1 Chronicles 19:4
Job 19:9 Isaiah 7:17 Isaiah 9:14 Isaiah 25:8 Isaiah 40:27
ἀφεῖλον
Numbers 31:52 Joshua 5:9
ἀφείλου
Job 22:6 Exekiel 21:26
ἄφελε
Isaiah 4:1 Isaiah 20:2
ἀφελεῖν
Genesis 48:17 2 Kings 6:32 Esther 8:3 Ecclesiastes 3:14 Isaiah 53:10
ἀφελέσθαι
Esther 4:4 Micah 2:8
ἀφέλεσθε
Exodus 33:5 Ezekiel 45:9
ἀφέλετε
Isaiah 1:16 Isaiah 30:11 Zechariah 3:4
ἀφελέτω
Numbers 21:7
ἀφέλῃ
Isaiah 28:18
ἀφέλῃς
Genesis 31:31 Proverbs 30:7 Isaiah 58:9 Jeremiah 26:2
ἀφέλητε
Leviticus 10:17
ἀφελοῦ
Proverbs 26:7 Proverbs 27:13
ἀφέλωμαι
Isaiah 27:9
ἀφέλωνται
Isaiah 5:8
ἀφέλωσιν
Numbers 18:19
ἀφῃρέθη
Daniel 5:20

Perfect

ἀφῄρηκα
1 Samuel 24:11 Zechariah 3:4
ἀφῃρημένα
1 Samuel 5:4
ἀφῃρημένοι
1 Samuel 21:6
ἀφῃρημένος
Isaiah 16:2
ἀφῄρηται
Exodus 29:27 Judges 21:6 Proverbs 4:16 Isaiah 9:4

Tables comparing Genesis 48:17; 2 Kings 6:32; Esther 8:3 and Ecclesiastes 3:14 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 48:17; 2 Kings (4 Reigns, 4 Kings) 6:32; Esther 8:3 and Ecclesiastes 3:14 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing John 3:36 and Romans 11:30, 31 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 48:17 (Tanakh)

Genesis 48:17 (KJV)

Genesis 48:17 (NET)

And when Joseph saw that his father was laying his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him.  So he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

Genesis 48:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 48:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἰδὼν δὲ Ιωσηφ ὅτι ἐπέβαλεν ὁ πατὴρ τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν Εφραιμ βαρὺ αὐτῷ κατεφάνη καὶ ἀντελάβετο Ιωσηφ τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀφελεῗν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς Εφραιμ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν Μανασση ἰδὼν δὲ ᾿Ιωσὴφ ὅτι ἐπέβαλεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ τὴν χεῖρα τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ᾿Εφραΐμ, βαρὺ αὐτῷ κατεφάνη, καὶ ἀντελάβετο ᾿Ιωσὴφ τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἀφελεῖν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς ᾿Εφραΐμ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν Μανασσῆ

Genesis 48:17 (NETS)

Genesis 48:17 (English Elpenor)

Now when Ioseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it seemed grievous to him, and Ioseph took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasse’s head. And Joseph having seen that his father put his right hand on the head of Ephraim– it seemed grievous to him; and Joseph took hold of the hand of his father, to remove it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasse.

2 Kings 6:32 (Tanakh)

2 Kings 6:32 (KJV)

2 Kings 6:32 (NET)

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him; but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders: ‘See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him; is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?’ But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him? Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders.  The king sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the leaders, “Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?  Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it.  His master will certainly be right behind him.”

2 Kings 6:32 (Septuagint BLB)

4 Kings 6:32 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ Ελισαιε ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἐκάθηντο μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἄνδρα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πρὶν ἐλθεῗν τὸν ἄγγελον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτὸς εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους εἰ οἴδατε ὅτι ἀπέστειλεν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ φονευτοῦ οὗτος ἀφελεῗν τὴν κεφαλήν μου ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ ἄγγελος ἀποκλείσατε τὴν θύραν καὶ παραθλίψατε αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ θύρᾳ οὐχὶ φωνὴ τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ κατόπισθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ ῾Ελισαιὲ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἐκάθηντο μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἄνδρα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πρὶν ἐλθεῖν τὸν ἄγγελον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτὸς εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους· εἰ οἴδατε ὅτι ἀπέστειλεν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ φονευτοῦ οὗτος ἀφελεῖν τὴν κεφαλήν μου; ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ ἄγγελος, ἀποκλείσατε τὴν θύραν· καὶ παραθλίψατε αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ θύρᾳ· οὐχὶ φωνὴ τῶν ποδῶν τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ κατόπισθεν αὐτοῦ

4 Reigns 6:32 (NETS)

4 Kings 6:32 (English Elpenor)

And Elisaie was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him.  And he sent a man before his presence.  Before the messenger came to him, he also said to the elders, “Are you aware that this son of the murderer sent someone to take off my head?  Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and detain him at the door.  Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” And Elisaie was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and [the king] sent a man before him: before the messenger came to him, he also said to the elders, Do ye see that this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? See, as soon as the messenger shall have come, shut the door, and forcibly detain him at the door: [is] not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

Esther 8:3 (Tanakh)

Esther 8:3 (KJV)

Esther 8:3 (NET)

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet.  She wept and begged him for mercy that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had intended against the Jews.

Esther 8:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Esther 8:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ προσθεῗσα ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ προσέπεσεν πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἠξίου ἀφελεῗν τὴν Αμαν κακίαν καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησεν τοῗς Ιουδαίοις καὶ προσθεῖσα ἐλάλησε πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα καὶ προσέπεσε πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἠξίου ἀφελεῖν τὴν ᾿Αμὰν κακίαν καὶ ὅσα ἐποίησε τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις

Esther 8:3 (NETS)

Esther 8:3 (English Elpenor)

Then she spoke again to the king, and she fell before his feet and pleaded that he revoke the evil of Haman and what he had done to the Judeans. And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and besought [him] to do away the mischief of Aman, and all that he had done against the Jews.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Tanakh)

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NET)

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it.  God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἔγνων ὅτι πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός αὐτὰ ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν προσθεῗναι καὶ ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφελεῗν καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐποίησεν ἵνα φοβηθῶσιν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἔγνων ὅτι πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός, αὐτὰ ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστι προσθεῖναι, καὶ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφελεῖν, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐποίησεν, ἵνα φοβηθῶσιν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (English Elpenor)

I know that everything that God has done—it will be forever; to it there is nothing to add, and from it there is nothing to take away; God has done this so that all should stand in awe before him. I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done [it], that [men] may fear before him.

John 3:36 (NET)

John 3:36 (KJV)

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life.  The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν υἱὸν ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον· ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ υἱῷ οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν, ἀλλ᾿ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ μένει ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν ο πιστευων εις τον υιον εχει ζωην αιωνιον ο δε απειθων τω υιω ουκ οψεται ζωην αλλ η οργη του θεου μενει επ αυτον ο πιστευων εις τον υιον εχει ζωην αιωνιον ο δε απειθων τω υιω ουκ οψεται την ζωην αλλ η οργη του θεου μενει επ αυτον

Romans 11:30, 31 (NET)

Romans 11:30, 31 (KJV)

Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὥσπερ γὰρ ὑμεῖς ποτε ἠπειθήσατε τῷ θεῷ, νῦν δὲ ἠλεήθητε τῇ τούτων ἀπειθείᾳ ωσπερ γαρ και υμεις ποτε ηπειθησατε τω θεω νυν δε ηλεηθητε τη τουτων απειθεια ωσπερ γαρ και υμεις ποτε ηπειθησατε τω θεω νυν δε ηλεηθητε τη τουτων απειθεια
so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὕτως καὶ οὗτοι νῦν ἠπείθησαν τῷ ὑμετέρῳ ἐλέει, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ [νῦν] ἐλεηθῶσιν ουτως και ουτοι νυν ηπειθησαν τω υμετερω ελεει ινα και αυτοι ελεηθωσιν ουτως και ουτοι νυν ηπειθησαν τω υμετερω ελεει ινα και αυτοι ελεηθωσιν

[1] Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 3; Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 4; Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 5; Isaiah 53:10-12, Part 6

[2] Acts 14:2 (NET) Table

[3] Hebrews 3:18 (NET)

[4] The Byzantine Majority Text had the article την preceding life.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

[5] John 3:36 (KJV)

[6] 1 Peter 2:8b (NET)

[7] 1 Peter 4:17 (NET)

[8] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και preceding you (KJV: ye).  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

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