Nielsen’s Nook

Nielsen’s Nook
Nielsen’s Nook
Contemplative, reflective, and irenic we pray.
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Translation and Commentary on Hebrews 2:13

Will Nielsen
June 15th, 2008
Tags: • • • • •

Translation

13 and again,

[a] I will depend upon him.

and again,

[b] Behold, I and the children which God has given me … [c]

Commentary

[a] Isaiah 12:2 appears to have the greatest correlation with Hebrews 2:13, reading אֶבְטַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אֶפְחָ֑ד in the MT. I will trust [or rely upon] and not be afraid (author’s translation). This MT rendition of Isaiah 12:2 helps in understanding the semantic scope. Hebrews 2:13 is a direct quotation of Isaiah 12:2 LXX which reads, πεποιθὼς ἔσομαι ἐπ̓ αὐτῷ. I will depend upon him (author’s translation).

[b] This is a clear quotation of Isaiah 8:18 LXX, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ παιδία, ἅ μοι ἔδωκεν ὁ θεός, καὶ ἔσται εἰς σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Ισραηλ παρὰ κυρίου σαβαωθ, ὃς κατοικεῖ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Σιων. Behold, I and the children which God has given me, are even the signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of Hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion (author’s translation).

[c] Keeping in mind that the New Testament writers had not the versification and chapter divisions we currently employ in the current day, it would seem plausible that this quotation is only partial because it is intended to draw the larger passage that it begins to mind. In the context of Isaiah, this would be something like, God who has been hiding his face from Zion (Isaiah 8:17) has given us hope in sending his Son; for behold, unto us a child is born (Isaiah 9)!

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