Nielsen’s Nook

Commentary

[1] σκληρύνητε (σκληρύνω) in the LXX this is used to describe the disposition of indifferent self-absorption that results in further alienation from the Lord. 1 Clement 51:3a alluding to Psalm 95:7-11 reads, “For it is good for a man to make confession of his trespasses rather than to harden (σκληρῦναι) his heart, as the heart of those was hardened (ἐσκληρύνθη) who made sedition against Moses the servant of God” (Lightfoot, Apostolic Fathers). In light of the Love that the Lord had shown to Israel’s fathers, God’s people were commanded: καὶ περιτεμεῖσθε τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν καὶ τὸν τράχηλον ὑμῶν οὐ σκληρυνεῖτε ἔτι (Deuteronomy 10:16 LXX). Circumcise your hardheartedness and do not let your necks remain stiff (author’s translation).

[2] πειρασμοῦ the testing of God by people (BAGD, 641).

[3] ἐπείρασαν … ἐν δοκιμασίᾳ tested me with trials. BAGD suggests “put to the test” and follows the NRSV and ESV. The NIV renders “tested and tried me”. The KJV is significantly different because it follows the Byzantine Text at which has variations from the NA27.

Hebrews 3:9 in the Byzantine Text reads, οὗ ἐπείρασαν με  οἱ πατέρες ὑμῶν, ἐδοκιμασάν με, καὶ εἶδον τὰ ἔργα μου τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη. The variations between the two texts are as follows:

1. The word με is supplied where in the NA27 it is assumed.
2. ἐδοκιμασάν με (Byz) “they tested me” instead of ἐν δοκιμασίᾳ “with testing” (NA27).
3. Verse 9 ends with καὶ εἶδον τὰ ἔργα μου in the NA27; however, in the Byzantine Text it continues through the first two words (τεσσεράκοντα ἔτη) of NA27 verse 10.
4. Lastly, the last two words of Byzantine verse 9 are τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη where the corresponding first two words of verse 10 in the NA27 read τεσσεράκοντα ἔτη. Both are rendered “forty.”

[4] τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ “with this generation” in the NA27 meets τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ “with that generation” in the Byzantine Text. We chose to render the text as “with that generation” because conceptually the generation reading these words in Psalm 95 was altogether different than the one about which the Psalm speaks.

[5] Technically there is no negative particle in this sentence. It is a conditional ellipses which begins with the ὡς at the beginning of verse 11 (BAGD, 897). Literally, the Greek renders “As I swore in my wrath, if they will enter into my rest…” Parents speak to their disobedient children like this, “Son I’ve already told you a thousand times and if you do that one more time …” The force of the ellipses is that in abrupt ending, the silence of the incomplete thought looms ominously. Conceptually, the result of that generation coming into the Lord’s rest would be catastrophic because of the oath that God swore in his wrath. Thus, the verse is rendered “They will never enter into my rest.”

[6] κατάπαυσίν (κατάπαυσις) rest. 2 Maccabees 15:1 uses this word to refer to Sabbath rest.