19. The creation which God created. Note the peculiar amplification, and compare ver. 20, the elect or chosen whom he chose.
20. Shortened. See on Matt. xxiv. 22.
29. Shall shew (Sacovew). Lit., shall give. A few editors, however, read troujcovow, shall make or do.
24. Light (féyyos).. The word is used in the New Testament wherever the light of the moon is referred to. Compare Matt. xxiy. 29, the only other instance. It occurs also in Luke xi. 33, but meaning the light of a lamp.
224 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XIII.
25. The stars of heaven shall fall. A rendering which falls very far short of the graphic original: of aorépes écovtas €x Tov ovpavov rimtovtes : the stars shall be falling from heaven. So Rey., thus giving the sense of continwousness, as of a shower of falling stars.
27. From the uttermost part of the earth to the utter- most part of heaven (am dxpou yijs ws dxpov otpavod). From the outermost border of the earth, conceived as a flat surface, to where the outermost border of the heaven sets a limit to the earth. Compare Matt. xxiv. 31. Mark’s expression is more poetical.
28. Parable. See on Matt. xxiv. 32. Branch. Seeon Mark xi. 8.
29. Come to pass (ywpueva). The present participle, and therefore better as Rev., coming to pass ; in process of Fulfil- metn.
383. Watch (aypumveire). The word is derived from dypeto, to hunt, and bzvos, sleep. The picture is of one in pursut of sleep, and therefore wakeful, restless. Wyc.’s rendering of the whole passage is striking: See / wake ye and pray ye!
34, A man taking a far journey (4v9pwzros amroénuos). The A. V. is incorrect, since the idea is not that of a man about to go, a8 Matt. xxv. 14; but of one already gone. So Wye., gone Sar in pilgrimage ; and Tynd., which is gone into a strange country. The two words form one notion—a man abroad. Rev., syjourning in another country.
35. Watch (ypnyopetre). A different word from that in ver. 33. See also ver. 34. The picture in this word is that of a sleeping man rousing himself. While the other word conveys the idea of simple wakefulness, this adds the idea of alertness. Compare Matt. xiv. 88; Luke xii. 87; 1 Pet. v. 8. The apos-
_ Cx. XV.) MARK. 995
tles are thus compared with the doorkeepers, ver. 84; and the night season isin keeping with the figure. In the temple, dur- ing the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a par- ticular manner. Any guard found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Apoc. xvi. 15: “ Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments.” The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. “ Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him” (Edersheim, “ The Temple”).
37. Watch. The closing and summary word is the stronger word of yer. 35: Be awake and on guard.
OHAPTER XIV. 1. The feast of the passover and the unleavened bread (rd rdoya kal ta afvpa). Lit., the passover and the unleavened.
It was really one and the same festival.
Sought (éfjrovv). Imperfect tense: wereall this while seek- mg.
3-9. Compare Matt. xxvi. 6-13. 3. Alabaster box. See on Matt. xxvi. 7.
Spikenard (vapsov muatixns). The meaning of microns is greatly disputed. The best authorities define it genwine or unadulterated : pure nard.
Brake. Possibly by striking the brittle neck of the flask. This detail is peculiar to Mark.