62. They made signs (évévevov). Imperfect tense. While the colloquy between Elizabeth and her friends was going on, they were consulttng Zacharias by signs.
63. Writing-table (aivaxédcov). Table was formerly used in the sense of tablet. Thus Shakspeare:
‘Yea, from the table of my memory, Dll wipe away all trivial fond records.” Hamlet, i., 5.
Tynd., writing-tables. The meaning is a little writing-tablet, probably covered with wax. Only here in the New Testament. Used by medical writers of a physician’s note-book. Wyc. has a poyntel, i.e., a style for writing.
Wrote, saying. A Hebrew form of expression. See 2 Kings x. 6.
64. Immediately (sapaypjua). Occurring nineteen times in the New Testament, and seventeen of these in Luke. Thirteen of the seventeen are in connection with miracles of healing, or- the infliction of disease or death. Used in a similar way by medical writers.
65. Were noised abroad (S:anenciro). Were mutually (Sid) talked of.
69. Horn. Compare Ps. exxxii. 17.
Cu. L.] LUKE. 265
70. That have been since the world began (am aidvos). A needlessly verbose rendering, retained by Rev. The Ameri- can Rey. insists on of odd.
74. Serve (Aatpevew). Originally to serve for hire, from Nadtpov, hire. Plato uses it of the service of God.
75. Holiness and righteousness (courte Kal Sixavocvvy). The adjective dcvos, holy, is properly what is confirmed by an- cient sanction and precept. ‘Ocia is used in classical Greek to denote the everlasting principles of right, not constituted by the laws or customs of men, but antedating them ; such as the pay- ing of the proper rites of sepulture. Compare the fine passage in the “ Antigone” of Sophocles (453-55) :
‘* Nor did I deem thy edicts strong enough, That thou, a mortal man, shouldst overpass The unwritten laws of God that know not change. They are not of to-day nor yesterday, But live forever, nor can man assign When first they sprang to being.”
Hence oovorys is concerned primarily with the eternal laws of God. It is “the divine consecration and inner truth of right- cousness” (Meyer). Throughout the New Testament its look is godward. In no case is it used of moral excellence as re- lated to men, though it is to be carefully noted that dccacoovvn, righteousness, is not restricted to rightness toward men.. Com- pare Eph. iv. 24; true holiness ; literally, holiness of the truth.
77. Knowledge of salvation. Wye. has the science of health.
78. Tender mercy (omddyxyva €édéous). Lit., bowels of mercy. See on 1 Pet, iii. 8; Jas. v.11. Rev. gives heart of mercy in margin. Wye., frightfully, entradls of mercy.
The day-spring from on high (avatony &€& inpous). Lit., the rising. The word occurs in the Septuagint as a rendering
266 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu, IT.
of branch, as something rising or springing up, by which the Messiah is denoted (Jer. xxiii. 5; Zech. vi. 12). Also of the rising of a heavenly body (Isa. 1x. 19, Sept.). Compare the kindred verb arise (avaréXXq) in Isa. lx. 1; Mal. iv. 2. This latter is the sense here. See on Matt. ii. 2. Wye. has he springing up from on high.
Hath visited (é7ecxéwarto). See on Matt. xxv. 36; 1 Pet. ii. 12. Some, however, read émicnéyrerat, shall visit. So Rev.
79. To guide (xatevdiva). From etdvs, straight. Wye. has dress, which is formed through the old French dresser, to arrange, from the Latin dirigere, to set in a straight line, draw up. Hence the military term dress for arranging a line.
80. The deserts (rats épyuois). The article indicating a well-known place.
Shewing (avaceiEews). The word was used of the public announcement of an official nomination; hence of the public inauguration of John’s ministry.