Cu. VI] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 447
Meet for them by whom it is dressed (evOerov éexelvass dv ots Kal yewpyeirat). For edGerov, lit. well placed, thence fit or appropriate, see L. ix. 62; xiv. 85. Tewpyeiv to till the ground, N. T.°. Rend. ttlled. Dress is properly to trim. The natural result of the ground’s receiving and absorbing the rains is fruitfulness, which redounds to the benefit of those who cultivate it.
Receiveth blessing from God (petarauBaver edroyias amo ToD Oeov). Rend. partaketh of blessing. The blessing is increased fruitfulness. Comp. Matt. xiii. 12; J. xv. 2.
8. But that which beareth thorns and briers (éx¢épovca dé axavOas kal tpiBdrovs). Wrong. As given in A. V. the illustration throws no light on the subject. It puts the con- trast as between two kinds of soil, the one well-watered and fertile, the other unwatered and sterile. This would illustrate the contrast between those who have and those who have not enjoyed gospel privileges. On the contrary the contrast is between two classes of Christians under equally favorable conditions, out of which they develop opposite results. Rend. but if it (the ground that receives the rain) bear thorns and thistles, etc. “AxavOat thorns, from ax a point. TptBoros, from tpeis three and Bédos a dart; having three darts or points. A ball with sharp iron spikes, on three of which it rested, while the fourth projected upward, was called tribulus or tribolus, or caltrop. These were scattered over the ground by Roman soldiers in order to impede the enemy’s cavalry. _ A kind of thorn or thistle, a land-caltrop, was called tribulus So Virgil,
‘ Subit aspera silva, Lappaeque tribulique.”’
Georg. i. 153. Is rejected (adcxiuos). Lit. wnapproved. See on repro- bate, Rom. i. 28.
Nigh unto cursing (cardpas éyyis). See on Gal. iii. 10. Enhancing the idea of rejected. It is exposed to the peril of abandonment to perpetual barrenness.
448 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cz. VI.
Whose end is to be burned (fjs 70 TéAos eis Katow). “Hs whose, of which, may be referred to cursing — the end of which cursing: but better to the main subject, 4 the land. Tédos is consummation rather than termination. Eis cadow, lit. unto burning. Comp. LXX, Isa. xl. 16. The consummation of the cursed land is burning. Comp. J. xv. 6. The field of thorns and thistles is burned over and abandoned to barrenness.*
9, But the writer refuses to believe that his readers will incur such a fate.
Beloved (ayamnro/). Only here in the epistle. It often suggests an argument. See 1 Cor. x. 14; xv. 58; 2 Cor. vii. 1.
We are persuaded (qremreiope0a). We are firmly convinced. The verb indicates a past hesitation overcome.
Better things (7a xpetocova). The article gives a collect- ive force, the better state of things, the going on unto perfec- tion (ver. 1). For «pelocova better, see on ch. i. 4.
That accompany salvation (éyoueva cwrnpias). “EyeoOar with a genitive is a common Greek idiom meaning to hold one’s self to a person or thing ; hence to be closely joined to it. So in a local sense, Mk. i. 88; in a temporal sense, L. xiii. 33, neat. He is persuaded that they will give heed to all things which attend the work of salvation and will enjoy all that attaches to a saved condition.
10. He is encouraged in this confidence by the fact that they are still as formerly engaged in Christian ministries.
Your work and labour of love (tod gpyou tuav Kai Tijs aydrns). Omit labour. The A.V. follows T. R. rod xézrov. Rend. your work and the love which ye shewed, etc.
* The reference to Sodom and Gomorrah (Liinemann, Bleek) is forced, and perhaps equally so that of Westcott to volcanic fires. There is no thought of purification by fire, which would be foreign to the subject.