11. Sarah. Faith prevailing against natural impossibili- ties. See Rom. iv. 19-22. Both Abraham and Sarah doubted at first (Gen. xvii. 17; xviii. 12); but both became per- suaded of the truthfulness of the promise.
Herself (atr7). She who at first doubted.
To conceive seed (eis xataBornv omdpyaros). In every other instance in N. T. xaraBody means foundation, and appears in the phrase xataBor) xéopov foundation of the world. Originally it means throwing down; hence, the depos- iting of the male seed in the womb. The sentence may be explained either, “received strength as regarded the deposi- tion of seed,” to fructify it; or, “received strength for the foundation of a posterity,” omépya being rendered in accord-
Cu. XL] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 521
ance with ch. ii. 16; xi. 18, and xataS8or% in the sense of foundation, as everywhere else in N. T.
And was delivered of a child when she was past age (kal Tapa Katpov 7ALKlas). Was delivered of a child not in the text. Kal and that. Rend. “received strength,” etc., ‘cand that when she was past age.” IZapa xaipov 7AcKias, lit. past the season of age. Yor #AtKia see on stature, L. xii. 25.
12. As good as dead (vevecpmudvov). Comp. Rom. iv. 19. As good as is an addition of A. V. The Greek reads and that a dead man. Comp. véxpwotv deadness applied to Sarah, Rom. iv. 19.
Stars—sand. See Gen. xxii. 17; xxxii. 12.
By the seashore (capa 70 yeiAos THs Oardoons). Lit. by the lip of the sea. ‘The phrase N. T.°. Very often in LXX, as Gen. xxii. 17; Ex. xiv. 30:-lip of a river, Gen. xli. 17; Ex. vii. 15: of a brook, Deut. ii. 86; iii. 12: of Jordan, 2K. ii. 18. So in Class. The vigour thus supernaturally imparted to Abraham does not appear to have exhausted itself in the generation of Isaac; since, according to Gen. xxy. 2, Abraham became by Keturah the father of six sons after the death of Sarah.
13. In faith (xara rictw). See on ver. 7.
_ Not having received (7) oysodyevor). See on ch. x. 36. They died according to faith, inasmuch as they did not receive. They died under the regimen of faith, and not of sight. For the phrase xouifew tas émrayyedlas to receive the promises, comp. ch. x. 86; xi. 39.
Having seen them afar off (mdppwOev airas iddvtes). By faith ; from afar. ,
Were persuaded of them and embraced them (ao7rac- duevor). The A. V. completely destroys the beauty of this
§22 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Ca. XL
verse. It reads were persuaded, following T. R. retoOevres, and translates d4o07acdpevor embraced, which is a sort of infer- ential rendering of the original sense to salute or greet. Rend. “having seen them from afar and greeted them”: as seamen wave their greeting to a country seen far off on the horizon, on which they cannot land. Liinemann appropriately quotes Virgil, Aen. iii. 522: ‘¢Cum procul obscuros collis humilemque videmus
Italiam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates, Italiam laeto socii clamore salutant.”’
Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims (ouo- Noynoavtes OTe Edvor nal traper(onuor). They admitted and accepted the fact with the resignation of faith, and with the assurance of future rest. Comp. Gen. xxiii. 4; xxiv. 37; xxviii. 4; xlvii. 9; Ps. xxxix. 12; cxix.19, 54. For wapemi- Snot sojourners, see on 1 Pet. i. 1. In the anonymous Epistle to Diognetus, an apologetic letter, probably of the second century, and one of the gems of early Christian litera- ture, occur the following words concerning Christians : “They inhabit their own country, but as sojourners: they take part in all things as citizens, and endure all things as aliens: every foreign country is theirs, and every country is foreign.”
14. Declare plainly (€udaviGovow). °P. See on J. xiv. 21. Occasionally in LXX. Rend. “make it manifest.”