They seek a country (crartpida érifntotcw). The verb is found in LXX, chiefly in the sense of seeking after God or another deity. See 2K. i. 8,6; iii. 11; viii. 8; xxii. 18; 2 Chron. xviii. 6. Comp. émufnrouuérn modus a city sought after (Zion), Isa. lxii. 12. Tlartpés is a native country; a fatherland. Only here and in Gospels and Acts. Quite often in LXX.
15. If they had been mindful (ed éuvnudvevor). In N. T. habitually remember. So invariably in LXX. The meaning here is, that if, in their declaration (ver. 14) that they were
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seeking a country, they had called to mind the country from which they came out, they could have returned thither, so that it is evident that they did not mean that country.*
To have returned (avaxdyya:). Rend. “to return.” Lit. bend their way back again (ava).
16. Now they desire (viv dpéyorta). Nov now is logical : as the case now stands. For dpéyovra: desire, see on 1 Tim. iii. 1.
Is not ashamed (ov« éraicyvverat). Because they have commended themselves to God by their faith, so that he acknowledges them as his own. Comp. ch. ii. 11; Mk. viii. 28, 38; Rom. i. 16; 2 Tim. i. 8, 16.
To be called their God (eds émixareicOa aitav). Lit. to be surnamed. Comp. Acts iv. 36; x. 5,18,32. God was called the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. See Ex. iii. 6.
For he hath prepared for them a city (jro/uacey yap avtois modwv). Comp. Matt. xxv. 84; J.xiv.2; Apoc. xxi. 2. City is significant, as showing that the fulfilment of God’s promise lies in introducing them into the perfection of social life. Comp. Apoc. iii. 12; xxi. 2,10; xxii. 19.
* Some interpreters render éuvynusvevoy mentioned, citing 1 Th. i. 3, and Heb, xi. 22, where the verb is followed by wept with the genitive. In both these cases, however, the meaning remember is quite possible. Grammatical testimony is confusing. There are instances in Class. where the verb signi- fies mention, as Plato, Legg. 646 B, with accusative: also with wepi and geni- tive. Winer says positively that verbs of making mention do not take a genitive in the N. T. (xxx, 10,c). On the other hand, the verb in the sense of remember, though mostly with the genitive, is sometimes found with the accusative, as Matt. xvi. 9; 1 Th. ii. 9; 2 Tim. ii. 8. So in Class. Neither Class. nor N. T. furnishes any sufficient reason why the verb in Heb. xi. 22 should not be rendered remembered. TIlep! is constantly used in connection with mental operations, as ¢porvritey. The kindred verb piuriocKxecda is used with wep and the genitive meaning remember; see Tob. iv. 1, and comp. Homer, Od. vii, 192; Hdt. i, 86: ix, 45; Plato, Phileb. 31 A. Mvnudcuvos memorial is found with wep! and genitive, Ex. xxviii. 12.
524 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. XL
17. When he was tried offered up (apocevyvoxer mretpa€- duevos). The full sense of the statement is missed in A.V. The meaning is that while the trial is yet in progress, Abraham hath already offered up his son, before the trial has come to an issue, by the act of his obedient will, through faith in God. Comp. Jas. ii. 21.
He that had received (6 dvadcEduevos). The verb only here and Acts xxviii. 7. It means to accept; to welcome and entertain. So Rev. gladly received.
Accounting (Aoyiodpevos). See on] Pet. v.12; Rom.iv.5; viii. 18.
From whence (é4ev). Rend. wherefore: because of his faith in God’s power and truthfulness. “O@ev, though occas- ionally in a local sense in N. T., as Matt. xii. 44; L. xi. 24; Acts xiv. 26, is much more common in the logical or causal sense, wherefore, on which account. So in every other