The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 3

Then [Jesus] dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son [Table].  And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.  Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”[1]

Jesus’ instruction sounds so strange.  Alexander MacLaren wrote of his words, “I hear in them, first, the voice of despairing love abandoning the conflict.”[2]

If I have rightly construed the meaning of the incident, this is the plain meaning of it. And you will observe that the Revised Version, more accurately and closely rendering the words of our text, begins with a ‘Therefore.’ ‘Therefore said Jesus unto him,’ because the die was cast; because the will of Judas had conclusively welcomed Satan, and conclusively rejected Christ; therefore, knowing that remonstrance was vain, knowing that the deed was, in effect, done, Jesus Christ, that Incarnate Charity which ‘believeth all things, and hopeth all things,’ abandoned the man to himself, and said, ‘There, then, if thou wilt thou must. I have done all I can; my last arrow is shot, and it has missed the target. That then doest, do quickly.’

I, too, want more emotional conflict in this scene.  But John’s Gospel narrative continued (John 13:28, 29 NET):

Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas.  Some thought that because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

Nothing of the high drama Mr. MacLaren and I crave was evident to others present at the time.  In fact, John, who was privy (John 13:23-26) to this exchange, didn’t write any drama into the scene, certainly not that Jesus had lost a contest of wills to Judas Iscariot or Satan and was abandoning the field.  On the contrary, the Greek word translated do in the phrase do quickly was ποίησον, an imperative form of ποιέω.  In John’s Gospel narrative Jesus commanded Judas Iscariot, What you are about to do, do quickly, and Judas (and Satan apparently) obeyed Him (John 13:30a NET):

Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately.[3]

Did Jesus just absolve Judas Iscariot of his betrayal?  Mr. MacLaren’s description of Jesus as the “Incarnate Charity” caught my ear.  Should he have paid more heed to the fact that Charity never faileth (NET: ends)?[4]

David’s son Absalom hated his half brother Amnon ever since Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister (2 Samuel 13:1-22).  Two years laterAbsalom instructed his servants, “Look!  When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there.  Don’t fear!  Is it not I who have given you these instructions?  Be strong and courageous!”  So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed.[5]  It is taken for granted here that Absalom killed Amnon rather than the unnamed servants who carried out his command.

When David got the clever idea to kill Uriah the Hittite by commanding Joab to station him at the front in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed,[6] יהוה (Yehovah) sent Nathan the Prophet to David (2 Samuel 12:1a), not to Joab who had carried out the command.  Nathan said to David (2 Samuel 12:9 NET [Table]):

Why have you shown contempt for the Lord’s (Yehovah, יהוה) decrees by doing evil in my sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife to be your own wife!  You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Jesus was intent on fulfilling the Scriptures.  It shouldn’t surprise me that He would take ultimate responsibility for Judas’ betrayal.  I think the tendency to judge Judas before the time, to condemn him prematurely to an eternity in the lake of fire, makes it more difficult to see or believe Jesus’ intervention here.

So I’ll begin the longer task of studying the Greek words, starting with ἀπώλετο (a form of ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπόλλω, ἀπολλύω), translated lost in Jesus’ prayer:  Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.[7]

The first two occurrences of ἀπώλετο in the Septuagint are found in the book of Job.  I had planned to skip them because this book is tricky.  For the most part the advice Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar gave Job seemed alright to my religious mind.  Yehovah disagreed.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 42:7b (Tanakh) Job 42:7b (NET) Job 42:7b (NETS)

Job 42:7b (Elpenor English)

the LORD (יְהֹוָה֜) said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. he (Yehovah, יהוה) said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has. the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true in my presence, as has my attendant Iob. the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job [has].

In one day Job heard that his five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys had been stolen.  The servants who attended them were killed (Job 1:13-15).  His seven thousand sheep and their attendants were burned up in a lightning strike (Job 1:16).  His three thousand camels were stolen and their attendants were also killed (Job 1:17).  His seven sons and three daughters, eating and drinking together in one house, died when a windstorm brought the house down on them (Job 1:18, 19).  Later Job was afflicted with oozing sores (Job 2:7, 8).

Eliphaz, one of the three who came to comfort Job (Job 2:11-13), after seven days and seven nights of sitting silently with him, spoke in answer to Job’s longing for death (Job 3).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 4:7 (Tanakh) Job 4:7 (NET) Job 4:7 (NETS)

Job 4:7 (Elpenor English)

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished (אָבָ֑ד), being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off (נִכְחָֽדוּ)? Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished (ʼâbad, אבד)?  And where were upright people ever destroyed (kâchad, נכחדו)? “Think now, who, being pure, perished (ἀπώλετο), or when did the true perish (ἀπώλοντο) root and all? Remember then who has perished (ἀπώλετο), being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed (ἀπώλοντο)?

His words seem fairly typical of the way the religious mind rationalizes the misfortune of others.  To say them out loud to Job’s face is less typical but not unheard of.  Though the first half of Job 4:12 is missing from the Masoretic text, the Septuagint puts a fine point on the thrust of Eliphaz’s discourse: But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee.[8]  The reader of the book of Job knows, however, that all of these evils fell upon Job precisely because he was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.[9]

Job was not dead.  He was not burning in a lake of fire for all eternity.  He had lost his family, his servants, his possessions, his health and his desire to live.  The Hebrew word translated perished was אָבָ֑ד (ʼâbad).

The definition from Strong’s Concordance reads: “to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy).”  The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon reads: “to be lost, to lose oneself, to wander…especially used of a lost and wandering sheep…”  This helps considerably.

This word describes the one who wanders away from God, not away from the flock necessarily.  A herd mentality is portrayed as a negative example in Scripture.  The Bible is a collection of stories about clans and entire nations that wandered away from God interspersed with stories of individuals who pursued Him and followed where He led.  The first occurrence of אָבַד (ʼâbad) follows here.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 10:7 (Tanakh) Exodus 10:7 (NET) Exodus 10:7 (NETS)

Exodus 10:7 (Elpenor English)

And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him: ‘How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve HaShem their G-d, knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed (אָֽבְדָ֖ה)?’ Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a menace to us?  Release the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed (ʼâbad, אבדה)?” Then the attendants of Pharao say to him, “For how long will this be a stumbling-block for us?  Send away the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Or do you wish to know that Egypt lies in ruins (ἀπόλωλεν)?” And the servants of Pharao say to him, How long shall this be a snare to us? send away the men, that they may serve their God; wilt thou know that Egypt is destroyed (ἀπόλωλεν)?

Again, though אָֽבְדָ֖ה (ʼâbad) was translated is destroyed the narrative clearly explained what the Egyptians had lost.  They lost readily accessible fresh water and fish for seven days when the waters were turned to blood (Exodus 7:14-25).  They lost their comfort and peace to an invasion of frogs for a time (Exodus 8:1-15), then to gnats (Exodus 8:16-19) and finally to swarms of flies (Exodus 8:20-32).  They lost livestock, horses, donkeys, camels, herds and flocks to disease (Exodus 9:1-7), people’s health and comfort to boils (Exodus 9:8-12) and then some lost people, livestock, barley and flax to hail damage (Exodus 9:18-32).  Others saved their people and livestock.

This distinction among the Egyptians was stated explicitly (Exodus 9:20, 21 NET):

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the Lord’s message hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the Lord’s message seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Though it seems a bit odd to think of Egyptians as having wandered away from יהוה (Yehovah), He has an entirely different perspective than my history teachers had.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 9:14-16 (Tanakh) [Tableb] Exodus 9:14-16 (NET) Exodus 9:14-16 (NETS)

Exodus 9:14-16 (Elpenor English)

For I will this time send all My plagues upon thy person, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For at the present time I am sending out all my encounters into the heart of you and your attendants and your people so that you may know that there is no other like me in all the land. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off (וַתִּכָּחֵ֖ד) from the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed (kachad, ותכחד) from the earth. For if now I sent my hand, I would strike you and your people with death, and you would be destroyed (ἐκτριβήσῃ) from the land. For now I will stretch forth my hand and smite thee and kill thy people, and thou shalt be consumed (ἐκτριβήσῃ) from off the earth.
But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth. And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

Here the possibility of a more complete destruction was וַתִּכָּחֵ֖ד (kachad) in Hebrew and the rabbis chose ἐκτριβήσῃ (a form of ἐκτρίβω) in the Septuagint.  In the table above נִכְחָֽדוּ (kachad) occurred in Eliphaz’s second rhetorical question: or where were the righteous cut off?  Here the rabbis chose ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο.  Though ἀπώλοντο is another form of ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπόλλω, ἀπολλύω, it is telling to me that they felt the need to add ὁλόρριζοι (a form ὁλόρριζος; NETS: “root and all”) to match the intensity of נִכְחָֽדוּ (kachad).

The second occurrence of ἀπώλετο in the Septuagint is found in Job’s lament.  Actually, I can’t tell if Job was lamenting his loss of social status, confessing (if not repenting of) his treatment of those he considered of lower social or moral status, or justifying himself.  A skillful actor would have a field day with the emotional depth of this monologue.  It bears mentioning that this is a glimpse into the mores of wealthy men, not the families of Job’s dead servants, for instance, lamenting their loss.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 30:1-3 (Tanakh) Job 30:1-3 (NET) Job 30:1-3 (NETS)

Job 30:1-3 (Elpenor English)

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. “But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs. “But now they have laughed me to scorn; now the least of them reprove me in turn—[whose fathers I used to disdain] whom I did not deem worthy of my shepherd dogs! But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished (אָ֣בַד)? Moreover, the strength of their hands—what use was it to me?  Those whose strength had perished (ʼâbad, אבד), indeed, the strength of their hands—what is it to me?  Completion perished (ἀπώλετο) upon them. Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost (ἀπώλετο).
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. gaunt with want and hunger, they would roam the parched land, by night a desolate waste. In want and hunger, he was childless, those who yesterday were fleeing in an arid place, dismay and misery, [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

Here, the fathers Job disdained are said to have lost old age, the strength to complete the full term of life from want and hunger.

Tables comparing 2 Samuel 13:28; 13:29; 11:15; Job 42:7; 4:7; 4:12; 1:1; Exodus 10:7; 9:20; 9:21; 9:14; 9:15; 9:16; Job 30:1; 30:2 and 30:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and 2 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 13:28; 13:29; 11:15; Job 42:7; 4:7; 4:12; 1:1; Exodus 10:7; 9:20; 9:21; 9:14; 9:15; 9:16; Job 30:1; 30:2 and 30:3 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  A table comparing John 13:30 in the NET and KJV follows those.

2 Samuel 13:28 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 13:28 (KJV)

2 Samuel 13:28 (NET)

And Absalom commanded his servants, saying: ‘Mark ye now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you: Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.’ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. Absalom instructed his servants, “Look! When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there.  Don’t fear!  Is it not I who have given you these instructions?  Be strong and courageous!”

2 Samuel 13:28 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 13:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνετείλατο Αβεσσαλωμ τοῗς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ λέγων ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἀγαθυνθῇ ἡ καρδία Αμνων ἐν τῷ οἴνῳ καὶ εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς πατάξατε τὸν Αμνων καὶ θανατώσατε αὐτόν μὴ φοβηθῆτε ὅτι οὐχὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῗν ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς υἱοὺς δυνάμεως καὶ ἐνετείλατο ᾿Αβεσσαλὼμ τοῖς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἀγαθυνθῇ ἡ καρδία ᾿Αμνὼν ἐν τῷ οἴνῳ καὶ εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς· πατάξατε τὸν ᾿Αμνών, καὶ θανατώσατε αὐτόν· μὴ φοβηθῆτε, ὅτι οὐχὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐντελλόμενος ὑμῖν; ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς υἱοὺς δυνάμεως

2 Reigns 13:28 (NETS)

2 Kings 13:28 (English Elpenor)

And Abessalom commanded his lads, saying, “Watch, when the heart of Amnon is made good with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon, and put him to death.’  Don’t be afraid, for I am—I am commanding you, am I not?  Act like men and be sons of power.” And Abessalom charged his servants, saying, Mark when the heart of Amnon shall be merry with wine, and I shall say to you, Smite Amnon, and slay him: fear not; for is it not I that command you?  Be courageous, and be valiant.

2 Samuel 13:29 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 13:29 (KJV)

2 Samuel 13:29 (NET)

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed.  Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

2 Samuel 13:29 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 13:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐποίησαν τὰ παιδάρια Αβεσσαλωμ τῷ Αμνων καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῗς Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἀνέστησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπεκάθισαν ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμίονον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγαν καί ἐποίησαν τὰ παιδάρια ᾿Αβεσσαλὼμ τῷ ᾿Αμνὼν καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ᾿Αβεσσαλώμ. καὶ ἀνέστησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπεκάθισαν ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμίονον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγαν

2 Reigns 13:29 (NETS)

2 Kings 13:29 (English Elpenor)

And the lads of Abessalom did to Amnon just as Abessalom had commanded them.   And all the sons of the king rose, and they sat, a man upon his mule, and fled. And the servants of Abessalom did to Amnon as Abessalom commanded them: and all the sons of the king rose up, and they mounted every man his mule, and fled.

2 Samuel 11:15 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 11:15 (KJV)

2 Samuel 11:15 (NET)

And he wrote in the letter, saying: ‘Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.’ And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. In the letter he wrote: “Station Uriah at the front in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.”

2 Samuel 11:15 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 11:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ λέγων εἰσάγαγε τὸν Ουριαν ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῦ πολέμου τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ πληγήσεται καὶ ἀποθανεῗται καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐν βιβλίῳ λέγων· εἰσάγαγε τὸν Οὐρίαν ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῦ πολέμου τοῦ κραταιοῦ, καὶ ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πληγήσεται ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πληγήσεται καὶ ἀποθανεῖται

2 Reigns 11:15 (NETS)

2 Kings 11:15 (English Elpenor)

And he wrote in the document, saying, “Lead Ourias opposite the hardest fighting, and you shall draw back from behind him, and he will be struck and will die.” And he wrote in the letter, saying, Station Urias in front of the severe [part] of the fight, and retreat from behind him, so shall he be wounded and die.

Job 42:7 (Tanakh)

Job 42:7 (KJV)

Job 42:7 (NET)

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.

Job 42:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 42:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι τὸν κύριον πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα τῷ Ιωβ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος Ελιφας τῷ Θαιμανίτῃ ἥμαρτες σὺ καὶ οἱ δύο φίλοι σου οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἐνώπιόν μου ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν ὥσπερ ὁ θεράπων μου Ιωβ ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι τὸν Κύριον πάντα τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα τῷ ᾿Ιώβ, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος ᾿Ελιφὰζ τῷ Θαιμανίτῃ· ἥμαρτες σὺ καὶ οἱ δύο φίλοι σου· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἐνώπιόν μου ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν ὥσπερ ὁ θεράπων μου ᾿Ιώβ

Job 42:7 (NETS)

Job 42:7 (English Elpenor)

Now it happened after the Lord spoke all these words to Iob, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true in my presence, as has my attendant Iob. And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, [that] the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job [has].

Job 4:7 (Tanakh)

Job 4:7 (KJV)

Job 4:7 (NET)

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished?  And where were upright people ever destroyed?

Job 4:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 4:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μνήσθητι οὖν τίς καθαρὸς ὢν ἀπώλετο ἢ πότε ἀληθινοὶ ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο μνήσθητι οὖν, τίς καθαρὸς ὢν ἀπώλετο ἢ πότε ἀληθινοὶ ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο

Job 4:7 (NETS)

Job 4:7 (English Elpenor)

“Think now, who, being pure, perished, or when did the true perish root and all? Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

Job 4:12 (Tanakh)

Job 4:12 (KJV)

Job 4:12 (NET)

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. “Now a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.

Job 4:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 4:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ δέ τι ῥῆμα ἀληθινὸν ἐγεγόνει ἐν λόγοις σου οὐθὲν ἄν σοι τούτων κακὸν ἀπήντησεν πότερον οὐ δέξεταί μου τὸ οὖς ἐξαίσια παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰ δέ τι ρῆμα ἀληθινὸν ἐγεγόνει ἐν λόγοις σου, οὐθὲν ἄν σοι τούτων κακὸν ἀπήντησε. πότερον οὐ δέξεταί μου τὸ οὖς ἐξαίσια παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Job 4:12 (NETS)

Job 4:12 (English Elpenor)

But if there had been anything truthful in your words, nothing bad in them would have met you.  “Will my ear not receive remarkable things from him? But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee.  Shall not mine ear receive excellent [revelations] from him?

Job 1:1 (Tanakh)

Job 1:1 (KJV)

Job 1:1 (NET)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.  And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil

Job 1:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αυσίτιδι ᾧ ὄνομα Ιωβ καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῗνος ἀληθινός ἄμεμπτος δίκαιος θεοσεβής ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ τις ἦν ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αὐσίτιδι, ᾧ ὄνομα ᾿Ιώβ, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ἀληθινός, ἄμεμπτος, δίκαιος, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος

Job 1:1 (NETS)

Job 1:1 (English Elpenor)

There was a certain man in the land of Ausitis, whose name was Iob, and that man was genuine, blameless, righteous, religious, staying away from every evil thing. There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name [was] Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, [and] godly, abstaining from everything evil.

Exodus 10:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 10:7 (KJV)

Exodus 10:7 (NET)

And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him: ‘How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve HaShem their G-d, knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?’ And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a menace to us?  Release the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?”

Exodus 10:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 10:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ θεράποντες Φαραω πρὸς αὐτόν ἕως τίνος ἔσται τοῦτο ἡμῗν σκῶλον ἐξαπόστειλον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὅπως λατρεύσωσιν τῷ θεῷ αὐτῶν ἢ εἰδέναι βούλει ὅτι ἀπόλωλεν Αἴγυπτος καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ θεράποντες Φαραὼ πρὸς αὐτόν· ἕως τίνος ἔσται τοῦτο ἡμῖν σκῶλον; ἐξαπόστειλον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ὅπως λατρεύσωσι τῷ Θεῷ αὐτῶν· ἢ εἰδέναι βούλῃ ὅτι ἀπόλωλεν Αἴγυπτος

Exodus 10:7 (NETS)

Exodus 10:7 (English Elpenor)

Then the attendants of Pharao say to him, “For how long will this be a stumbling-block for us?  Send away the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Or do you wish to know that Egypt lies in ruins?” And the servants of Pharao say to him, How long shall this be a snare to us? send away the men, that they may serve their God; wilt thou know that Egypt is destroyed?

Exodus 9:20 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:20 (KJV)

Exodus 9:20 (NET)

He that feared the word of HaShem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses; He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the Lord’s message hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses,

Exodus 9:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ φοβούμενος τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου τῶν θεραπόντων Φαραω συνήγαγεν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ὁ φοβούμενος τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου τῶν θεραπόντων Φαραὼ συνήγαγε τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους

Exodus 9:20 (NETS)

Exodus 9:20 (English Elpenor)

The one among Pharao’s attendants who feared the word of the Lord gathered his animals into dwellings. He of the servants of Pharao that feared the word of the Lord, gathered his cattle into the houses.

Exodus 9:21 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:21 (KJV)

Exodus 9:21 (NET)

and he that regarded not the word of HaShem left his servants and his cattle in the field. And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field. but those who did not take the Lord’s message seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Exodus 9:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς δὲ μὴ προσέσχεν τῇ διανοίᾳ εἰς τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ἀφῆκεν τὰ κτήνη ἐν τοῗς πεδίοις ὃς δὲ μὴ προσέσχε τῇ διανοίᾳ εἰς τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου, ἀφῆκε τὰ κτήνη ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις

Exodus 9:21 (NETS)

Exodus 9:21 (English Elpenor)

But whoever did not pay attention with his mind to the word of the Lord left the animals on the plain. And he that did not attend in his mind to the word of the Lord, left the cattle in the fields.

Exodus 9:14 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:14 (KJV)

Exodus 9:14 (NET)

For I will this time send all My plagues upon thy person, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

Exodus 9:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν τῷ γὰρ νῦν καιρῷ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω πάντα τὰ συναντήματά μου εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων σου καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου ἵν᾽ εἰδῇς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ἐγὼ ἄλλος ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ ἐν τῷ γὰρ νῦν καιρῷ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω πάντα τὰ συναντήματά μου εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων σου καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου, ἵνα εἰδῇς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ἐγὼ ἄλλος ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

Exodus 9:14 (NETS)

Exodus 9:14 (English Elpenor)

For at the present time I am sending out all my encounters into the heart of you and your attendants and your people so that you may know that there is no other like me in all the land. For at this present time do I send forth all my plagues into thine heart, and the heart of thy servants and of thy people; that thou mayest know that there is not another such as I in all the earth.

Exodus 9:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:15 (KJV)

Exodus 9:15 (NET)

Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth.

Exodus 9:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νῦν γὰρ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῗρα πατάξω σε καὶ τὸν λαόν σου θανάτῳ καὶ ἐκτριβήσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς νῦν γὰρ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρα πατάξω σε, καὶ τὸν λαόν σου θανατώσω, καὶ ἐκτριβήσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς

Exodus 9:15 (NETS)

Exodus 9:15 (English Elpenor)

For if now I sent my hand, I would strike you and your people with death, and you would be destroyed from the land. For now I will stretch forth my hand and smite thee and kill thy people, and thou shalt be consumed from off the earth.

Exodus 9:16 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:16 (KJV)

Exodus 9:16 (NET)

But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης, ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου, καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

Exodus 9:16 (NETS)

Exodus 9:16 (English Elpenor)

And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

Job 30:1 (Tanakh)

Job 30:1 (KJV)

Job 30:1 (NET)

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. “But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs.

Job 30:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νυνὶ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι νῦν νουθετοῦσίν με ἐν μέρει ὧν ἐξουδένουν πατέρας αὐτῶν οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην εἶναι ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων ΝΥΝΙ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι, νῦν νουθετοῦσί με ἐν μέρει ὧν ἐξουδένουν τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων

Job 30:1 (NETS)

Job 30:1 (English Elpenor)

“But now they have laughed me to scorn; now the least of them reprove me in turn—[whose fathers I used to disdain] whom I did not deem worthy of my shepherd dogs! But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.

Job 30:2 (Tanakh)

Job 30:2 (KJV)

Job 30:2 (NET)

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? Moreover, the strength of their hands—what use was it to me? Those whose strength had perished,

Job 30:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἵνα τί μοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια καί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἱνατί μοι; ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια

Job 30:2 (NETS)

Job 30:2 (English Elpenor)

indeed, the strength of their hands—what is it to me?  Completion perished upon them. Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.

Job 30:3 (Tanakh)

Job 30:3 (KJV)

Job 30:3 (NET)

For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. gaunt with want and hunger, they would roam the parched land, by night a desolate waste.

Job 30:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν ἐν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος· οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν,

Job 30:3 (NETS)

Job 30:3 (English Elpenor)

In want and hunger, he was childless, those who yesterday were fleeing in an arid place, dismay and misery, [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

John 13:30 (NET)

John 13:30 (KJV)

Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.) He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λαβὼν οὖν τὸ ψωμίον ἐκεῖνος ἐξῆλθεν εὐθύς. (ἦν δὲ νύξ.) λαβων ουν το ψωμιον εκεινος ευθεως εξηλθεν ην δε νυξ λαβων ουν το ψωμιον εκεινος ευθεως εξηλθεν ην δε νυξ

[1] John 13:26b, 27 (NET)

[2] BibleHub, John 13:27, MacLaren’s Expositions

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εὐθύς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ευθεως.

[4] 1 Corinthians 13:8 (KJV) Table

[5] 2 Samuel 13:28, 29a (NET)

[6] 2 Samuel 11:15 (NET)

[7] John 17:12b (NET) Table

[8] Job 4:12a (Elpenor)

[9] Job 1:1b (Tanakh)

Fear – Exodus, Part 3

The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Release my people so that they may serve me!”’”[1]  This is the seventh plague on Egypt.  You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them, the Lord continued.  I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place.  Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die![2]

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared (yârêʼ)[3] the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.[4]  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used φοβούμενος (a form of φοβέω).[5]  Jesus told a parable about a judge who neither feared (φοβούμενος) God nor respected people.[6]  But even this judge could be persuaded by a widow’s persistenceI will give her justice, the judge said, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.[7]  But even after six other plagues happened as prophesied by Moses there were still those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously.  The rabbis used προσέσχεν[8] (hold to), they did not hold to the word of the Lord.

It caused me to consider that those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously were actually hardened.  The judge did not fear God but could be persuaded by his own inconvenience.  To lose one’s animals and slaves is a major inconvenience.  Six out of six plagues would seemingly convince one that the seventh was possible if not likely.  Reason alone would persuade one to take precautions at least at the time of day prophesied simply to avoid the greater inconvenience of losing everything.  But only those who feared the word of the Lord acted rationally.  It gave me the impression that the others believed (though did not fear) that the word was the Lord’s, and acted contrary to his word because it was his word.  They were hardened.

The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt.  The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.  So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time!  The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are guilty.  Pray to the Lord, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much!  I will release you and you will stay no longer.”[9]

Moses promised to pray that the hail cease.  But as for you, He said to Pharaoh, and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear (yârêʼ) the Lord God.[10]  In the Septuagint the rabbis used πεφόβησθε,[11] (afraid).  This form was not used in the New Testament.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts.  So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses.[12]  Pharaoh certainly believed the word was the Lord’s as a fact, but he did not fear that word.  Here I begin to grasp the fear of the Lord as something that is combined with factual acceptance to become New Testament faith, as opposed to dead faith or faith alone.

This fear is obviously not a flight of terror but a conviction to act in accordance with the word (Septuagint: ῥῆμα) of the Lord.  In New Testament terms it would be equivalent to the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.[13]  And this is because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[14]  In a similar sense the New Testament meaning of the fear of the Lord is equivalent to the love of God: Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.  The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.  But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected.[15]

Luke used the phrase fear of the Lord in this association with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened.   Living[16] in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.[17]  At first glance Paul seemed to use fear of the Lord in a more fearful sense: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.  Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people[18]

If I expand the context, however, Paul spoke first of faith: For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.[19]  While the natural person clings to this earthly tent for dear life we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.[20]  Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose, Paul continued (including by the way appearing before the judgment seat of Christ) is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.[21]  So is any of this a cause to be fearful?

Paul continued (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NET):

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord – for we live by faith, not by sight.  Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

And what is this ambition to please him but the fear of the LordTherefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.[22]  For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[23]

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.[24]

So before Christ was crucified, rose again, ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit was given to provide this love, this desire and this effort, the Lord cultivated fear to motivate his people:  The Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order to display these signs of mine before him, and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”[25]  Perhaps more to the point was Moses’ response to Israel’s fear when God spoke the law at Sinai: Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.[26]

Fear – Exodus, Part 4

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Back to Fear – Numbers, Part 4


[1] Exodus 9:13 (NET)

[2] Exodus 9:17-19 (NET)

[4] Exodus 9:20, 21 (NET)

[6] Luke 18:2 (NET)

[7] Luke 18:5 (NET)

[9] Exodus 9:25-28 (NET)

[10] Exodus 9:30 (NET)

[12] Exodus 9:34, 35 (NET)

[13] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

[14] Romans 9:16 (NET)

[15] 1 John 2:3-5a (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular πορευομένη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural πορευομεναι (KJV: walking).

[17] Acts 9:31 (NET) [Table] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular ἐπληθύνετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural επληθυνοντο (KJV: were multiplied).

[18] 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11 (NET)

[19] 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

[20] 2 Corinthians 5:4 (NET)

[21] 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NET)

[22] 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NET)

[23] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[24] 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NET)

[25] Exodus 10:1, 2 (NET)

[26] Exodus 20:20 (NET)