Jedidiah, Part 3

Apparently God sent Nathan to forgive David while David still believed he had gotten away with his cover up.  God was certainly overreaching the limits of our contract.  More to the point, probably, He was shattering and prying away the pieces of the hard shell my contract had become, a shell that was preventing me from knowing Him.  After I saw God’s overreaching with David, I saw it with Jesus and Peter, too (Luke 22:31-34 NET).

Simon, Simon, pay attention!  Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers [Table].  But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”  And Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me” [Table].

Was I going completely nuts?  Or had Jesus covered for Peter by transmuting foreknowledge of Peter’s three strike denial into a prophetic utterance as sure and certain as any prophecy in Scripture?

Cleanse me of my sin! David’s song continued.  For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.  Against you – you above all – I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.1

Joshua said to Achan, My son, honor the Lord God of Israel and give him praise!  Tell me what you did; don’t hide anything from me!2  David amplified how confession of sin honors and praises God:  The repentant sinner agrees with God and proclaims in effect, you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.  Paul quoted this same verse in his letter to the Romans, so that you will be justified (δικαιωθῇς, a form of δικαιόω in your words and will prevail when you are judged (κρίνεσθαι, a form of κρίνω).3 Here again, Paul quoted from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament completed about 200 years before the birth of Jesus, but Bible translators have preferred the Hebrew text since about the fifth century.  Below is a comparison of the text from Isaiah 51:4b in the Septuagint and the Greek text of Romans 3:4b used for the NET translation.

Blue Letter Bible (Septuagint)

NET Bible (Greek parallel text)

ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου καὶ νικήσῃς ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

Isaiah 51:4b

οπως αν δικαιωθης εν τοις λογοις σου και νικησεις εν τω κρινεσθαι σε

Romans 3:4b

I found a website by Bill Braun4 that is very helpful for these quotations from the Septuagint (except Acts).  He actually knows Greek, and wrote of these verses: “There is only one difference between the Greek texts.  This involves a change in the form of the verb νικάω.  The NT presents the verb in the future active indicative (νικήσεις), whereas the LXX uses the aorist active subjunctive form (νικήσῃς). This difference does not significantly effect the meaning of the passage.”

Though I haven’t read everything on his site yet, I get the impression that Mr. Braun is a peacemaker.  He sees the differences between the Hebrew and Greek texts as mostly insubstantial.  I am not so holy.  I see that at a specific point in time before Jesus was born the Hebrew was translated into Greek a certain way.  Then after Jesus was rejected as Messiah that translation can no longer be teased out of the Hebrew.  Am I being anti-Semitic or blaming the Jews?  On the contrary, I admire their faith.  I’ve practically admitted that I would do the same thing.  But this is how faith works.

One’s faith obviously effects one’s scholarship.  It chooses what one sees, why one pursues it, and how one interprets it.  The point isn’t will my faith make a fool of me.  Of course it will.  Eventually faith in anything or anyone will either make me foolish, or make me appear foolish to others.  That really isn’t the question.  The question is, Is Jesus worthy of my faith whether I am, or appear to be, foolish or not?  The keepers of the Hebrew language of the Old Testament have bet the farm on their faith that Jesus is not their Messiah.  I am betting that Jesus is Yahweh become human flesh.

To get back to David’s song, I’ve already mentioned what sense might be made of, So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me, as translated from Hebrew currently.  What possible sense could so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged have made two centuries before Jesus was born?  Who judges God?  Well, every one of us judges God, every moment of everyday.  Granted, those of us with a philosophical bent of mind do it consciously more often than others.

Consider how cruelly Jephthah judged God when he sacrificed his daughter to keep a reckless vow.  How harshly might he judge God for forgiving David for adultery and murder if David did not confess, Against you – you above all – I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight, the very thing Jephthah refused to acknowledge about his oath?

Consider how foolishly the men of Ezra’s day judged the God who hates divorce, when they divorced their foreign wives and sent their children away to earn his favor.  How harshly might they judge God for forgiving David for adultery and murder if David did not pray, Wash away my wrongdoing!  Cleanse me of my sin!  For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin, the very thing the men of Ezra’s day did not do as they tried to establish their own righteousness according to the law?5  For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.6 

Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, David’s song continued, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.7  David was not acknowledging that his mother was a uniquely sinful woman who gave birth to especially sin-filled children, but that all parents are sinners who give birth to sinful children like themselves.  [F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans.  But they are justified (δικαιούμενοι, another form of δικαιόω) freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat (ἱλαστήριον) accessible through faith.8

The mercy seat was the top of the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies in the temple in Jerusalem.  In this ark, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews explained, were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.  And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat (ἱλαστήριον) [Table].9  The high priest entered into the most holy place once a year not without blood that he offer[ed] for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.  The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.10

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come.11  He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption,12 the writer of Hebrews concluded.

This was to demonstrate his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη), Paul continued in his letter to the Romans, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.  This was also to demonstrate13 his righteousness (δικαιοσύνης, a form of δικαιοσύνη) in the present time, so that he would be just (δίκαιον, a form of δίκαιος) and the justifier (δικαιοῦντα, another form of δικαιόω) of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.14

It is difficult to judge the Lord Jesus too harshly for forgiving David, or anyone else for that matter, since He accepted the death penalty in our place.  But forgiveness as a concept in the Bible doesn’t end here.

 

Addendum: December 16, 2019
A table comparing Psalm 51:4 translated from the Masoretic text and the Septuagint follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Psalm 51:4 (Tanakh) Psalm 51:4 (NET) Psalm 50:6 (NETS)

Psalm 50:6 (Elpenor English)

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Against you—you above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. Against you alone did I sin, and what is eveil before you I did, so that you may be justified in your words and be victorious when you go to law. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Here is the last clause—and be clear when thou judgest —as defined by Morfix.

Psalm 51:4d (51:6d)

Hebrew Tanakh Homographs English Definitions
תִּזְכֶּ֥ה תזכה and be clear זָכָה to win (lottery, prize); to achieve, to get
זִכָּה (law) to acquit; to grant (right, privilege, favor etc.); (accounting) to credit; to grant, to provide
זֻכָּה to be acquitted
בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ when thou judgest שָׁפַט to judge; to sentence; (sports) to referee

Though Morfix recognized a passive form (“to be acquitted”) for תזכה (Tanakh: and be clear; NET: you are right), neither בְשָׁפְטֶֽךָ (Tanakh: when thou judgest) nor בשפטך (NET: when you condemn me) elicited any passive form.  The Greek κρίνεσθαί is a middle/passive form of κρίνω, but when I consider the definitions in the Koine Greek Lexicon—“to dispute, quarrel, debate; to contest a legal case; to contend with, contest with”—I begin to question whether when thou art judged is the most precise English translation.

Tables comparing Psalm 51:3; 51:4; Joshua 7:19; Ezra 10:3 and Psalm 51:5 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 51:3 (50:5); 51:4 (50:6); Joshua 7:19; Ezra (2 Esdras) 10:3 and Psalm 51:5 (50:7) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  Following those are tables comparing Hebrews 9:11 and Romans 3:26 in the NET and KJV.

Psalm 51:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 51:3 (KJV)

Psalm 51:3 (NET)

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.

Psalm 51:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 50:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι τὴν ἀνομίαν μου ἐγὼ γινώσκω καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία μου ἐνώπιόν μού ἐστιν διὰ παντός ὅτι τὴν ἀνομίαν μου ἐγὼ γινώσκω, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία μου ἐνώπιόν μού ἐστι διαπαντός

Psalm 50:5 (NETS)

Psalm 50:5 (English Elpenor)

because my lawlessness I know and my sin is ever before me. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.

Psalm 51:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 51:4 (KJV)

Psalm 51:4 (NET)

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Against you—you above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.

Psalm 51:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 50:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

σοὶ μόνῳ ἥμαρτον καὶ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ἐποίησα ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῗς λόγοις σου καὶ νικήσῃς ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε σοὶ μόνῳ ἥμαρτον καὶ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιόν σου ἐποίησα, ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσῃς ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

Psalm 50:6 (NETS)

Psalm 50:6 (English Elpenor)

Against you alone did I sin, and what is eveil before you I did, so that you may be justified in your words and be victorious when you go to law. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Joshua 7:19 (Tanakh)

Joshua 7:19 (KJV)

Joshua 7:19 (NET)

And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, honor the Lord God of Israel and give him praise!  Tell me what you did; don’t hide anything from me.”

Joshua 7:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Joshua 7:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τῷ Αχαρ δὸς δόξαν σήμερον τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ Ισραηλ καὶ δὸς τὴν ἐξομολόγησιν καὶ ἀνάγγειλόν μοι τί ἐποίησας καὶ μὴ κρύψῃς ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ῎Αχαρ· δὸς δόξαν σήμερον τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ δὸς τὴν ἐξομολόγησιν καὶ ἀνάγγειλόν μοι τί ἐποίησας καὶ μὴ κρύψῃς ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ

Joshua 7:19 (NETS)

Joshua 7:19 (English Elpenor)

And Iesous said to Achar, “Give glory today to the Lord, God of Israel, and make the confession.  And tell me what you have done, and do not hide it from me.” And Joshua said to Achar, Give glory this day to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession; and tell me what thou hast done, and hide it not from me.

Ezra 10:3 (Tanakh)

Ezra 10:3 (KJV)

Ezra 10:3 (NET)

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our G-d to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of HaShem, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our G-d; and let it be done according to the law. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law.

Ezra 10:3 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Esdras 10:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ νῦν διαθώμεθα διαθήκην τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν ἐκβαλεῗν πάσας τὰς γυναῗκας καὶ τὰ γενόμενα ἐξ αὐτῶν ὡς ἂν βούλῃ ἀνάστηθι καὶ φοβέρισον αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐντολαῗς θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ ὡς ὁ νόμος γενηθήτω καὶ νῦν διαθώμεθα διαθήκην τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν ἐκβαλεῖν πάσας τὰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰ γενόμενα ἐξ αὐτῶν, ὡς ἂν βούλη· ἀνάστηθι, καὶ φοβέρισον αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐντολαῖς Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, καὶ ὡς ὁ νόμος γενηθήτω.

2 Esdras 10:3 (NETS)

2 Esdras 10:3 (English Elpenor)

And now let us make a covenant with our God to cast out all the women and the issue from them, however you want.  Arise, and scare them with the commandments of our God, and let it be done according to the law. Now then let us make a covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and their offspring, as thou shalt advise: [4a] arise, and alarm them with the commands of our God; and let [it] be done according to the law.

Psalm 51:5 (Tanakh)

Psalm 51:5 (KJV)

Psalm 51:5 (NET)

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me. Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 50:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἐν ἀνομίαις συνελήμφθην καὶ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ἐκίσσησέν με ἡ μήτηρ μου ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἐν ἀνομίαις συνελήφθην, καὶ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις ἐκίσσησέ με ἡ μήτηρ μου

Psalm 50:7 (NETS)

Psalm 50:7 (English Elpenor)

For, look, I was conceived in lawlessness, and in sin did my mother crave for me. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

Hebrews 9:11 (NET)

Hebrews 9:11 (KJV)

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν γενομένων ἀγαθῶν διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως χριστος δε παραγενομενος αρχιερευς των μελλοντων αγαθων δια της μειζονος και τελειοτερας σκηνης ου χειροποιητου τουτ εστιν ου ταυτης της κτισεως χριστος δε παραγενομενος αρχιερευς των μελλοντων αγαθων δια της μειζονος και τελειοτερας σκηνης ου χειροποιητου τουτ εστιν ου ταυτης της κτισεως

Romans 3:26 (NET)

Romans 3:26 (KJV)

This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐν τῇ ἀνοχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ, πρὸς τὴν ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ, εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν δίκαιον καὶ δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ εν τη ανοχη του θεου προς ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου εν τω νυν καιρω εις το ειναι αυτον δικαιον και δικαιουντα τον εκ πιστεως ιησου εν τη ανοχη του θεου προς ενδειξιν της δικαιοσυνης αυτου εν τω νυν καιρω εις το ειναι αυτον δικαιον και δικαιουντα τον εκ πιστεως ιησου

1 Psalm 51:2b-4 (NET) Table

2 Joshua 7:19 (NET)

3 Romans 3:4 (NET) Table

4 Mr. Braun’s site is no longer accessible online.  This is a little like an author who quoted from a manuscript that is no longer extant.

5 Ezra 10:3 (NET)

6 Romans 10:3 (NET)

7 Psalm 51:5 (NET)

8 Romans 3:23-25a (NET)

9 Hebrews 9:4b, 5a (NET)

10 Hebrews 9:7, 8 (NET)

12 Hebrews 9:11, 12 (NET)

13 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τὴν preceding demonstrate (πρὸς τὴν ἔνδειξιν; literally: “to the proof”).  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

14 Romans 3:25b-26 (NET)