Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - Hebrews 3:12 - 3:12
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Note how the following exhortation is colored by the O.T. citation: evil heart; the to-day; be hardened; take heed (βλέπετε). See to it. Often in warnings or admonitions: sometimes with ἀπὸ from, with genitive of that against which the warning is given, as Mar 8:15; Mar 12:38; but so only in the Gospels. In construction connect with διὸ Heb 3:7; therefore beware.
Lest there be (μήποτε ἔσται)
The indicative with μὴ lest shows that with the fear that the event may occur, there is blended a suspicion that it will occur.
In any of you (ἔν τινι ὑμῶν)
They are appealed to individually.
An evil head of unbelief (καρδία πονηρὰ ἀπιστίας)
The whole phrase N.T.o. Neither do the combinations evil heart or heart of unbelief occur elsewhere. In lxx, among nearly a thousand instances of καρδία heart, καρδία πονηρὰ evil heart appears only five times, and in three of the five in apocryphal books. See Sir. 9:1; Bar. 1:22; 2:8. In lxx proper, Jer 16:12; Jer 18:12. Ἀπιστίας of unbelief, specifies that in which the more general πονηρὰ evil consists. An evil heart is an unbelieving heart.
In departing from the living God (ἐν τῷ ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ θεοῦ ζῶντος)
The characteristic of unbelief. Faith is personal union with God. Unbelief separates from God. The phrase living God is common to both Testaments. For the bearing of the words upon the question of the Gentile destination of the Epistle, see Introduction.