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Heb 12:1. Περικείμενον) properly, lying around. The Greeks often use the verb, κεῖμαι, and its compounds, as presently at Heb 12:2, and in various senses; wherefore the word, lie, here, must not be too closely pressed. But the preposition, περὶ, very emphatically implies a cloud almost surrounding us, pressing close upon us: περὶ in εὐπερίστατον, on the opposite side, accords with it.-νέφος) The word, cloud, is used on account of the great multitude, and the holy velocity with which they go upwards. Clemens Alex. has called it, νέφος ἅγιον καὶ διειδὲς, a holy and pellucid cloud, lib. 4. Strom.-μαρτύρων of witnesses) ch. Heb 11:39, note.-ὄγκον) ὄγκος (from ἔγκω, ἐνέγκω), weight; and when it is applied to the mind, haughtiness, pride. Themistius, Or. 4, says, αὐτοὶ μὲν μέτριοι φύσει εἰσὶν, ἐγὼ δὲ αὐτοὺς ὄγκου ἐμπίπλημι καὶ χαυνότητος, “They are naturally modest, but I fill them with pride and vain conceit.” Hesychius: ὄγκος, φύσημα, ὑπερηφανία, ἔπαρσις, μέγεθος. Such ὄγκος as this is most unfavourable to spiritual moderation, and is very nearly allied to madness.-τὴν εὐπερίστατον) περίστασις, τὸ περιεστηκός; thence, by Synecdoche of the species, τὸ δύσκολον, danger, disadvantage: hence εὐπερίστατος. Hesychius: τὴν εὐπερίστατον, τὴν εὔκολον, i.e. very easily putting difficulties in the way, and placing in danger. ואליך תשוקתו, Gen 4:7, Sin is around thee (lieth at the door). On the other hand, ἀπερίστατον ἓλκος, in Galen, an ulcer unattended with danger: ἡ ἁμαρτία, sin, the genus; ἡ εὐπερίστατος ἁμαρτία, unbelief, the species, because its danger is immediate, and because this sin, if it be committed, incurs the greatest risk of destruction; ch. Heb 3:12, etc.; Neh 6:13.-διʼ ὑπομονῆς, with patience) This refers to ch. Heb 10:36. To this patience ὄγκος is opposed in respect to excess; and ἡ εὐπερίστατος ἁμαρτία, in respect to defect. Both of these spiritual diseases are characteristic of the Jews. Ὀλιγωρεῖν, to despise, corresponds to the former; ἐκλύεσθαι, to faint, to the latter; Heb 12:5, note.-τρέχωμεν, let us run) let us finish the race, in which we are contesting for the prize. So Paul, 1Co 9:24-25.