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Heb 12:17. Ἴστε γὰρ, for ye know) The reason of the admonition from Gen 27:30, etc.-καὶ μετέπειτα, even afterwards) He who has not, loses, Luk 8:18.-θέλων, when he would) Rom 9:16.-ἀπεδοκιμάσθη, was rejected) He did not fall from every blessing, ch. Heb 11:20 : but only from that which would have followed primogeniture.-μετανοίας τόπον, a place for repentance) There is said to have been no μετανοία, repentance; which is not with respect to Isaac; not that the case itself (the circumstances) opposes this explanation, for in fact to such a degree did he not change his opinion, that he said of Jacob, I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed, Gen 27:33, but because with the LXX. and others τὸ μετανοεῖν, or even μετάνοια, means repentance, by which a man changes any opinion, whatever it be,-in short, a change of mind: whereas in the New Testament it always implies that by which the sinner entirely repents. Nor is it said, that no repentance was in the power of Esau; who, although he no doubt gave up the rights of the first-born, yet never the blessing, will not be said to have sought a change of purpose (if even μετάνοια ever so much denoted this). What remains is, that distress (anxiety or labour) of mind in Esau demanding the blessing afterwards (anew, back again), is called μετάνοια; the term referring to the Apodosis [i.e. to the spiritual Esau, rather than to Esau himself literally] (comp. notes on Mat 18:13; Gal 4:29) concerning profane despisers, who spontaneously cast away grace, Heb 12:15-16. They will indeed seek repentance afterwards (hereafter), but in vain, ch. Heb 6:6; Mat 25:10-11. The same expression occurs, Wis 12:10, κρίνων δὲ καταβραχὺ, ἐδίδους τόπον μετανοίας, but executing judgment upon them by little and little, thou gavest a place for repentance. Μετάνοια is put as it were impersonally, as θέλημα, will, 1Co 16:12. Es wollte bey Esau nicht mehr seyn. Esau would have it no more. The nature of the thing did not admit of it.-μετὰ δακρύων, with tears) He might have had it formerly without tears; afterwards, though weeping, he was rejected. [Tears sometimes spring from the eyes of men of the hardest nature, 1Sa 24:17. Things which are not done at the time, are done with difficulty afterwards.-V. g.] Let us improve the time! Luk 13:28.-αὐτὴν, it) the blessing. It has been thus expressly written, Gen 27:38. And the Synonyms here are, when he would have inherited, though he earnestly sought.