John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 13:4 - 13:4

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John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 13:4 - 13:4


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Heb 13:4. Τίμιος) viz. ἔστω, comp. Heb 13:5, i.e. let it be honoured. It is an antithesis to whoremongers. He exhorts the unmarried, who are in great danger of falling into fornication, to marry, acknowledging it as something precious [so τίμιος often means], and worthily to use the good which it confers: comp. 1Th 4:4.-γάμος) marriage.-ἐν πᾶσι) in all. There is obviously greater danger of fornication than of adultery; comp. 1Co 7:2, ἕκαστος, every one [“To avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife”]; and all ought to value marriage highly, so that if a man does not enter into that state himself, he should not prevent others from doing so, 1Ti 4:3.-ἡ κοίτη) the bed, the couch, the state and use of marriage. Marriage-the bed-whoremongers-adulterers: a Chiasmus.-ἀμίαντος, undefiled) Supply again, let-be. An antithesis to adulterers.-κρινεῖ ὁ Θεὸς, GOD will judge) By far the greatest number of whoremongers and adulterers escape the notice of human tribunals. As such intrigues are not made known in the way in which they formerly were, Num 5:20-21, a great number, although their conduct is well known, yet escape civil punishment and ecclesiastical discipline, or are made to feel it very slightly. [Sometimes, indeed, judges themselves are whoremongers and adulterers, men that are placed in the highest ecclesiastical and political offices: and therefore they know how to take measures for their own impunity; but they also take measures for the impunity of others like themselves, when the case admits of it (or when a case occurs). Very many acts of this sort remain entirely concealed in the world, or are extenuated by various devices, or are upheld by violence.-V. g.] God will judge: [A thing dreadful to be spoken! ch. Heb 10:30-31.-V. g.]-He most of all punishes them, whom man does not punish. Comp. 2Sa 3:39. The apostle speaks of the judgment as near. [At that greatest of all days, what deeds, I pray you, will be brought to light! Then indeed execrable crimes will no longer be reckoned as a mark of polished manners.-V. g.]