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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Cease
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seÌ„s: A remarkable array of 20 Hebrew and 6 Greek words is so translated. In the King James Version 15 of the former and 3 of the latter are used only once with this rendering. The originals most frequently in use are חדל, hÌ£aÌ„dhal, “to leave offâ€; ש×בת, shaÌ„bhath “to rest from†(labor); παυÌομαι, pauÌomai, “to make to cease.†Few words illustrate better the fertility of the Hebrew in expressing limitless shades of meaning, impoverished by the use of one English word. This extensive variety is, however, well expressed by “ceaseâ€: i.e. stop, come to an end, e.g. ceasing of tears (); work (); grinders (); thunder (); the wicked (); anger (). The significance of shaÌ„bhath lies in its being the Hebrew for Sabbath, implying complete cessation: as of manna (); strife and ignominy (); occurs with negative to show the ceaseless Providence of God in Nature: “summer and winter ... shall not c.†(). In the New Testament it illustrates Christ's power over Nature; wind and raging sea ceased (); over a sinner's heart: “not ceased to kiss my feet†(διαλειÌπω, dialeıÌpoÌ„) (); devotion of the early disciples, “ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ†(); the eternity and blessedness of the believer's sabbatic rest (ἀπολειÌπω, apoleıÌpoÌ„) ( the King James Version).