Article April 13, 1935 Issue

Bible Notes

"Conscience of sins" (Hebr. 10:2)—The Greek term "suneidesis," here translated "conscience," can also denote "consciousness" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 602), a rendering which would appear to clarify the sense in this passage. Thus Goodspeed translates the verse: "Otherwise, would they not have ceased to offer these sacrifices, because those who offered them, having once been purified, would have had no further consciousness of sin."

"Make an atonement for thyself, and for the people" (Lev. 9:7)—The Hebrew word for "to make atonement" comes from the root "kaphar"—literally "to cover." The early Hebrews seem to have felt that animal sacrifice was in some way equivalent to self-sacrifice, and the rite was regarded as providing a "covering" for their sins, so putting them out of sight, or obliterating them (cf. Hastings Bible Dictionary: Article "Atonement").

"Hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us" (Eph. 2:14)—The words rendered "the middle wall of partition" are literally "the middle wall of the fence," and so "the middle wall that acts as a fence" (cf. Thayer: op. cit., pp. 402, 657). Moffatt has: "Destroyed the barrier which kept us apart;" and Weymouth: "Has broken down the hostile dividing wall." It is generally agreed that Paul took the metaphor from the partition separating the "court of the Gentiles" from the sacred precincts of the temple at Jerusalem, so separating between Jew and Gentile (cf. verse 11).

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