Article August 24, 1935 Issue

Bible Notes

"Repent ye" (Matt. 3:2)—It may be noted that the literal and primary meaning of the Greek word "metanoein" is to "change one's mind." From this grew the sense of "to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past deeds" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 404). "Repentance," mentioned in verse 11, comes from the same root, thus meaning "change of mind."

"Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear" (Matt. 3:11)—To bear any-one's shoes, that is "to bring and take them away; or to fasten them on or take them off" (cf. Mark 1:7), was regarded by Jews, Greeks, and Romans alike as "the business of slaves of the lowest rank" (Meyre: Commentary on Matthew, p. 114). So the phrase employed by the Baptist would suggest at once the deep humility of the speaker and the exaltation of the Messiah, whom he announced.

"The land of the shadow of death" (Isa. 9:2)—The original Hebrew consonants can be read to mean either "shadow of death" or "darkness, deep darkness, deep shadow," according to the vowels presupposed by the translator (Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon, p. 853). Consequently the margin of the Revised Version, and also Smith, read: "the land of deep darkness;" Moffatt: "the land of shadows."

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