Article October 23, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Hebr. 12:6; cf. I Cor. 11:32)—The original meaning of the Greek word "paideuo," here translated "chasten," was "to train children" (paides). It may be noted that our English words "chasten" and "chastise" (either of which provides a justifiable rendering of the Greek term) mean literally to "make chaste or pure" (from the Latin—"castus," pure). (See Thayer: Greek Lexicon; and C. C. Hall: "Does God Send Trouble?" p. 35.)

"Chastening ... yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebr 12:11)—Weymouth (5th edition) suggests: "Discipline ... yields to those who have passed through its training the peace of a righteous life;" while Goodspeed has: "To those who are trained by it, [discipline] afterward yields the peace of character."

"Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebr. 12:12)—Goodspeed offers a more idiomatic translation: "So tighten your loosening hold! Stiffen your wavering stand!" while Moffatt renders: "So up with your listless hands! Strengthen your weak kness!" It may be added that the Greek word "paralelumenos" (feeble) was often used in the special sense of "palsied or paralysed" (cf. Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 191).

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