KJV: And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
YLT: and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!
Darby: And, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against goads.
ASV: And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
| καταπεσόντων | having fallen down |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: καταπίπτω Sense: to fall down. |
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| ἡμῶν | of us |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| γῆν | ground |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: γῆ Sense: arable land. |
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| ἤκουσα | I heard |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: ἀκουστός Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf. |
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| φωνὴν | a voice |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: φωνή Sense: a sound, a tone. |
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| λέγουσαν | saying |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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| με | me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| τῇ | in the |
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Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Ἑβραΐδι | Hebrew |
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Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular Root: Ἑβραί̈ς Sense: Hebrew, the Hebrew language, not that however in which the OT was written but the Chaldee, which at the time of Jesus and the apostles had long superseded it in Palestine. |
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| διαλέκτῳ | language |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: διάλεκτος Sense: conversation, speech, discourse, language. |
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| Σαοὺλ | Saul |
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Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular Root: Σαούλ Sense: the Jewish name of the apostle Paul. |
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| Σαούλ | Saul |
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Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular Root: Σαούλ Sense: the Jewish name of the apostle Paul. |
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| τί | why |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: τίς Sense: who, which, what. |
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| διώκεις | persecute you |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: διώκω Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away. |
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| σκληρόν | [It is] hard |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σκληρός Sense: hard, harsh, rough, stiff. |
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| σοι | for you |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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| πρὸς | against |
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Parse: Preposition Root: πρός Sense: to the advantage of. |
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| κέντρα | [the] goads |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: κέντρον Sense: a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. |
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| λακτίζειν | to kick |
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Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: λακτίζω Sense: to kick, strike with the heel. |
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Greek Commentary for Acts 26:14
Genitive absolute with second aorist active participle of καταπιπτω katapiptō In the Hebrew language Natural addition here, for Paul is speaking in Greek, not Aramaic as in Acts 22:2. [source]
Genuine here, but not in chapters 9, 22. A common proverb as Aeschylus Ag. 1624: Προς κεντρα μη λακτιζε Pros kentra mē laktize “It is taken from an ox that being pricked with a goad kicks and receives a severer wound” (Page). Cf. the parables of Jesus (Matthew 13:35). Blass observes that Paul‘s mention of this Greek and Latin proverb is an indication of his culture. Besides he mentions (not invents) it here rather than in chapter 22 because of the culture of this audience. Κεντρον Kentron means either sting as of bees (II Macc. Acts 14:19) and so of death (1 Corinthians 15:55) or an iron goad in the ploughman‘s hand as here (the only two N.T. examples). Note plural here (goads) and λακτιζειν laktizein is present active infinitive so that the idea is “to keep on kicking against goads.” This old verb means to kick with the heel (adverb λαχ lax with the heel), but only here in the N.T. There is a papyrus example of kicking (λακτιζω laktizō) with the feet against the door. [source]
Or, goads. The sharp goad carried in the ploughman's hand, against which the oxen kick on being pricked. The metaphor, though not found in Jewish writings, was common in Greek and Roman writings. Thus, Euripides (“Bacchae,” 791): “Being enraged, I would kick against the goads, a mortal against a god.” Plautus (“Truculentus, 4,2, 55): “If you strike the goads with your fists, you hurt your hands more than the goads.” “Who knows whether at that moment the operation of ploughing might not be going on within sight of the road along which the persecutor was travelling? (Howson, “Metaphors of St. Paul”). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 26:14
In Paul's own account he says that the words were spoken in Hebrew (Acts 26:14). [source]
Transferred from Acts 26:14, and omitted by the best texts. [source]
By this remarkably brief phrase Luke presents this epoch in the life of Saul Paul. The “also” Jerome held that the name of Sergius Paulus was adopted by Saul because of his conversion at this time, but this is a wholly unlikely explanation, “an element of vulgarity impossible to St. Paul “ (Farrar). Augustine thought that the meaning of the Latin paulus (little) would incline Saul to adopt, “but as a proper name the word rather suggested the glories of the Aemilian family, and even to us recalls the name of another Paulus, who was ‹lavish of his noble life‘” (Page). Among the Jews the name Saul was naturally used up to this point, but from now on Luke employs Paul save when there is a reference to his previous life (Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14). His real career is work among the Gentiles and Paul is the name used by them. There is a striking similarity in sound between the Hebrew Saul and the Roman Paul. Paul was proud of his tribe of Benjamin and so of King Saul (Philemon 3:5). [source]
This second aorist active infinitive αναστηναι anastēnai is also the subject of εδει edei The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Acts 9:22; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:8, Acts 26:14; 1 Corinthians 15:8). [source]
Old word, here alone in N.T. So the verb εδαπιζω edaphizō is in Luke 19:44 alone in the N.T. A voice saying (πωνης λεγουσης phōnēs legousēs). Genitive after ηκουσα ēkousa though in Acts 26:14 the accusative is used after ηκουσα ēkousa as in Acts 22:14 after ακουσαι akousai either being allowable. See note on Acts 9:7 for discussion of the difference in case. Saul‘s name repeated each time (Acts 9:4; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14). Same question also in each report: “Why persecuted thou me?” (Τι με διωκεισ Ti me diōkeiṡ). These piercing words stuck in Paul‘s mind. [source]
Genitive after ηκουσα ēkousa though in Acts 26:14 the accusative is used after ηκουσα ēkousa as in Acts 22:14 after ακουσαι akousai either being allowable. See note on Acts 9:7 for discussion of the difference in case. Saul‘s name repeated each time (Acts 9:4; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14). Same question also in each report: “Why persecuted thou me?” These piercing words stuck in Paul‘s mind. [source]
Second aorist active participle. So in Acts 22:7 Paul says: “I fell unto the ground” But here in Acts 9:7 ”the men that journeyed with him stood speechless” But surely the points of time are different. In Acts 26:14 Paul refers to the first appearance of the vision when all fell to the earth. Here in Acts 9:7 Luke refers to what occurred after the vision when both Saul and the men had risen from the ground. [source]
The second aorist active infinitive is the subject of εδει edei with τον Χριστον ton Christon the accusative of general reference. This is Paul‘s major premise in his argument from the Scriptures about the Messiah, the necessity of his sufferings according to the Scriptures, the very argument made by the Risen Jesus to the two on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27). The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was a passage in point that the rabbis had overlooked. Peter made the same point in Acts 3:18 and Paul again in Acts 26:23. The minor premise is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. To rise again from the dead (αναστηναι εκ νεκρων anastēnai ek nekrōn). This second aorist active infinitive αναστηναι anastēnai is also the subject of εδει edei The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Acts 9:22; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:8, Acts 26:14; 1 Corinthians 15:8). This Jesus is the Christ More precisely, “This is the Messiah, viz., Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you.” This is the conclusion of Paul‘s line of argument and it is logical and overwhelming. It is his method everywhere as in Damascus, in Antioch in Pisidia, here, in Corinth. He spoke as an eye-witness. [source]
Old word diminutive from τυρα thura door, a little door. Latticed window (no glass) opened because of the heat from the lamps and the crowd. Our window was once spelt windore (Hudibras), perhaps from the wrong idea that it was derived from wind and door. Eutychus (a common slave name) was sitting on In the N.T. τυρις thuris only here and 2 Corinthians 11:33 Present passive participle of καταπερω katapherō to bear down, and followed by instrumental case (υπνωι hupnōi). Describes the gradual process of going into deep sleep. Great medical writers use βατυς bathus with υπνος hupnos as we do today (deep sleep). D here has βασει basei (heavy) for βατει bathei (deep). As Paul discoursed yet longer Genitive absolute of present middle participle of διαλεγομαι dialegomai (cf. Acts 20:7). with επι πλειον epi pleion Eutychus struggled bravely to keep awake, vainly hoping that Paul would finish. But he went on “for more.” Being born down by his sleep (κατενεχτεις απο του υπνου katenechtheis apo tou hupnou). First aorist (effective) passive showing the final result of the process described by καταπερομενος katapheromenos finally overcome as a result of (απο apo) the (note article του tou) sleep (ablative case). These four participles (κατεζομενοσ καταπερομενοσ διαλεγομενου κατενεχτεις kathezomenosκαταπερομενος katapheromenosκατενεχτεις dialegomenouεπεσεν κατω katenechtheis) have no connectives, but are distinguished clearly by case and tense. The difference between the present πιπτω katapheromenos and the aorist κατω katenechtheis of the same verb is marked. Fell down Effective aorist active indicative of απο του τριστεγου piptō with the adverb τρεις katō though στεγη katapiptō (compound verb) could have been used (Acts 26:14; Acts 28:6). Hobart (Medical Language of St. Luke) thinks that Luke shows a physician‘s interest in the causes of the drowsiness of Eutychus (the heat, the crowd, the smell of the lamps, the late hour, the long discourse). Cf. Luke 22:45. From the third story (τριστεγος apo tou tristegou). From ηρτη νεκρος treis (three) and αιρω stegē (roof), adjective ως tristegos having three roofs. Was taken up dead First aorist passive indicative of airō Luke does not say hōs (as) or hōsei (Mark 9:26 as if). The people considered him dead and Luke the physician seems to agree with that view. [source]
Genitive absolute of present middle participle of διαλεγομαι dialegomai (cf. Acts 20:7). with επι πλειον epi pleion Eutychus struggled bravely to keep awake, vainly hoping that Paul would finish. But he went on “for more.” Being born down by his sleep (κατενεχτεις απο του υπνου katenechtheis apo tou hupnou). First aorist (effective) passive showing the final result of the process described by καταπερομενος katapheromenos finally overcome as a result of (απο apo) the (note article του tou) sleep (ablative case). These four participles (κατεζομενοσ καταπερομενοσ διαλεγομενου κατενεχτεις kathezomenosκαταπερομενος katapheromenosκατενεχτεις dialegomenouεπεσεν κατω katenechtheis) have no connectives, but are distinguished clearly by case and tense. The difference between the present πιπτω katapheromenos and the aorist κατω katenechtheis of the same verb is marked. Fell down Effective aorist active indicative of απο του τριστεγου piptō with the adverb τρεις katō though στεγη katapiptō (compound verb) could have been used (Acts 26:14; Acts 28:6). Hobart (Medical Language of St. Luke) thinks that Luke shows a physician‘s interest in the causes of the drowsiness of Eutychus (the heat, the crowd, the smell of the lamps, the late hour, the long discourse). Cf. Luke 22:45. From the third story (τριστεγος apo tou tristegou). From ηρτη νεκρος treis (three) and αιρω stegē (roof), adjective ως tristegos having three roofs. Was taken up dead First aorist passive indicative of airō Luke does not say hōs (as) or hōsei (Mark 9:26 as if). The people considered him dead and Luke the physician seems to agree with that view. [source]
In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
Effective aorist active indicative of απο του τριστεγου piptō with the adverb τρεις katō though στεγη katapiptō (compound verb) could have been used (Acts 26:14; Acts 28:6). Hobart (Medical Language of St. Luke) thinks that Luke shows a physician‘s interest in the causes of the drowsiness of Eutychus (the heat, the crowd, the smell of the lamps, the late hour, the long discourse). Cf. Luke 22:45. From the third story (τριστεγος apo tou tristegou). From ηρτη νεκρος treis (three) and αιρω stegē (roof), adjective ως tristegos having three roofs. Was taken up dead First aorist passive indicative of airō Luke does not say hōs (as) or hōsei (Mark 9:26 as if). The people considered him dead and Luke the physician seems to agree with that view. [source]
The accusative here may be used rather than the genitive as in Acts 22:7 to indicate that those with Paul did not understand what they heard (Acts 9:7) just as they beheld the light (Acts 22:9), but did not see Jesus (Acts 9:7). The difference in cases allows this distinction, though it is not always observed as just noticed about Acts 22:14; Acts 26:14. The verb ακουω akouō is used in the sense of understand (Mark 4:33; 1 Corinthians 14:2). It is one of the evidences of the genuineness of this report of Paul‘s speech that Luke did not try to smooth out apparent discrepancies in details between the words of Paul and his own record already in ch. 9. The Textus Receptus adds in this verse: “And they became afraid” Clearly not genuine. [source]
The Hebrew form occurs also in Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14 where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in Acts 9:17 (Ananias). Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 316) terms this use of με Saoul “the historian‘s sense of liturgical rhythm.” For the repetition of names by Jesus note Luke 10:41 (Martha, Martha), Luke 22:31 (Simon, Simon). Me (me). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
Mute. Only here in N.T., though old word. Hearing the voice, but beholding no man (ακουοντες μεν της πωνησ μηδενα δε τεωρουντες akouontes men tēs phōnēsμεν δε mēdena de theōrountes). Two present active participles in contrast (το μεν πως ετεασαντο menτην δε πωνην ουκ ηκουσαν του λαλουντος μοι de). In Acts 22:9 Paul says that the men “beheld the light” (πωνη to men phōs etheasanto), but evidently did not discern the person. Paul also says there, “but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me” (ακουω tēn de phōnēn ouk ēkousan tou lalountos moi). Instead of this being a flat contradiction of what Luke says in Acts 9:7 it is natural to take it as being likewise (as with the “light” and “no one”) a distinction between the “sound” (original sense of πωνη phōnē as in John 3:8) and the separate words spoken. It so happens that ακουω akouō is used either with the accusative (the extent of the hearing) or the genitive (the specifying). It is possible that such a distinction here coincides with the two senses of πωνην phōnē They heard the sound (Acts 9:7), but did not understand the words (Acts 22:9). However, this distinction in case with ηκουσεν πωνην akouō though possible and even probable here, is by no means a necessary one for in John 3:8 where ηκουσα πωνης phōnēn undoubtedly means “sound” the accusative occurs as Luke uses ηκουσα πωνην ēkousen phōnēn about Saul in Acts 9:4. Besides in Acts 22:7 Paul uses ēkousa phōnēs about himself, but ēkousa phōnēn about himself in Acts 26:14, interchangeably. [source]
Two present active participles in contrast In Acts 22:9 Paul says that the men “beheld the light” Instead of this being a flat contradiction of what Luke says in Acts 9:7 it is natural to take it as being likewise (as with the “light” and “no one”) a distinction between the “sound” (original sense of πωνη phōnē as in John 3:8) and the separate words spoken. It so happens that ακουω akouō is used either with the accusative (the extent of the hearing) or the genitive (the specifying). It is possible that such a distinction here coincides with the two senses of πωνην phōnē They heard the sound (Acts 9:7), but did not understand the words (Acts 22:9). However, this distinction in case with ηκουσεν πωνην akouō though possible and even probable here, is by no means a necessary one for in John 3:8 where ηκουσα πωνης phōnēn undoubtedly means “sound” the accusative occurs as Luke uses ηκουσα πωνην ēkousen phōnēn about Saul in Acts 9:4. Besides in Acts 22:7 Paul uses ēkousa phōnēs about himself, but ēkousa phōnēn about himself in Acts 26:14, interchangeably. [source]
Second instance. Here Paul changes Hades of the lxx for Hebrew Sheol (Hosea 13:14) to death. Paul never uses Hades. Thy sting (σου το κεντρον sou to kentron). Old word from κεντρεω kentreō to prick, as in Acts 26:14. In Revelation 9:10 of the sting of locusts, scorpions. The serpent death has lost his poison fangs. [source]
Old word from κεντρεω kentreō to prick, as in Acts 26:14. In Revelation 9:10 of the sting of locusts, scorpions. The serpent death has lost his poison fangs. [source]
Concessive participle agreeing with με me Blasphemer (βλασπημον blasphēmon). Old word either from βλαχ blax (stupid) and πημη phēmē speech, or from βλαπτω blaptō to injure. Rare in N.T. but Paul uses βλασπημεω blasphēmeō to blaspheme in Romans 2:24. Persecutor So far found only here. Probably made by Paul from διωκω diōkō which he knew well enough (Acts 22:4, Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14.; Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23; Philemon 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:12). Injurious (υβριστην hubristēn). Substantive, not adjective, “an insolent man.” Old word from υβριζω hubrizō in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. I obtained mercy First aorist passive indicative of ελεεω eleeō old verb. See 2 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 11:30. Ignorantly (αγνοων agnoōn). Present active participle of αγνοεω agnoeō “not knowing.” Old verb (Romans 2:4). In a blindness of heart. In unbelief See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
So far found only here. Probably made by Paul from διωκω diōkō which he knew well enough (Acts 22:4, Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14.; Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23; Philemon 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:12). Injurious (υβριστην hubristēn). Substantive, not adjective, “an insolent man.” Old word from υβριζω hubrizō in N.T. only here and Romans 1:30. I obtained mercy First aorist passive indicative of ελεεω eleeō old verb. See 2 Corinthians 4:1; Romans 11:30. Ignorantly (αγνοων agnoōn). Present active participle of αγνοεω agnoeō “not knowing.” Old verb (Romans 2:4). In a blindness of heart. In unbelief See Romans 11:20, Romans 11:25. [source]
Speeches is supplied. Lit., hard things. So Rev. The railing, gainsaying; the profane and vain bab blings (2 Timothy 2:16). Compare John 6:60, a hard saying, where the word means not abusive but difficult. In James 3:4, rough, used of the winds. In Acts 26:14, of Saul of Tarsus; “hard to kick against the pricks.” [source]
Originally any sharp point. A goad. See on pricks, Acts 26:14. Plato uses it of the peg of a top (“Republic,” 436). Herodotus of an instrument of torture. Democedes, the Crotoniat physician, having denied his knowledge of medicine to Darius, Darius bade his attendants “bring the scourges and pricking-irons ( κέντρα ) (3,30) Sophocles of the buckle-tongues with which Oedipus put out his eyes.“Woe, woe, and woe again!How through me darts the throb these clasps ( κέντρων ) have caused.”“Oedipus Tyrannas,” 1318. Of the spur of a cock, the quill of a porcupine, and the stings of insects. For the A.V., there were stings in their tails, read as Rev., and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Old word from κεντρεω kentreō (to prick, to sting), in N.T. only here, Acts 26:14 (about Paul); 1 Corinthians 15:55 (about death). It is used “of the spur of a cock, the quill of the porcupine, and the stings of insects” (Vincent). It was the goad used for oxen (Proverbs 26:3; Acts 26:14). [source]
Aleph A wrongly have ομοιοις homoiois (agreeing with σκορπιοις skorpiois instead of with ουρας ouras). It is a condensed idiom for “like unto the tails of the scorpions” as we have it in Revelation 13:11 (cf. Matthew 5:20; 1 John 2:2).Stings (κεντρα kentra). Old word from κεντρεω kentreō (to prick, to sting), in N.T. only here, Acts 26:14 (about Paul); 1 Corinthians 15:55 (about death). It is used “of the spur of a cock, the quill of the porcupine, and the stings of insects” (Vincent). It was the goad used for oxen (Proverbs 26:3; Acts 26:14).In their tails This locates “their power to hurt” (η εχουσια αυτων αδικησαι hē exousia autōn adikēsai infinitive here, ινα αδικησουσιν hina adikēsousin in Revelation 9:4) in their tails. It might have been in other organs. [source]