KJV: (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
YLT: of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and in mountains, and in caves, and in the holes of the earth;
Darby: (of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caverns of the earth.
ASV: (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
ὧν | of whom |
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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ἄξιος | worthy |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἄξιος Sense: weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much. |
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κόσμος | world |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: κόσμος Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government. |
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ἐρημίαις | deserts |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural Root: ἐρημία Sense: a solitude, an uninhabited region, a waste. |
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πλανώμενοι | wandering |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: πλανάω Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way. |
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ὄρεσιν | mountains |
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural Root: ὄρος Sense: a mountain. |
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σπηλαίοις | caves |
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural Root: σπήλαιον Sense: a cave, den. |
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ταῖς | - |
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ὀπαῖς | holes |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural Root: ὀπή Sense: through which one can see, an opening, an aperture. |
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τῆς | of the |
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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γῆς | earth |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: γῆ Sense: arable land. |
Greek Commentary for Hebrews 11:38
Graphic picture in a short parenthetical relative clause Present middle participle of πλαναω planaō like lost sheep, hunted by wolves. Caves Old word from σπεος speos (cavern) as in Matthew 21:13. Holes Old word, perhaps from οπς ops (root of οραω horaō to see), opening, in N.T. only here and James 3:11. Cf. 1 Kings 18:4; 2Macc 5:27; 10:6 (about Judas Maccabeus and others). [source]
This clause falls into the series of participles which precedes it; the form of the relative sentence being adopted because of the lack of a proper participial phrase to express the statement. At the same time it prepares the way for the following clause in which the participial construction is resumed. Rend. “they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, evil-entreated, men of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts,” etc. By the world ( κόσμος ) is not meant the corrupt world, as in John and Paul (see on Hebrews 11:7), but the world considered as an economy which was unworthy of these, because ruled by sense and not by faith. Their plane of life was higher. [source]
Lit. wandering or straying, apart from the homes and the intercourse of men. [source]
Ὁπή only here and James 3:11. It means a hole; primarily a place through which one can see ( ὄπωπα ). In lxx the cleft of the rock in which God placed Moses, Exodus 33:22: a window, a latticed opening, Ecclesiastes 12:3eye-socket, Zechariah 14:12: a hole in the wall, Ezekiel 8:7: a hole in a tree, 4Macc. 14:16. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 11:38
Lit., wander out of the way. Compare Latin errare. Of the wandering sheep, Matthew 18:12; 1 Peter 2:25. Of the martyrs wandering in the deserts, Hebrews 11:38. Often rendered in the New Testament deceive. See Mark 13:5, Mark 13:6. Compare ἀστέρες πλανῆται , wandering stars (Judges 1:13), from which our word planet. [source]
First aorist passive participle of χρηματιζω chrēmatizō old word for oracular or divine communications as already in Hebrews 8:5 (cf. Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:22, etc.). Moved with godly fear First aorist passive indicative of ευλαβεομαι eulabeomai old verb from ευλαβης eulabēs (from ευ eu and λαβειν labein to take hold well or carefully), to show oneself ευλαβης eulabēs to act circumspectly or with reverence, here only in N.T. (save Textus Receptus in Acts 23:10), often in lxx. An ark Genesis 6:15; Matthew 24:38. Shaped like a box (cf. Hebrews 9:4). Through which Through his faith as shown in building the ark. The world Sinful humanity as in Hebrews 11:38. Heir In 2 Peter 2:5 Noah is called “a preacher of righteousness” as here “heir of righteousness.” He himself believed his message about the flood. Like Enoch he walked with God (Genesis 6:9). [source]
The interrogative particle, μήτι , which begins the sentence, expects a negative answer. Fountain has the article, “the fountain,” generic. See Introduction, on James' local allusions. The Land of Promise was pictured to the Hebrew as a land of springs (Deuteronomy 8:7; Deuteronomy 11:11). “Palestine,” says Dean Stanley, “was the only country where an Eastern could have been familiar with the language of the Psalmsist: 'He sendeth the springs into the valleys which run among the mountains.' Those springs, too, however short-lived, are remarkable for their copiousness and beauty. Not only not in the East, but hardly in the West, can any fountains and sources of streams be seen, so clear, so full-grown even at their birth, as those which fall into the Jordan and its lakes throughout its whole course from north to south” (“Sinai and Palestine”). The Hebrew word for a fountain or spring is áyinmeaning an eye. “The spring,” says the same author, “is the bright, open source, the eye of the landscape.” Send forth ( βρύει )An expressive word, found nowhere else in the New Testament, and denoting a full, copious discharge. Primarily it means to be full to bursting; and is used, therefore, of budding plants, teeming soil, etc., as in the charming picture of the sacred grove at the opening of the “Oedipus Coloneus” of Sophocles: “full ( βρύων ) of bay, olive, and vine.” Hence, to burst forth or gush. Though generally in-transitive, it is used transitively here.Place ( ὀπῆς )Rather, opening or hole in the earth or rock. Rev., opening. Compare caves, Hebrews 11:38. The word is pleasantly suggestive in connection with the image of the eye of the landscape. See above.Sweet water and bitterThe readers of the epistle would recall the bitter waters of Marah (Exodus 15:23), and the unwholesome spring at Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-21). [source]
Old word for fissure in the earth, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 11:38 (caves).Send forth (βρυει bruei). Present active indicative of βρυω bruō old verb, to bubble up, to gush forth, here only in N.T. The use of μητι mēti shows that a negative answer is expected in this rhetorical question.The sweet and the bitter Cognate accusatives with βρυει bruei Separate articles to distinguish sharply the two things. The neuter singular articular adjective is a common way of presenting a quality. Γλυκυς Glukus is an old adjective (in N.T. only here and Revelation 10:9.), the opposite of πικρον pikron (from old root, to cut, to prick), in N.T. only here and James 3:14 (sharp, harsh). [source]
The commanders of thousands, the military tribunes (Mark 6:21; Revelation 19:18).The rich (οι πλουσιοι hoi plousioi). Not merely those in civil and military authority will be terror-stricken, but the self-satisfied and complacent rich (James 5:4.).The strong Who usually scoff at fear. See the list in Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:18. Cf. Luke 21:26.Every bondman (πας δουλος pās doulos) and freeman (και ελευτερος kai eleutheros). The two extremes of society.Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος oros (mountain). [source]
Who usually scoff at fear. See the list in Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:18. Cf. Luke 21:26.Every bondman (πας δουλος pās doulos) and freeman (και ελευτερος kai eleutheros). The two extremes of society.Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος oros (mountain). [source]
Based on Isaiah 2:10, Isaiah 2:18. First aorist active indicative of κρυπτω kruptō with the reflexive pronoun. For the old word σπηλαιον spēlaion see Matthew 21:13; Hebrews 11:38. Ορεων Oreōn is the uncontracted Ionic form (for ορων orōn) of the genitive plural of ορος oros (mountain). [source]