Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hebrews 3:9
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
9. when ] Rather, “where,” i.e. at Massah, or in the wilderness. The rendering “wherewith” or “with which temptation,” would have been more naturally expressed in other ways.
proved me ] The better reading is “by proving me.”
saw my works forty years ] The “forty years” is purposely transferred from the next verse of the Psalm. The scene at Massah took place in the 40th and that at Meribah in the 1st year of the wanderings. Deu 9:7; Deu 33:8. They indicate the spirit of the Jews through the whole period. The number 40 is in the Bible constantly connected with judgment or trial, and it would have sounded more impressive in this passage if the date of the Epistle was shortly before the Fall of Jerusalem, i.e. about 40 years after the Ascension. The Rabbis had a saying “The days of the Messiah are 40 years.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Proved me – As if they would have made an experiment how much it was possible for me to bear. – Doddridge. The meaning is: they put my patience to a thorough trial.
And saw my works – That is, my miracles, or my interpositions in their behalf. They saw the wonders at the Red Sea, the descent on Mount Sinai, the supply of manna, etc., and yet while seeing those works they rebelled. Even while sinners look on the doings of God, and are surrounded by the proofs of his power and goodness, they rebel, and provoke him to anger. Men sin when God is filling their houses with plenty; when he opens his hand daily to supply their wants; when they behold the manifestations of his goodness on the sea and on the land; and even in the midst of all the blessings of redemption, they provoke him to wrath.
Forty years – The whole time during which they were passing from Egypt to the promised land. This may mean either that they saw his works forty years, or that they tempted him forty years. The sense is not materially affected whichever interpretation is preferred.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Heb 3:9
When your fathers tempted Me
How men can tempt God
1.
If having means we neglect them, fondly flying to the supposed providence of God; if Christ, having a pair of stairs to come down by, should have cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple, He had tempted God.
2. Men tempt God when, having had evident proof and manifest experience of His wisdom, power, mercy, and goodness, yet if they be driven into any straits, and see no present means to come out, then they murmur against God, despair of His providence, and are ready to exclaim against God. This was the Israelites fault, and thus often times they tempted God in the wilderness. They had seen with what a strong hand God had brought them out of Egypt, yet for all that when they were in any difficulty then God was of no power or willingness to do for them. This was a tempting of God which highly displeased Him. Therefore in all distresses let us trust in Him, though all worldly means fail us; in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, in death and life let Him be our pillar to lean upon. (W. Jones, D. D.)
Israel in the wilderness
The thought of Moses naturally suggests the Israelites in the wilderness. Faithful was the Mediator, through whom God dealt with them: but was Israel faithful? God spake: did they obey? God showed them wonderful signs: did they trust and follow in faith? And if Israel was not faithful under Moses, and their unbelief brought ruin up ,n them, how much more guilty shall we be, and how much greater our danger, if we are not faithful unto the Lord Jesus? The history of the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness is most instructive (1Co 10:1-33.). According to the solemn words addressed by the glorified Saviour to the Church of Thyatira, Israels experience is to be a warning to all the Churches.
1. It is a marvellous history from beginning to end. The exodus out of Egypt, the passage through the Red Sea, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai the manna, the pillar of cloud and fire, the victory over Amelek, the rock that followed them, the garments that never became old; all is miracle, full of the wondrous love and power of God who is Israels Redeemer. Consider the Messenger, the Angel of the Covenant, Christ, who led them. Their whole life and history was a life and history by the word of God. Do you know this as a present experience?
2. It was a history of solemn and glorious privilege. God separated Israel unto Himself. Their daily need, their absolute dependence on Divine help, the constant gift of manna, guidance and defence, the daily beholding of Gods mighty and gracious works–all this was a marvellous privilege, the life of faith was made near and easy. Is this not a picture of the Christians life?
3. It is a sad history from beginning to end: continual murmuring, doubt, ingratitude, idolatry, sin; looking back unto Egypt and its pleasures, forgetting its degradation and bondage, doubting Gods goodness and power, yielding to the temptations of lust and tempting the Lord Jehovah, the faithful and merciful Christ. It is a sad history, full of fearful judgments. And yet the Lord was with them all the days, and every day, ready to bless and to gladden them. Do you understand the parable? Yet was there in Israel also faith and love; and God remembers the time of their espousals, when they followed Him in a laud that was not sown. There were not merely murmurings, but hymns of thanksgiving; there were willing offerings unto the Lord of gold and silver, there was victory over the enemies, there were Joshua and Caleb, who followed the Lord fully. (A. Saphir.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. When your fathers tempted me] It would be better to translate where than when, as the Vulgate has done in its ubi; and this translation has been followed by Wiclif, Coverdale, Tindal, and our first translators in general. In my old MS. Bible the 7th, 8th, and 9th verses stand thus:- Heb 3:7-9
Wherefore as the Holy Gost seith, to-day gif yhe han herde his voyce: nye yhe herden ghour hertis as in wrath-thinge, after the day of temptacioun in desert. Where ghoure fadris temptiden me: provyden and saiden my werkis. Wherefore fourtye yeere I was offendid or wrothe to this generatoun.
In behalf of this translation, Dr. Macknight very properly argues: “The word WHEN implies that, at the time of the bitter provocation, the Israelites had seen God’s works forty years; contrary to the history, which shows that the bitter provocation happened, in the beginning of the third year after the Exodus: whereas the translation where, as well as the matter of fact, represents God as saying, by David, that the Israelites tempted God in the wilderness during forty years, notwithstanding all that time they had seen God’s miracles.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When your fathers tempted me; in the time and place forementioned, the fathers from whom you derive your being and corruption, yet glory in them and their traditions, whose state is aggravated from your line of successive rebellion, Act 7:51-53. They have imbittered my Spirit by their unbelief; for upon the want of water, they questioned his power, wisdom, truth, and providence, to the denial of all, and sometimes multiplied it, Num 16:1-50, &c.
Proved me; a discontented quarrel with, and scrutiny of, Christ the Redeemer, that if he would not serve their lust, they would deny him, and apostatize from him, and return to Egypt; notwithstanding their having sufficient proof of him, yet they would contend with him, 1Co 10:9.
And saw my works forty years; all the Redeemers miracles, which he wrought for them in Egypt and the wilderness, they saw them plainly and presently on their tempting him; miracles of mercy and of punishments, by fire, by the earth opening, by fiery serpents, by the sword, by consuming six hundred thousand of them: all which were evidences sufficient to convince any of the wickedness of mistrusting him, Deu 29:2-4. This hardening of their hearts yet continued forty years, till all but two of them, Joshua and Caleb, were consumed; God by their sin was so grieved with them after such experience of his power for so long a time: see Exo 32:10; Num 14:22.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. Whenrather, “Where,”namely, in the wilderness.
your fathersTheauthority of the ancients is not conclusive [BENGEL].
tempted me, proved meTheoldest manuscripts read, “tempted (Me) in the way of testing,”that is, putting (Me) to the proof whether I was able andwilling to relieve them, not believing that I am so.
saw my works forty yearsTheysaw, without being led thereby to repentance, My works of powerpartly in affording miraculous help, partly in executing vengeance,forty years. The “forty years” joined in the Hebrewand Septuagint, and below, Heb3:17, with “I was grieved,” is here joined with “theysaw.” Both are true; for, during the same forty years that theywere tempting God by unbelief, notwithstanding their seeing God’smiraculous works, God was being grieved. The lesson intended to behinted to the Hebrew Christians is, their “to-day” is tolast only between the first preaching of the Gospel and Jerusalem’simpending overthrow, namely, FORTYYEARS; exactly the number of years of Israel’s sojourn in thewilderness, until the full measure of their guilt having been filledup all the rebels were overthrown.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When your fathers tempted me,…. This the apostle cites and repeats, to expose the glorying of the Jews in their ancestors; to dissuade them from following their sinful practices; to deter them from the same by observing both their sin and punishment; and to heighten their regards to the voice and Gospel of Christ:
proved me; this is either an explication of the former phrase; or it may design the experience this people had of the power and goodness of God, notwithstanding their tempting and provoking the Lord by a distrust of them; which is an aggravation of their sin and ingratitude, and shows the forbearance of God, and that wicked men may partake of outward favours:
and saw my works forty years; that is, God’s works of providence, in furnishing them with the necessaries of life, in guiding, protecting, and supporting them for the space of forty years, in the wilderness; and his miracles, and the punishment of their enemies; yet they saw and perceived not, but all this time sinned against the Lord, see
De 29:2 the space of time, forty years, is in the psalm placed to the beginning of the next verse, and is joined with God’s grief and indignation at the people, as it is also by the apostle, in Heb 3:17 but the people’s sin, and God’s grief at it, being of equal duration, it matters not to which it is placed, and therefore to both; perhaps, one reason of its being repeated, and so much notice taken of it is, because there was just this number of years from Christ’s sufferings, to the destruction of Jerusalem; which the apostle might have in view.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Wherewith (). Literally, “where” (the wilderness) as in De 8:15.
Tempted me by proving me ( ). No word for “me.” The Israelites “tested” God “in putting to the proof” (only N.T. use of this word from and this from the LXX). They were not content with God’s promise, but demanded objective proof (, deeds) of God.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
When [] . Rend. where. See ou= after erhmov wilderness, Deu 8:15.
Tempted me, proved me [ ] . Lit. tried (me) in proving. The text differs from LXX, which reads ejpeirasan, ejdokimasan tempted, proved, as A. V. The phrase here means tempted by putting to the test. Comp. ejkpeirazein to tempt or try with a view to seeing how far one can go. See on 1Co 10:9.
And saw my works [ ] . Some construe my works with both verbs : tried and saw my works : but it is better to supply me after ejpeirasan tempted, to take works with saw only, and to give kaithe force of and yet (see on Luk 18:7). “They tempted and yet saw my works;” although they saw my works. The Hebrew is “tried me, proved me, yea saw my works.”
Forty years. In LXX this is connected with saw my works. In the Hebrew forty years begins the next clause.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “When your fathers tempted me,” (hou epeirasan hoi pateres humon) “When the fathers of you,” your own family-line, in the flesh, “tempted or tested me; to their own daring hurt or harm, Exo 17:1-7.
2) “Proved me,” (en dokimasian) “In proving,” or demonstrating, or testing me – my holiness and justice in judgement, because of their rebellion and disobedience, Jos 5:11-15.
3) “And saw my works forty years,” (kai eidon ta erga mou tessarakonta ete) “And perceived my works (for a period of) forty years,” Exo 16:35; Num 14:35; Psa 95:10; Eze 29:11.
The entire warning of Heb 3:7-9 is to be cautious about hardening ones heart or affections against the word and voice of the call of the Holy Spirit to obedience to God, test certain righteous calamity to the disobedient, whether saint or sinner, Pro 1:22-30; Pro 29:1; 2Co 6:2.
“THE RIGHT TIME”
Many years ago the merchant-ship Lowell went ashore on the New England coast in a terrific gale. Her bows projected so far up toward the shore that the crew leaped off the bowsprit and were rescued, one by one, by the keeper of a neighboring lighthouse. All leaped off except the first mate, who had been in feeble health. The keeper shouted to him, “Jump ashore this tide or you are lost!” The poor man continued to tramp the deck, which soon crashed to fragments, and he was swallowed up in the wreck. What was the matter? The terrors of the scene had so deranged his weak nerves, that he had become insane and laughed at the idea of danger. Yet that unhappy officer of the sinking ship did not act more insanely than you do in persisting in risking the life of your precious soul. When Jesus calls, your salvation depends on prompt obedience. – T. Christlieb.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. Tempted, etc. This word is to be taken in a bad sense; it means to provoke in a proud and insulting manner, which we express in French by saying, defier comme en depitant For though God had often brought them help, yet they forgot all, and scornfully asked, where was his power. Proved, etc. This clause is to be thus explained, “When yet they had proved me and seen my works”. For it enhanced the guilt of their impiety, that having been taught by so many evidences of divine power, they had made so bad a progress. For it was a marvelous supineness and stupidity to esteem God’s power as nothing, which had been so fully proved. (61)
Forty years. These are connected by David with what follows. But we know that the Apostles in quoting passages attend more to the general meaning than to the words. And no doubt God complained that the people had been vexatious to him for forty years, because so many benefits had availed nothing for the purpose of teaching them; for though God did good continually to them who were wholly unworthy, they yet never ceased to rise up against him. Hence arose his continual indignation, as though he had said “Not once or for a short time have they provoked me, but by their incessant wickedness for forty years.” Generation means race, or men of one age.
(61) See Appendix M.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) According to our best MSS. this verse will run thus: Where (or, wherewith) your fathers tempted by trial, and saw My works forty years. The meaning of the Hebrew (with which the LXX. very nearly agrees) is: Where your fathers tempted Me, proved Me; also saw My work. The change of reading is more interesting than important, as the sense is not materially different. Both here and in the original passage it seems probable that the work, or works, should be understood of the divine judgments which the disobedient people saw and bore during forty years. In the Psalm (and apparently in Heb. 3:17 of this chapter) the mention of the forty years connects itself with the words which follow; but here with the provocations of the people and their punishment. It is held by many that in this period of forty years is contained a reference to the time that intervened between our Saviours earthly ministry and the destruction of Jerusalem; and a Jewish tradition is quoted which assigns to the days of Messiah a duration of forty years.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Tempted proved Made trial ascertained.
Forty years The perversity of the people at Meribah was at the beginning of this forty years. In the psalm the forty years is in the following verse, measuring the time in which I was grieved. Our author, in thought, measures the same period, though he varies the phrase. It was, also, forty years between the crucifixion and the destruction of Jerusalem and the overthrow of the Jewish race. The period had nearly expired when this epistle was written.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Heb 3:9 . ] is taken by Erasmus Schmid, Bengel, and Peirce as attraction to instead of , wherewith . But in this case would have been connected immediately with . It is the local “where;” thus stands, as frequently, in the sense of , and refers back to .
] where your fathers essayed temptation , [59] on the ground of proving or testing, i.e. where your fathers tempted me and put me to the test. as here in the bad sense. The former contains an enhancement of the latter. This involves doubt with regard to the inclination of God to render help, that doubt with regard to His power of doing so.
] . . .] and yet saw my works forty years long . This was a fact that aggravated their guilt. In the original, belongs to the following . To the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews also this original connection was known, as is evident from Heb 3:17 . If he nevertheless refers to that which precedes, and moreover consolidates this connection by means of the ( ) interpolated only by himself, he must have been guided by a distinct design in doing so. Rightly, therefore, is it assumed (Calov, Wittich, Akersloot, Surenhus, Schttgen, Chr. Fr. Schmid, Abresch, Bhme, Bleek, de Wette, Delitzseh, Riehm, Lehrbegr. des Hebrerbr . p. 618; Alford, Reiche, Comm. Crit . p. 22; Maier, Moll, Kurtz, and others) that the author discovered in the forty years during which the Israelites in the wilderness saw the works of God, a typical reference to the about equal space of time during which the Hebrews had now also witnessed the government of God as manifested in Christ, and would make this reference clear to the readers, in order thereby to render the more impressive his exhortation to receptiveness, while there is yet time. The reminder of Akersloot, Chr. Fr. Schmid, Abresch, Bleek, and others, is at the same time worthy of notice, viz. that also in the Talmud and by the Rabbins a duration of forty years is assigned to the Messianic kingdom with reference to Psa 95 . and the forty years of the wilderness. Comp. Sanhedr . fol. 99, 1 : R. Eliezer dixit: dies Messiae sunt quadraginta anni, sicut dicitur: quadraginta annos sqq . (Psa 95:10 ); Tanchuma , fol. 79, 4 : Quamdiu durant anni Messiae? R. Akiba dixit: quadraginta annos, quemadmodum Isralitae per tot annos in deserto fuerunt.
[59] In an unnatural manner, Hofmann: as , so also even finds its object in .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Ver. 9. Tempted me ] God must be trusted, but not tempted, as he is, when men, 1. Question and awake his power; 2. Limit the Holy One of Israel, and presume to prescribe to him, set him a time, &c.; 3. Nelgect the use of means, and serve not his providence.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Heb 3:9 . , “where your fathers tempted me,” i.e. , in the wilderness. Others take as = “with which,” attracted into genitive by . , “in putting me to the proof”. , “and saw my works forty years,” the wonders of mercy and of judgment. In the psalm . are joined to , being omitted. The same connection is adopted in Heb 3:17 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
proved. Greek. dokimazo, to put to the test, but the texts read en dokimasia, in, or by, a testing.
saw. Greek. eidon. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Heb 3:9. ) viz. , Attic for .- , they tempted Me) [to try] whether I was able or willing.- , your fathers) whose hardness of heart is very often mentioned. Therefore the authority of the ancients is not conclusive.-, proved) i.e. searched out, put Me to the test; not approved. Weigh well what follows.-, they saw) evidently, but without improvement.- , my works) most glorious in affording help, partly also in executing vengeance.- , forty years) This is joined with in the LXX. and in the Hebrew, and below Heb 3:17. At the same time the people both saw , work of GOD, and offended GOD, until they filled up the full measure of their guilt. Here it is joined with , they saw; and therefore the hard heart of the people is implied.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
and: Exo 19:4, Exo 20:22, Deu 4:3, Deu 4:9, Deu 11:7, Deu 29:2, Jos 23:3, Jos 24:7, Luk 7:22
forty: Num 14:33, Deu 8:2, Deu 8:4, Jos 5:6, Amo 2:10, Act 7:36, Act 13:8
Reciprocal: Exo 17:2 – wherefore Exo 17:7 – tempted Num 14:22 – tempted Deu 6:16 – tempted him Psa 95:8 – in the Psa 95:10 – Forty Mal 3:15 – they that tempt Mat 4:7 – Thou Mat 19:3 – tempting Luk 4:12 – Thou Luk 9:41 – and suffer Act 7:42 – of forty Act 15:10 – Why Heb 3:16 – some
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Heb 3:9. The apostle gives further explanation of his preceding warning by the words of this verse. Your fathers means the first heads of the Jewish nation. Tempted and proved occurred when the disobedience of the Israelites put the patience of God to a test. Such conduct on their part was without cause, for they had abundance of evidence that He was able to care for them under all conditions, and also that He would punish them for their rebellion. All of this was manifested to them during the forty years in the wilderness.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Heb 3:9. When; rather where, a common meaning of the Greek word.
Tempted me, proved me. The true reading is, tempted me in (or by) proving [me]. Strong passion is some excuse for sin. When men tempt God to try how far they may go, and how much He will bear, there is a shamelessness in their state of heart that is without excuse.
And saw my works. Either the punishment God inflicted, which failed to lead them to repentance (as the word is used in Psa 64:10; Isa 5:12), or my mighty works, punishment in part, but chiefly mercy, and disregarding both they became the more guilty.