Hebrews Chapter 12 verse 17 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) For ye know how that afterward . . .--The meaning of the verse will be seen more clearly if one clause be placed in a parenthesis: "For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing he was rejected (for he found no place of repentance), though he sought it earnestly with tears." The blessing of Jacob related in Genesis 27 is here viewed (apart from all attendant circumstances) as a necessary consequence of Esau's "profane" scorn of his birthright. Notwithstanding Esau's piteous entreaty, Isaac cannot but ratify (Genesis 27:33) the blessing which he has pronounced; though his son sought the blessing earnestly with tears (Genesis 27:38), he was rejected. He "found no place of repentance;" that first act (Genesis 25:33) could not be recalled, but brought with it a loss which nothing could retrieve.(It is right to add that other interpretations of the verse have been given, which seem, however, much less probable. Thus, the last clause has been understood to mean that Esau earnestly sought repentance; and the preceding words, which we have placed in a parenthesis, that he could not bring his father to a change of purpose.)Parallel Commentaries ...GreekForγὰρ (gar)ConjunctionStrong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.you knowἴστε (iste)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate. thatὅτι (hoti)ConjunctionStrong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.afterward,μετέπειτα (metepeita)AdverbStrong's 3347: Afterwards. From meta and epeita; thereafter.when he wantedθέλων (thelōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. to inheritκληρονομῆσαι (klēronomēsai)Verb - Aorist Infinitive ActiveStrong's 2816: To inherit, obtain (possess) by inheritance, acquire. From kleronomos; to be an heir to.theτὴν (tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.blessing,εὐλογίαν (eulogian)Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 2129: Adulation, praise, blessing, gift. he was rejected.ἀπεδοκιμάσθη (apedokimasthē)Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 593: To reject after testing (examination), disqualify. From apo and dokimazo; to disapprove, i.e. to repudiate.He could findεὗρεν (heuren)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.noοὐχ (ouch)AdverbStrong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.groundτόπον (topon)Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularStrong's 5117: Apparently a primary word; a spot, i.e. Location; figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard.for repentance,μετανοίας (metanoias)Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 3341: From metanoeo; compunction; by implication, reversal (another's) decision).thoughκαίπερ (kaiper)ConjunctionStrong's 2539: Although, though. From kai and per; and indeed, i.e. Nevertheless or notwithstanding.he soughtἐκζητήσας (ekzētēsas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 1567: To seek out, seek out after, require. From ek and zeteo; to search out, i.e.investigate, crave, demand, worship.[the blessing]αὐτήν (autēn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person SingularStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.withμετὰ (meta)PrepositionStrong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. tears.δακρύων (dakryōn)Noun - Genitive Neuter PluralStrong's 1144: A tear. Or dakruon dak'-roo-on; of uncertain affinity; a tear.Jump to PreviousAfterward Afterwards Although Blessing Carefully Chance Change Changed Desired Desiring Diligently Disapproved Earnestly Found Frequently Heritage Inherit Inherited Mind Opportunity Past Reformation Rejected Repent Repentance Request Secure Sought Tears Turned Undoing Wanted Weeping Wished Wishing