διωκόμενοι. Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:12; Galatians 6:12; Matthew 5:10.

οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι. We might have expected ‘but not captured’ rather than ‘but not forsaken’; ‘left behind’ (R.V. margin) ‘by his friends in the hands of his foes’ may be the meaning: ἐγκαταλιπεῖν … ἢ μὴ βοηθῆσαι κινδυνεύοντι (Plat. Symp. 179 A). ‘Forsaken of God’ is also possible. Comp. Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Acts 2:27; Acts 2:31; 2 Timothy 4:10; and the promise to Joshua, οὐκ ἐνκαταλείψω σε (Joshua 1:5).

καταβαλλόμενοι�ʼ οὐκ�. This refers to being struck down in battle rather than thrown in wrestling. Comp. καταβαλῶ αὐτὸν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ (2 Kings 19:7), κατ. αὐτοὺς ἐν μαχαίρᾳ (Jeremiah 19:7).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament