Hebrews 3:15

ἐν τῷ λέγεσθαι.… “While it is said to-day, etc.” The construction of these words is debated. Bleek, Delitzsch, von Soden and others construe them with what follows, beginning at this point a fresh paragraph. The meaning would thus be: “Since it is said, ‘To-day if ye hear his voice, harden not, etc.,' who are meant, who were they who heard and provoked?” This is inviting but the γὰρ of Hebrews 3:16 is decidedly against it. Davidson connects ἐν τῷ λεγ. with what immediately precedes: “ ‘if we hold fast … unto the end, while it is said,' i.e., not during the time that it is said, but in the presence and consciousness of the saying, Harden not, etc.… with this divine warning always in the ears”. Similarly Weiss. Westcott connects the words with Hebrews 3:13, making 14 parenthetical. Either of these constructions is feasible. It is also possible to let the sentence stand by itself as introductory to what follows, taking μὴ σκληρ. as directly addressed to the Hebrews, not as merely completing the quotation: “While it is being said To-day if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation”. The λέγεσθαι thus contains only the clause ending with ἀκούσητε.