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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Hebrews 3:9

Hebrews 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 Psalms 64:10; Isaiah 5:12), or my mighty works, punishment in part, but chiefly mercy, and disregarding both they became the more guilty.

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See also Hebrews 3:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Hebrews 3:9. _WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME_] It would be better to translate ου _where_ than _when_, as the Vulgate has done in its _ubi_; and this translation has been followed by _Wiclif, Cov...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 3 _ 1. As Son over the house of God, greater than Moses (Hebrews 3:1)_ 2. The danger of unbelief (Hebrews 3:7) 3. The need of faith (Hebrews 3:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    HEBREWS 3:7 TO HEBREWS 4:13. With this warning the comparison between Christ and Moses changes into an exhortation, based on Psalms 95:7. This psalm is concerned with the house or community of which M...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    HEBREWS 3:1 TO HEBREWS 4:13. As Christ is higher than the angels, so He is _greater than Moses,_ through whom the first covenant was established. The comparison with Moses, however, occupies only a fe...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    GREATER THAN THE GREATEST (Hebrews 3:1-6)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So then, as the Holy Spirit says, "If today you will hear my voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the Provocation, as happened on the day of the Temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tri...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    PROVED. Greek. _dokimazo,_ to put to the test, but the texts read _en dokimasia,_ in, or by,. testing. SAW. Greek. _eidon._ App-133....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _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 read...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A solemn warning against hardening the heart [This constant interweaving of warning and exhortation with argument is characteristic of this Epistle. These passages (Hebrews 2:1-4; Hebrews 3:7-19; Heb...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΝ ΔΟΚΙΜΑΣΊΑΙ אABCDEM. 9. ΟὟ, not “_when_” as in the A. V. but “_where_,” i.e. at Massah, or in the wilderness. The rendering “_wherewith_” (R. V.) or “with which temptation,” would have been more na...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    A SOLEMN WARNING AGAINST HARDENING THE HEART [The constant interweaving of warning and exhortation with argument is characteristic of this Epistle. These passages (Hebrews 2:1-4; Hebrews 3:7-19; Hebre...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CH. 3. SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST TO MOSES (1–6). EXHORTATION AGAINST HARDENING THE HEART (7–19)...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _CHRIST DESIRES HEARTS THAT ARE NOT HARDENED -- HEBREWS 3:7-11:_ It is our duty to hear the voice of Jesus, our great High Priest, speaking in the gospel. We must hear and obey the voice of Christ "To...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΟΎ (G3757) где (adv. места), ΈΠΕΊΡΑΣΑΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΠΕΙΡΆΖΩ (G264) проверять, испытывать, искушать (TLNT). ΠΑΤΈΡΕΣ _пот. pl. от_ ΠΆΤΗΡ (G239) отец. Здесь используется, чтобы указать на близос...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHEREFORE, &C.— "We are the people of God, if we continue steadfast: wherefore, let me advise you, and exhort you, in the words of the inspired Psalmist, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not y...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    B. _Warnings and exhortations with respect to pilgrimage. Hebrews 3:7-19_ 1. _Israel's pilgrimage: Hebrews 3:7-11_ _TEXT_ Hebrews 3:7-11...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    CHRIST SUPERIOR TO MOSES. (Hebrews 3:7-12) In the first six verses of our present chapter four things were before us. First, the call to "consider" the Apostle and High Priest of our profession. Of o...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. WHEN, [ Hou (G3739)] - 'Where;' namely, in the wilderness. YOUR FATHERS. The authority of the ancients is not conclusive (B...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    7 The Hebrew of Psa_95:7-11 reads ''as at Meribah" and "the day of Massah", and the passage refers to the twentieth of Numbers. The quotation substitutes their meanings. Meribah is "contention," or "b...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:9 where (g-1) Some translate 'wherewith,' that is, 'with which temptation.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PROVED ME] RV 'by proving me,' i.e. by presumptuously putting to the proof. SAW MY WORKS] 'my works of judgment following on their unbelief,' or, more probably, 'in spite of their experience of my wor...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JESUS CHRIST, LORD OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GODS (_b_) Christ is superior also to Moses; for He is Son over the house of God, whereas Moses was only a servant in it....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW CAN I GET TO HEAVEN? HEBREWS _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 2 THE SUPERIOR *APOSTLE 3:1-4:13 JESUS IS SUPERIOR TO MOSES 3:1-6 V1 Brothers and sisters in Christ who belong to God, you share the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    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...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER III. FUNDAMENTAL ONENESS OF THE DISPENSATIONS. Hebrews 3:1 - Hebrews 4:13 (R.V.). "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High-priest of our conf...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Διὸ, “wherefore,” since it is only by holding fast our confidence to the end, that we continue to be the house of Christ and enjoy His faithful oversight, _cf._ Hebrews 3:14. Διὸ was probably intended...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    to Hebrews 4:13. Chapter s 3 and 4 as far as Hebrews 3:13, form one paragraph. The purpose of the writer in this passage, as in the whole Epistle, is to encourage his readers in their allegiance to Ch...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οὗ ἐπείρασάν με …, “where your fathers tempted me,” _i.e._, in the wilderness. Others take οὗ as = “with which,” attracted into genitive by πειρασμοῦ. ἐν δοκιμασίᾳ, “in putting me to the proof”. καὶ ε...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SUPERIOR TO MOSES Hebrews 3:1 Dwell on those opening words:- _holy_, such is God's ideal for us; _brethren_, by reason of our union with Christ, and with one another in Him; _partakers, etc_., God is...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The argument now passed to the second claim of superiority, that over all human leaders. He is first seen as superior to Moses and Joshua. He is "the Apostle" completely fulfilling the function repres...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    LESSONS FROM THE UNBELIEF IN THE WILDERNESS The writer turns to a quotation from Psalms 95:7-11. This Psalm is a call to worship God and a warning against a disobedient heart. The writer was warning t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (7) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted me...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The epistle to the Hebrews differs in some important respects from all those which have been before us; so much so that many have questioned whether it be the writing of the apostle Paul, of Apollos,...

  • John Calvin's Bible 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 oft...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Thus the Lord is set before us as the Apostle and High Priest of believers from among the Jews, the true people. I say,"from among the Jews," not that He is not our Priest, but that here the sacred wr...

  • John Gill's Exposition of 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...

  • John Owen’s Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews(7 vols)

    HAVING demonstrated the pre-eminence of the Lord Christ above Moses in their respective ministries about the house of God, the apostle, according unto his design and method, proceeds unto the applicat...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 Ho...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    HEB. 3:9-12. WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME, PROVED ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FORTY YEARS. WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, AND SAID, THEY DO ALWAYS ERR IN (THEIR) HEART; AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOW...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Having demonstrated the pre-eminence of Christ above Moses in their respective ministries, the apostle, according to his design and usual method, now proceeds to the application of the truth he had ev...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME, PROVED ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FORTY YEARS....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A warning lesson from the history of Moses:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling." Let us keep in mind that this is addressed to Jewish believers. How great a contrast to that which their own religion had taught them! Ea...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-13 Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary 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 yo...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Hebrews 3:9 Where G3757 your G5216 fathers G3962 tested G3985 (G5656) Me G3165 tried G1381 (G5656) Me...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHEREWITH (ου). Literally, "where" (the wilderness) as in Deuteronomy 8:15.TEMPTED ME BY PROVING ME (επειρασαν εν δοκιμασια). No word for "me." The Israelites "tested" God "in putting to the proo...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 3:7 Unbelief in the Wilderness. I. The history of the wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness is most instructive. No Scripture is of private interpretation, but is Catholic and eterna...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 3:1. _Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;_ Think of him, think how great he is, think what attent...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 3:1. _Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus._ Would God we considered him more! He is supremely wor...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 3:1. _Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus:_ Oh, that he had more consideration at our hands! Cons...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christ the Son better than Moses the servant. Warning against unbelief. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Moses. CONCLUSION: We owe to Jesus Christ as the principal messenger sent of Go...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Hebrews 3:1. _Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,_ who, as the sons of God, are called to eternal glory, _consider the Apostle and Highpriest of our profession,_ that he unite...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    THERE YOUR ANCESTORS. They annoyed God by their rebellion. Even though he gave them food and water by supernormal means, they still would not love Him....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    HEBREWS 3:1 Jesus Is Superior to the Mosaic Law. Having concluded that Jesus is superior to the mediators of the Mosaic law (angels, Hebrews 2:2), the author now establishes Jesus’ superiority to Mose...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 3:7 The contrasting of Jesus and Moses (Hebrews 3:1) leads to a comparison of their followers’ responses....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ Hebrews 3:7 form part of an exhortation, based on the superiority of Christ over Moses, and the conduct of the Jewish people in their relation to Moses. They were the c...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE SON SUPERIOR TO MOSES. Here begins the second section of the argument of the first four chapters (see summary given under Hebrews 1:5). But though a new branch of the argument begins, i...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn in our Bibles now to Hebrews the third chapter. Wherefore, holy brethren (Hebrews 3:1), The word wherefore immediately leads us back to that which is immediately preceding, and that is...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 13:8; Acts 7:36; Amos 2:10; Deuteronomy 11:7; Deuteronomy 29:2;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    When [ο υ]. Rend. where. See ou= after erhmov wilderness, Deuteronomy 8:15. Tempted me, proved me [ε π ε ι ρ α σ α ν ε ν δ ο κ ι μ α σ ι α]. Lit. tried (me) in proving. The text differs from LXX, whic...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Where your fathers — That hard — hearted and stiff — necked generation. So little cause had their descendants to glory in them. Tempted me — Whether I could and would help them. Proved me — Put my pat...

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