Hebrews 2:12

Hebrews 2:12

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

a. NLT: For he said to God, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.”

b. NIV: He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

c. YLT: saying, 'I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, 'I will be trusting on Him;'

d. Amplified Bible:  saying, “I will declare Your (the Father’s) name to My brethren (believers), In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

e. Worrell Translation: saying, “I will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of an assembly will I sing praise to Thee.”

1. “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren…”

a. saying [3004 * legos] [Strong: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

b. I will declare [518 * apaggello] [Strong: from 575 and the base of 32; to announce:--bring word (again), declare, report, shew (again), tell.]

c. thy [4675 *  sou] [Strong: genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.]

d. name [3686 * onoma] [Strong: from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d).]

e. unto my [3450 * mou] [Strong: the simpler form of 1700; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.]

f. brethren [80 * adephos] [Strong: from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

1). This is a direct quote almost word for word from Psalms 22:22, but what we do not see in Psalm 22 we do see in Hebrews because the New Covenant is a more thorough and clear revelation. We see in Hebrews that these words were spoken by the Second Person of the Godhead [the LORD God] Jesus, to the First Person of the Godhead [the LORD God] the Father.

a). Hebrews 2:9-12 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

2). When we see some of these little tidbits of conversations between the persons of the Godhead what we are actually seeing are the very small portions of conversations between the Persons of the Godhead planning or the mapping out of the plan of redemption. I believe these were the words spoken by the Persons of the Godhead to each other before the foundation of the world. I am going to compare the Hebrew and the Greek words and see what we can understand. The first section of Hebrews 2:12 and Psalm 22:22 in the KJV is word for word the same: Psalm 22:22 “I will declare thy name unto my brethren.” I will compare the Hebrew and Greek words below.

a). Psalm 22:22 [KJV] “I will declare thy name unto my brethren:”

b). Psalm 22:23 [Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets] “I will proclaim Your Name to my brethren”

3). Comparison of Hebrew and Greek words.

a). Greek: declare [518 * apaggello][Thayer: to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report, to proclaim, to make known openly, declare.]

b). Hebrew: declare [5608 * caphar] [Strong: to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune, (ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.]

c). Greek: brethren [80 * adelphos][Thayer: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother, having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, or countryman, any fellow or man, a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection.]

d). Hebrew:  brethren [251 * ‘ach] [Gesenius:  brother, brother of same parents, half-brother (same father), relative, kinship, same tribe.]

4). The original words of all of Psalm 22 were written by David about 1000 B.C. and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

a). 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

 2. “…in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

a. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

b. the midst [3319 * mesos] [Strong: from 3326; middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun):--among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way.]

c. of the church [1577 * ekklesia] [Strong: from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.] [Thayer: :  a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly, an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting, the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth.]

d. will I sing praise [5214 * humneo] [Strong: from 5215; to hymn, i.e. sing a religious ode; by implication, to celebrate (God) in song:--sing a hymn (praise unto).]

e. to thee [4571 * se] [Strong: accusative case singular of 4771; thee:--thee, thou, X thy house.

1). Comparison of Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22, Hebrew and Greek.

a). Greek: midst [3319 * mesos][Thayer: middle, the midst in the midst of, amongst.]

b). Hebrew: midst [8432 * tavek][Gesenius: midst, middle, among, between.]

c). Greek: church [1577 * ekklesia] [Strong: from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.] [Thayer: :  a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly, an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting, the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth.]

d). Hebrew: congregation [6951 * qahal][Gesenius: assembly, company, congregation, convocation, assembly, congregation, as organised body.]

e). Greek: sing praise [5214 * hymneo][Thayer: to sing the praise of, sing hymns to, to sing a hymn, to sing, singing of paschal hymns these were Psalms 113 - 118 and 136, which the Jews called the "great Hallel"]

(1) Thayer’s definition here is interesting in light of the quotation is from Psalm 22, the great Messianic Psalm of Christ Jesus on the cross, Jesus being crucified on Passover and the Jews singing the Hallel on Passover, which is what Jesus did on the way to the Mount of Olives, Matthew 26:30.

f). Hebrew: praise [1984 * halal][ Strong: to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously-noisy) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.]

2). Here is what we have with Hebrews 2 quoting Psalm 22, we must remember that Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm, it prophetically speaks about Christ Jesus. So what we have here in Hebrews 2:12 is the writer, probably Paul referring his readers to Psalm 22:22 where the pre-incarnate Christ is speaking prophetically to God, that He, Christ Jesus would praise God in the midst of the congregation. Looking at the Hebrew definition we see him saying, I [Jesus] will in a noisy and apparently foolish manner, rave, celebrate, boast, commend, rage and praise you Father God. How is this going to play out? Let’s first look at John 15:4, 5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Next look at Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” And Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: The bottom line in this: Psalm 22:22 and Hebrews 2:11, 12 will be fulfilled when Jesus praises God through and in us!