Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

a. ASV: Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

  

b. YLT: Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us, every weight having put off, and the closely besetting sin, through endurance may we run the contest that is set before us,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

1. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…”

a. Wherefore [Strong: 5101 toigaroûn, toy-gar-oon'; from G5104 and G1063 and G3767; truly for then, i.e. consequently:—there-(where-)fore.]

b. [seeing] we [Strong: 1473 ego eg-o' a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me.]

c. also [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. are [Strong: 2192 échō, ekh'-o; a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):—be (able, × hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), × conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, +recover, + reign, + rest, + return, × sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

e. compassed about [Strong: 4029 períkeimai, per-ik'-i-mahee; from G4012 and G2749; to lie all around, i.e. inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively):—be bound (compassed) with, hang about..]

  

g. [Strong: 2254 hēmîn, hay-meen'; dative case plural of G1473; to (or for, with, by) us:—our, (for) us, we.]

h. with so great [Strong: 5118 tosoûtos, tos-oo'-tos; from τόσος tósos (so much; apparently from G3588and G3739) and G3778 (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space):—as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.]

i. [a] cloud [Strong: 3509 néphos, nef'-os; apparently a primary word; a cloud:—cloud.]

  

j. [of] witnesses [Strong: 3144 mártys, mar'-toos; of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a "martyr":—martyr, record, witness.]

1). The witnesses are of course all the Old Testament saints previously mentioned.

2). Rick Renner 1/24/16  You are not alone! Look at Noah and the fight he endured. Look at Abraham and the fight he endured. Look at Sarah and the fight she endured. Look at Jacob and the fight he endured. Look at Joseph and the fight he endured. Look at Moses and the fight he endured. Look at Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets and the fight they all endured.

2. “...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

a. [let] us [Strong: 2249 hēmeîs, hay-mice'; nominative plural of G1473; we (only used when emphatic):—us, we (ourselves).]

b. lay aside [Strong: 659 apotíthēmi, ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee; from G575 and G5087; to put away (literally or figuratively):—cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off).]

1). Rick Renner 2/24/16: The words “lay aside” are taken from the Greek word apotithimi, a compound of the words apo and tithimi. As noted in the Sparkling Gem for January 6 [2016], the word apo means away and the word tithimi means to place or to lay something down. When these two words are compounded together, it gives a picture of someone who is laying something down while at the same time he is pushing it far away from himself. It means to lay something down and to push it far away and beyond reach. Thus, this word implies a deliberate decision to make a permanent change of attitude and behavior. Removing wrong attitudes and actions from our lives will not occur accidentally. We must decide to change — to remove, to lay aside, and to put away attitudes and actions that don’t please God and adversely affect our walk of faith.

c. every [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. weight [Strong: 3591 ónkos, ong'-kos; probably from the same as G43; a mass (as bending or bulging by its load), i.e. burden (hindrance):—weight.]

1). Rick Renner 2/24/16 The word “weight” is from the Greek word ogkos — a word that describes a burden or something so heavy and cumbersome that it impedes a runner from running his race as he should. This word was particularly used in the athletic world to signify the actions of an athlete who would deliberately strip himself of excess weight before participating in a competition. This stripping process included the loss of excess flesh through dieting and exercise.

e. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

  

g. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

h. sin [Strong: 266 hamartía, ham-ar-tee'-ah; from G264; a sin (properly abstract):—offence, sin(-ful).]

i. [which] doth so easily beset [us] [Strong: 2139 euperístatos, yoo-per-is'-tat-os; from G2095 and a derivative of a presumed compound of G4012 and G2476; well standing around, i.e. (a competitor) thwarting (a racer) in every direction (figuratively, of sin in genitive case):—which doth so easily beset.]

1). Rick Renner 1/27/16: The words “so easily beset us” are from the Greek word euperistatos, a compound of three words: eu, peri, and statos. Let’s look at all three of these words. The word eu usually means well, but in this case it carries the idea of something that feels well or something that is comfortable. The Greek word peri means around or being completely surrounded. The word statos is from the root word istimi, meaning to stand. When these three words are compounded, the new word describes something that comfortably stands all around you, such as a comfortable environment.

  

3. “...and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

a. [and let] us run [Strong: 5143 tréchō, trekh'-o; apparently a primary verb (properly, θρέχω thréchō; compare G2359); which uses δρέμω drémō drem'-o (the base of G1408) as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figuratively):—have course, run.]

b. with [Strong: 1223 diá, dee-ah'; a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):—after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, × though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in).]

c. patience [Strong: 5281 hypomonḗ, hoop-om-on-ay'; from G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:—enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).]

d. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. race [Strong: 73 agṓn, ag-one'; from G71; properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety:—conflict, contention, fight, race.]

  

g. [that is] set before us [Strong: 4295 prókeimai, prok'-i-mahee; from G4253 and G2749; to lie before the view, i.e. (figuratively) to be present (to the mind), to stand forth (as an example or reward):—be first, set before (forth).]

h. us [Strong: 2254 hēmîn, hay-meen'; dative case plural of G1473; to (or for, with, by) us:—our, (for) us, we.]

1). There are a few word pictures in the Bible that illustrates our walk with God as a race or other athletic competitions.

a). 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

b). Psalm 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.