Hebrews 12:12

Hebrews 12:12

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

a. ASV: Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;

  

b. YLT: Wherefore, the hanging-down hands and the loosened knees set ye up;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees,

1. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down…”

a. Wherefore [Strong: 1352 dió, dee-o'; from G1223 and G3739; through which thing, i.e. consequently:—for which cause, therefore, wherefore.]

b. lift up [Strong: 461 anorthóō, an-orth-o'-o; from G303 and a derivative of the base of G3717; to straighten up:—lift (set) up, make straight.]

c. 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.] [Thayer: [Tas] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

d. hands [Strong: 5495 cheír, khire; perhaps from the base of G5494 in the sense of its congener the base of G5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):—hand.]

e. [which] hang down [Strong: 3935 paríēmi, par-ee'-ay-mi; from G3844 and hiemi (to send); to let by, i.e. relax:—hang down.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: Wherefore - In view of the facts which have been now stated - that afflictions are sent from God, and are evidences of his paternal watchfulness. Lift up the hands which hang down - As if from weariness and exhaustion. Renew your courage; make a new effort to bear them. The hands fall by the side when we are exhausted with toil, or worn down by disease; see the notes on Isaiah 35:3, from which place this exhortation is taken.

a).Isaiah 35:3, 4  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

2).  He is exhorting these believers to receive the discipline and the forgiveness of God.

a). 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

b). Psalm 63:4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

  

2.  “...and the feeble knees;”

a. 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.]

b. 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.] [Thayer: [Ta] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

c. feeble [Strong: 3886 paralýō, par-al-oo'-o; from G3844 and G3089; to loosen beside, i.e. relax (perfect passive participle, paralyzed or enfeebled):—feeble, sick of the (taken with) palsy.]

d. knees [Strong: 1119 góny, gon-oo'; of uncertain affinity; the "knee":—knee(X -l).]

1). It is the weak and feeble, those who bring up the rear but far enough in the back, that the enemy has no trouble picking off. They frequently miss services giving in the the most easiest excuses. There Bible reading is hit and miss as well as their prayer life.

a). Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;

25:18 How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.

25:19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.