Hebrews 1:12

Heb 1:12. Ἀλλάξεις, Thou shalt change.—ἀλλαγήσονται, they shall be changed) Many read for ἀλλάξεις, ἑλίξεις: but there is the one verb חלף twice in the Hebrew, which the LXX. often translate ἀλλάσσω, never by ἑλίσσω.[9]—Ὁ ΑὐΤῸς) הוא, the same, never another (anything different), without old age and change. See Hiller, Onom., p. 71, 262. So 1Sa 2:10 יהוה, LXX. Αὐτός.

[9] It must be observed, however, that the marg. of the 2d Ed., differing from the larger Ed., does not assign a greater value to the reading ἀλλάξεις than to ἑλίξεις. Umwenden, which is read in the Germ. Vers., accords with this. Therefore the latter views of Bengel are not refuted but confirmed by the decision which Ernesti gives, Bibl. th., T. vi., p. 6. But the same learned man, T. v., p. 216, reminds us that ἀλλάξεις and ἑλίξεις, in the idiom found in Hebraizing Greek, are the same as, Thou shalt abolish, shalt reduce to nothing. Let them so consider who can.—E. B

AB and the oldest MS. of Vulg. Amiat. have ἑλίξεις D(Δ) corrected, f, and Victor’s Vulg., have ἀλλάξεις.—ED.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Heb_1:12. Καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται] and as a cloak (something flung about one) wilt Thou roll them up, and they shall become changed. In the original: As the vesture dost Thou change them, and they are changed. This sense of the original is rendered by the LXX. according to the reading of the Cod. Vat.: καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἀλλάξεις αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται; whereas the Cod. Alex. presents ἑλίξεις; and this is also most probably the reading followed by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in our passage.

οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν] will know no end.

Meyer — Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament — English translation by Peter Christie, edited by Frederick Crombie (T&T Clark, 1880) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

vesture--Greek, "an enwrapping cloak."

fold them up--So the Septuagint, Psa 102:26; but the Hebrew, "change them." The Spirit, by Paul, treats the Hebrew of the Old Testament, with independence of handling, presenting the divine truth in various aspects; sometimes as here sanctioning the Septuagint (compare Isa 34:4; Rev 6:14); sometimes the Hebrew; sometimes varying from both.

changed--as one lays aside a garment to put on another.

thou art the same-- (Isa 46:4; Mal 3:6). The same in nature, therefore in covenant faithfulness to Thy people.

shall not fail--Hebrew, "shall not end." Israel, in the Babylonian captivity, in the hundred second Psalm, casts her hopes of deliverance on Messiah, the unchanging covenant God of Israel.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. And they shall be changed] Not destroyed ultimately, or annihilated. They shall be changed and renewed.

But thou art the same] These words can be said of no being but God; all others are changeable or perishable, because temporal; only that which is eternal can continue essentially, and, speaking after the manner of men, formally the same.

Thy years shall not fail.] There is in the Divine duration no circle to be run, no space to be measured, no time to be reckoned.

All is eternity - infinite and onward.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(12) And as a vesture . . .—Rather (see Heb_1:10), And as a mantle shalt Thou roll them up; as a garment shall they also be changed. The course of thought is easily traced: as the garment which has grown old is rolled up and changed, so the former heavens and earth shall give place to the new heavens and the new earth.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. shalt thou fold them up] Lit., “Thou shalt roll them up.” This reading (ἑλίξελς) is found in most MSS. and is perhaps an unconscious reminiscence of Isa_34:4 (comp. Rev_6:14); but א, D read “thou shalt change them” (ἀλλάξεις), as in the original, and in the LXX. (Cod. Alex.). On this final consummation, and the destruction of the material universe, see Mat_24:35; 2Pe_3:7; Rev_21:1.

thou art the same] In the Hebrew (literally) “Thou art He.”

thy years shall not fail] i.e. they shall never come to an end (Heb_13:8; Rev_1:8).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up,.... In order to lay them aside, and make no use of them in the manner they now are; just as clothes, when they are grown old, or out of fashion, are folded up, and laid aside from use at present, or are put into another form. In the Hebrew text it is, "as a vesture shalt thou change them"; but the sense is the same, for a garment is changed by folding it, or turning it; agreeably to which Jarchi interprets the Hebrew phrase thus,

"as a man turns his garment to put it off;''

the Vulgate Latin version reads as the Hebrew does, and one of the manuscripts of New College, Oxford.

And they shall be changed; as to their form and use, not as to their being; for a change, and an annihilation, are two things:

but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail; which is expressive of the immutability of Christ, in his nature and perfections, in his person, and offices, in the virtue of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; and of his duration or continuance, in opposition to the fading and transitory nature of the heavens and earth, and of all outward enjoyments: and this may serve to take off the heart from the one, and set it upon the other; and to strengthen our faith in Christ, and encourage us to expect a continuance of blessings from him; all supplies of grace now, and eternal glory hereafter.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Ver. 12. But thou art the same] As in essence, so in will and counsel. Repentance with man is the changing of his will; repentance with God is the willing of a change; Mutatio rei, non Dei, effectus non affectus, facti non consilii.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And as a vesture - A garment; literally something thrown around - περιβόλαιον peribolaion - and denoting properly the outer garment, the cloak or mantle; see notes, Mat 5:40. “Shalt thou fold them up.” That is, the heavens. They are represented in the Scriptures as an “expanse.” or something spread out (the Hebrew text of Gen 1:7): as a “curtain,” or “tent” Isa 40:22, and as a “scroll” that might be spread out or rolled up like a book or volume, Isa 34:4; Rev 6:14. Here they are represented as a garment or mantle that might be folded up - language borrowed from folding up and laying aside garments that are no longer fit for use. “And they shall be changed.” That is, they shall be exchanged for others, or they shall give place to the new heavens and the new earth; 2Pe 3:13. The meaning is, that the present form of the heavens and the earth is not to be permanent, but is to be succeeded by others, or to pass away, but that the Creator is to remain the same. “Thou art the same.” Thou wilt not change. “And thy years shall not fail.” Thou wilt exist forever unchanged. What could more clearly prove that he of whom this is spoken is immutable? Yet it is indubitably spoken of the Messiah, and must demonstrate that he is divine. These attributes cannot be conferred on a creature; and nothing can be clearer than that he who penned the Epistle believed that the Son of God was divine.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up: περιβολαιον is an upper garment, cloak, or coat, which a man puts on or casts off at his pleasure; when it is of no more use it is folded up and laid by: so the great gospel Minister, God the Son incarnate, shall roll up the natural heavens when useless, and lay them by.

And they shall be changed; by him they shall be altered, and made more glorious by new modelling them, changing of them into a better state, Isa 34:4; 65:17; 66:22; compare 2Pe 3:10-13.

But thou art the same: the identity of this Person is opposed to the changeableness of excellent creatures, and showeth him to be what he is here entitled, Jehovah, Heb 13:8. His assumption of the humanity to his person made no alteration in him, being still the same most excellent person as ever, Mal 3:1,6; 1Co 12:5.

And thy years shall not fail; as the being of God the Son is not measured nor terminated by years or time, so, in respect of his humanity, the years which were the measure of it shall never fail; for being raised from the dead, he shall die no more, but

abideth for ever, Joh 12:34, and ruleth, as foretold, Luk 1:33; 1Pe 4:11. How transcendently excellent is He, who is immutable and eternal, for state and name above angels!

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. As a vesture—By a figure of great majesty in this verse God is an infinite Person, and the universe is his immense raiment. As a person takes off, folds up, and throws aside when old, his garments, so God deals with phenomenal things. But, contrastively, the person remains the same, and of God’s person the years shall not fail; they shall roll forever onward.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

As a mantle - With all ease. They shall be changed - Into new heavens and a new earth. But thou art eternally the same.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

12. “Thou wilt roll them away like a book, and they shall be changed.” Books of olden time were skins of animals inscribed and rolled up like a side of leather. This is a vivid description of the wonderful transformations which Omnipotence will execute in the great and radical revolutions and renovations which await the material worlds in the coming ages.

William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. As a vesture shalt thou fold them up. The heavens shall be rolled away. They are rolled up to be put away like a worn out garment. But thou art the same. The Son is eternal, the same yesterday, to-day and forever.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

12. ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον. The ὡς ἱμάτιον of אOba 1:1 E and several versions is probably a gloss on the rarer word.

ἑλίξεις, rec. ἀλλάξεις, which is less well supported.

The title followed in the Authorised Version Παύλου τοῦ Ἀποστόλου ἡ πρὸς Ἑβραίους ἐπιστολὴ is wholly without authority. The original title, if there was one at all, probably ran simply πρὸς Ἑβραίους as in אABK, and as it was in the days of Origen. In various MSS. the Epistle is found in different positions. In DKL it stands as in A.V. In אABC it is placed after 2 Thess. (See for fuller information Bleek, Hebraerbrief, p. 45.)

12. ἑλιξεις αὐτούς, “Thou shalt roll them up.” This reading (ἑλίξεις) is found in most MSS. and is perhaps an unconscious reminiscence of Isa 34:4 (comp. Rev 6:14); but א, D read “thou shalt change them” (ἀλλάξεις), as in the original, and in the LXX. (Cod. Alex.). On this final consummation, and the destruction of the material universe, see Mat 24:35; 2Pe 3:7; Rev 21:1.

σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ. In the Hebrew (literally) “Thou art He” (הוּא).

τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν, i.e. they shall never come to an end (Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8). The verb is used in the LXX. and by St Luk 16:9; Luk 22:32. The neut. plur., as is not unusual, here takes a plural verb. So too in Joh 19:31; 1Ti 5:25. See Winer, p. 646.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vesture [περιβολαιον] . Only here and 1Co 11:5. From periballein to throw around : a wrapper, mantle.

Shalt thou fold them up [ελιξεις αυτους] . Rather, roll them up. A scribal error for ajllaxeiv shalt change. After these words the LXX repeats wJv iJmation as a garment from ver. 11.

Shall not fail [ουκ εκλειψουσιν] . Shall not be ended. With this exception the verb only in Luke's Gospel. See Luk 16:9; Luk 22:32; Luk 23:45. Very frequent in LXX

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.