Luke 21:26

Luk 21:26. Φίβου καὶ προσδοκίας, fear and expectation [“looking after”]) fear, viz. of things present; expectation, viz. of things future. Not even the saints shall be altogether exempt from some degree of terror: comp. ch. Luk 24:37-38 [The disciples, after the resurrection, were on the sudden appearance of Jesus at first “terrified and affrighted.” ‘Joy’ suceeds in Luk 24:41]: but soon they will recover themselves.—αἱ γὰρ δυνάμεις, for the powers) This is now no longer a mere sign, but one of those things which are coming on the earth.

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

Luk 21:26 . ἀποψυχόντων : literally, dying, probably meant tropically = ὡς νεκροί , Mat 28:4 . ἀπὸ φόβου καὶ προσδοκίας , from fear and expectation, instead of fearful expectation as in Heb 10:27 ( φοβερὰ ἐκδοχὴ ). προσδοκία here and in Act 12:11 .

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

After divers tempests, the Lord will at the length plainly appear to deliver his Church.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 26. Men's hearts failing them for fear] Or, Men fainting away through fear, (αποψυχοντων), being ready to die.

Coming on the earth] Or, Coming upon this land, οικουμενη. See this translation of the word vindicated in Clarke's note on "Lu 2:1".

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

(26) Men’s hearts failing them for fear.—The verb so rendered is used by St. Luke only in the New Testament. Its literal meaning is to breathe out the soul, and it was, therefore, a word which would naturally enter into the vocabulary of a physician, both in its primary and figurative sense. The mental state which it expresses exactly agrees with that described in Act_27:20, in connection with the tempest.

For looking after those things.—Literally, for expectation, the noun being used only by St. Luke in the New Testament.

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

26. men’s hearts failing them] Literally, “men fainting.”

on the earth] Literally, “on the habitable world.”

the powers of heaven] i.e. the “bright dynasts” (Aesch. Ag. 6)—the Hosts of the Heavens.

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.

So likewise when ye see these things come to pass,.... The signs before mentioned, in Luk 21:8.

Know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand: a more visible and glorious display of the kingdom of the Messiah, in the destruction of his enemies, the Jews; see Mar 9:1.

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

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Ver. 26. Men’s hearts failing them] What marvel though wicked men be dispirited, and even ring their bells backwards, when they shall see all on a light fire? Moses himself may tremble at the terror of the mount, and Abraham show some trepidation in such a fright.

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.

The powers of heaven, &c. Some explain this of the angels, who shall be terrified and tremble at the sight of so many calamities. Others understand it of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, stars, &c. which shall in some sort, likewise, be confused in the general dissolution. The prophets often make use of such expressions, when speaking of the fall of monarchies, or the ruin of nations. The heavens shall be astonished and moved, &c. (Ezechiel xxxii. 7; Joel iii. 15.) (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

26. The powers of heaven shall be shaken—As if that Coming would disturb for the time the fixedness of the planetary system. But the shaking may be apparent only; the words expressing optical or visible truth.

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

26. ἀποψυχόντων ἀνθρώπων. Literally, “men swooning.” Meyer renders it “giving up the ghost.”

καὶ προσδοκίας. “And expectation;” only here and in Act 12:11.

τῇ οἰκουμένῃ. Literally, “on the habitable world.”

αἱ γὰρ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν, i.e. the “bright dynasts” (Aesch. Ag. 6)—the Hosts of the Heavens.

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.

26.] The greater part of these signs are peculiar to Luke.

ἀπορίᾳ ἤχους, despair on account of the noise—so Herodian (see .) iv. 14. 1, ἐν ἀπορίᾳ … τοῦ πρακτέου. By no possibility can ἤχους be gen. after σημεῖα, as Wordsw.: the καί after ἄστροις having since its occurrence taken up a new subject in apposition.

καί . σάλου—‘vocem angustiorem annectit latiori.’ Kypke, Observv. in loc.

The same may be said of the καί bef. προσδοκ. in ver. 26.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. ἀποψυχόντων. “Fainting, swooning,” as Hom. Od. 24:348, rather than “expiring,” as Thuc. 1:134, 3; Soph. A.j. 1031.

The arescentibus of Lat. Vet. and Vulg. is remarkable; but a has a refrigescentibus and d has deficientium.1 Of these three words refrigescere best represents ἀποψύχειν. But in LXX ψύχειν is used of drying in the sun or air: Num 11:32; 2Sa 17:19. Comp, τοὶ δʼ ἰδρῶ ἀπεψύχοντο χιτώνων, στάντε ποτὶ πνοιήν (Hom. Il. 11:621): “They dried the sweat off their tunics.” Rhem. renders arescentibus “withering away.” Hobart claims both ἀποψύχειν and προσδοκία as medical (pp. 161, 166). But medical writers use ἀποψύχειν of being chilled, not of swooning or expiring. He gives many instances from Galen of προσδοκία (which occurs here and Act 12:11 It only in N.T.) as denoting the expectation of an unfavourable result. For this use of ἀπό see on 24:41.

τῇ οἰκουμένῃ. See on 4:5.

αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται. Comp. τακήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν (Isa 34:4). The verb which Lk. substitutes is one of which he is fond (6:38, 48, 7:24; Act 2:25, Act 4:31, Act 16:26, Act 17:13). By αἱ δυνάμεις τ. οὐρ. is meant, not the Angels (Euthym.), nor the cosmic powers which uphold the heavens (Mey. Oosterz), but the heavenly bodies, the stars (De W. Holtz. Weiss, Hahn): Comp. Isa 40:26; Psa 33:6. Evidently physical existences are meant.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Failing [αποψυχοντων] . Only here in New Testament. The word originally means to leave off breathing; to swoon. Thus Homer, when Laertes recognizes Ulysses :

"He threw Round his dear son his arms. The hardy chief, Ulysses, drew him fainting [αποψυχοντα] to his heart." Odyssey, 24, 346.

So also Sophocles, of Hector dragged behind Achilles' chariot :

" He breathed out his life [απεψυξεν βιον] .

Ajax, 1031.

Matthew alone uses the simple verb, yucw, to breathe, or blow. See on wax cold, Mt 24:12. Luke uses four compounds of this simple verb, all of which are peculiar to him. Compare cool, ch. 16 24; refreshing, Act 3:19; gave up the ghost, Act 5:5, 10.

Expectation [προσδοκιας] . Only here and Act 12:11.

The world. See on ch. Luk 2:1.

Shall be shaken [σαλευθησονται] . Compare Mt 11:7; Luk 6:38; Act 4:31; Heb 12:26, 27. The root of the verb is the same as that of billows, ver 25.

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