Bible Commentaries
Mark 14

Verse 1

1. ] τὸ πάσχα καὶ τὰ ἄζ ., classed together, because the time of eating the Passover was actually the commencement of the feast of unleavened bread. The announcement by our Lord of his approaching death ( Mat 26:2 ) is omitted by Mark and Luke.

Verses 1-2

1, 2. ] CONSPIRACY OF THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES AGAINST JESUS. Matthew 26:1-5 .Luke 22:1-2; Luke 22:1-2 . The account of the events preceding the passion in our Gospel takes a middle rank between those of Matt. and Luke. It contains very few words which are not to be found in one or other of them; but at the same time the variations from both are so frequent and irregular, as in my opinion wholly to preclude the idea that Mark had ever seen either. The minute analysis of any passage in the three will, I think, convince an unprejudiced examiner of this.

On the chronological difficulties which beset this part of the Gospel history, see note on Matthew 26:17 .

Verse 2

2. ] μήποτε ἔσται indicates a certain expectation of that which is deprecated. See Winer, § 56. 2. b. Notice also ἔσται , not γενήσεται : “ne, quod suspicamur, tumultus futurus sit,” h. e. “ erit alioquin (neque enim oriendi notio inculcatur), ut suspicamur, tumultus.” C. F. Fritzsche, in Fritzschiorum Opuscula, p. 285.

Verse 3

3. νάρδου πιστικῆς ] It seems impossible to assign any certain, or even probable meaning, to πιστικῆς (a word found here and in John’s narrative only). The Vulg. and the lat. mss. c ff 2 q render it “ spicati .” The ancient Commentators give us nothing but conjecture. Euthymius and Theophylact interpret it “ genuine: ” καταπεπιστευμένην εἰς καθαρότητα , Euth.; ἄδολον καὶ μετὰ πίστεως κατασκευασθεῖσαν , Theophyl.; ‘ veram et absque dolo ,’ Jerome. Augustine supposes it to refer to some place from which the nard came. Origen’s comment on the passage is lost. The expression no where occurs in the classics, nor in Clement of Alex., who gives a long account (Pædagog. ii. 8, pp. 76 79 [43] ) of ointments . The word can therefore hardly signify any particular kind of ointment technically so called.

[43] By these symbols are designated the portions of two ancient MSS., discernible (as also are fragments of Ulphilas’ gothic version) under the later writing of a volume known as the Codex Carolinus in the Ducal Library at Wolfenbüttel. P (GUELPHERBYTANUS A) contains fragments of each of the Gospels. Q (GUELPH. B) fragments of Luke and John. Both are probably of the sixth century . They were edited by F. A. Knittel in 1762; and, more thoroughly, by Tischendorf in 1860 [1869], Monumenta Sacra, vol. iii. [vi.]

The modern interpretations of the word are principally of two kinds: the first, agreeing with Euth. and Theophyl., ‘ genuine ,’ ‘ unadulterated; ’ which sense however of the word does not any where else occur. It is used transitively for πειστικός , ‘ persuasive ,’ by Aristotle (Rhet. i. 2), and in some later writers for πιστός , as ὁ πιστικώτατος τῶν θεραπόντων , Cedrenus, Annal., cited by Lücke on John 12:3 . Euseb. also uses the word (Demonstr. Evang. ix. vol. iv. p. 684, ed. Migne), but in the sense of ‘ pertaining to the faith ,’ as his Latin translator renders it, or, as Lücke thinks, perhaps ‘ potable ,’ as a derivative of πιστός (from πίνω ).

This brings us to the second modern interpretation, which makes πιστικός ‘ liquid ,’ ‘ potable ,’ and derives it as above. There certainly was a kind of ointment which they drank; for Athenæus (xv. 39, p. 689) quotes from Hicesius, τῶν μύρων ἃ μέν ἐστι χρίματα , ἃ δ ʼ ἀλείμματα . καὶ ῥόδινον μὲν πρὸς πότον ἐπιτήδειον , ἔτι δὲ μύρσινον , μήλινον · τοῦτο δέ ἐστι καὶ εὐστόμαχον καὶ ληθαργικοῖς χρήσιμον … καὶ ἡ στακτὴ δ ʼ ἐπιτήδειος πρὸς πότον , ἔτι δὲ νάρδος . The only objection to this interpretation is, that the word is no where found which however is not so decisive as in the last case, for, as πιστικός from πιστός , ‘faithful,’ so there might be πιστικός from πιστός , ‘potable’ and from being a term confined to dealers in ointments, it might have escaped notice elsewhere.

Lücke (from whom the substance of this note is derived) seems to incline to Augustine’s conjecture (see above): but then surely the name would be more common , as ‘balm of Gilead,’ &c.

The uncertainty being so great, the best rendering would be to leave the word untranslated , as Jer. Taylor does in his “Life of Christ” (sect. 15): ‘Nard Pistick.’ Bp. Wordsw. sees in the word the mystical sense, that “offerings to Christ should be … the fruits of a lively and loving πίστις , or faith, in Him.”

συντρ . τὴν ἀλάβ . can hardly mean only having broken the resin with which the cork was sealed. In ch. Mark 5:4 : John 19:36 ; Revelation 2:27 , the word is used of breaking , properly so called: and I see no objection to supposing that the ἀλάβαστρον was crushed in the hand, and the ointment thus poured over His head. The feet would then ( Joh 12:3 ) be anointed with what remained on the hands of Mary, or in the broken vase (see note on Luk 7:38 ).

Verses 3-9

3 9. ] THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY. 3 John 1:1-8; 3 John 1:1-83 John 1:1-8 . (On Luke 7:36-50 , see note there.) The whole narrative has remarkable points of similarity with that of John, and is used by Professor Bleek (Beiträge zur Evangelienkritik, p. 83) as one of the indications that Mark had knowledge of and used the Gospel of John. My own view, as explained in the general Prolegomena, leads me to a different conclusion.

I have already remarked (note on Mat 26:3 ), that while Matt. seems to have preserved trace of the parenthetic nature of this narrative, by his τοῦ δὲ Ἰ . γενομένου ( Mar 14:6 ), and τότε πορευθείς ( Mar 14:14 ), such trace altogether fails in our account. It proceeds as if continuous .

Verses 4-5

4, 5. τινες ] See notes on Matt. The δην . τριακοσ . is common to our narrative and that of John.

ἐπάνω does not govern τρ . δην .: the genitive is one of price .

Verse 6

6. ] ἄφετε αὐτ ., also common to John, but as addressed to Judas .

Verse 7

7. ] The agreement verbatim here of Matt. and John, whereas our narrative inserts the additional clause καὶ ὅταν θέλητε δύνασθε αὐτοὺς εὖ ποιῆσαι , is decisive against the idea that Mark compiled his account from the other two. In these words there appears to be a reproach conveyed to Judas, and perhaps an allusion to the office of giving to the poor being his .

Verse 8

8. ] We have here again a striking addition peculiar to Mark ὃ ἔσχεν ἐποίησεν she did what she could: a similar praise to that given to the poor widow, ch. Mar 12:44 πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν ἔβαλεν . We have also the expression προέλαβεν μυρίσαι , shewing, as I have observed on Matt., that the act was one of prospective love, grounded on the deepest apprehension of the reality of our Lord’s announcement of His approaching death.

Verse 9

9. ] See notes on Matthew 26:13 .

Verses 10-11

10, 11. ] COMPACT OF JUDAS WITH THE CHIEF PRIESTS TO BETRAY HIM. Matthew 26:14-16 . Luke 22:3-6 . The only matters requiring notice are, the elliptical ἀκούσαντες , ‘ hearing the proposal ,’ and ἐπηγγείλαντο , implying, as does συνέθεντο in Luke, that the money was not paid now , either as full wages or as earnest-money, but promised; and paid (most probably) when the Lord was brought before the Sanhedrim, which was what Judas undertook to do. The ὁ before εἷς untranslatable in English: ‘ that one of the twelve’ is too strongly demonstrative: and yet ὁ is demonstrative, and expresses much.

Verse 12

12. ] ὅτε τὸ π . ἔθυον , like Luke’s expression ᾗ ἔδει θύεσθαι τὸ π ., denotes the ordinary day , when they (i.e. the Jews) sacrificed the Passover; for that the Lord ate His Passover on that day, and at the usual time, is the impression conveyed by the testimony of the three Evangelists: see notes on Matthew 26:17 , and Luke 22:7 .

We may notice that if this Gospel, as traditionally reported, was drawn up under the superintendence of Peter, we could hardly have failed to have the names of the two disciples given; nor again would our narrator have missed (and the omission is an important one) the fact that the Lord first gave the command , to go and prepare the Passover which Luke only relates.

It becomes a duty to warn students of the sacred word against fanciful interpretations. A respected Commentator of our own day explains the pitcher of water, which led the way to the room where the last Supper was celebrated, to mean “the baptismal grace” which we have “in earthen vessels,” which “leads on to other graces, even to the Communion of Christ’s Body and Blood.”

Verses 12-16

12 16. ] PREPARATION FOR CELEBRATING THE PASSOVER. Matthew 26:17-19 . Luke 22:7-13 . Our account contains little that is peculiar.

Verse 15

15. ] In the midst of a verbal accordance with Luke we have here inserted ἕτοιμον , indicating that the guest-chamber was already prepared for the celebration of the Passover, as would indeed be probable at this time in Jerusalem. The disciples had therefore only to get ready the Passover itself .

Verses 17-21

17 21. ] JESUS, CELEBRATING THE PASSOVER, ANNOUNCES HIS BETRAYAL BY ONE OF THE TWELVE. Matthew 26:20-25 .Luke 22:14; Luke 22:14 ( Luk 22:21-23 ). John 13:21 ff.

The account of Luke ( Luk 22:16 ) supplies the important saying of our Lord respecting the fulfilment of the two parts of the Passover feast see notes there. After our Mark 14:17 , comes in the washing of the disciples’ feet by the Lord , as related in John 13:1-20 .

Verse 18

18. ] The words ὁ ἐσθίων μετ ʼ ἐμοῦ are peculiar to Mark, and, as we have seen before, bear a relation to John’s account, where our Lord had just before cited ὁ τρώγων κ . τ . λ ., Mark 14:18 . They do not designate any particular person, but give pathos to the contrast which follows.

Verse 19

19. ] εἷς κατά (or καθ ʼ) εἷς , a later Greek phrase in which the preposition serves merely as an adverb of distribution, is treated by Winer, § 37. 3. The ἄλλος following is used as if not εἷς κατὰ εἷς but only εἷς had been used. Meyer remarks that such broken construction is suitable to the graphic tendency of our Evangelist.

Verse 20

20. ] This description of the traitor here again does not seem to designate one especially, nor to describe an action at that moment proceeding, but, as before, pathetically to describe the near relation of the betrayer to the Betrayed. Now however the relation pointed out is still closer than before it is that of one dipping in the same dish one of those nearest and most trusted.

Verses 22-25

22 25. ] INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER. Matthew 26:26-29 . Luke 22:19-20 . 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 . See notes on Matt.

Verses 26-31

26 31. ] DECLARATION THAT ALL SHOULD FORSAKE HIM. CONFIDENCE OF PETER. Matthew 26:30-35 . (See Luke 22:31-34 , and notes there.) Our account is almost verbatim the same as that in Matt., where see notes. The few differences are there commented on.

Verse 29

29. ] εἰ καὶ πάντες if even all: καὶ εἰ πάντες ‘ even if all .’ The καί before εἰ intensifies the whole hypothesis: the και after εἰ intensifies only that word which it introduces in the hypothesis. See Klotz on Devar. p. 519 f.: where however the account is not quite as clear as might be desired. ἀλλά has here its full adversative exceptional force notwithstanding: cf. Il. θ . 153, 154, εἴπερ γάρ σ ʼ Ἕκτωρ γε κακὸν καὶ ἀνάλκιδα φήσει , ἀλλ ʼ οὐ πείσονται Τρῶες καὶ Δαρδανίωνες : and Klotz on Devar. p. 93.

Verse 30

30. ] Notice the climax: σήμερον , but not only this ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτί , the part of it now present: nor only so, but πρὶν ἢ δὶς ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι , before a cock crow twice, i.e. long before the night is over.

Verse 31

31. ] ἐκπερισσῶς ἐλάλει , went on repeating superabundantly: the ἐλάλει giving Peter’s continued and excessive iteration, the ἔλεγον following expressing merely the one, or, at all events, less frequent saying of the same by the rest. The reading ἔλεγεν has apparently been a correction, λαλεῖν signifying to speak and not to say , and its peculiar fitness here being missed.

οὐ μή with fut. indic. makes the certainty of the assertion doubly sure. The E. V. attempts to represent this by adding “ in any wise .” We sometimes give the same effect by substituting the objective future for the subjective, “I never shall deny thee.”

Verses 32-42

32 42. ] OUR LORD’S AGONY AT GETHSEMANE. Matthew 26:36-46 . Luke 22:39-46 (see Joh 18:1 ). The same remarks apply here also.

Verse 33

33. ] Notice the graphic ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι , and see note on ch. Mark 9:15 . St. Matt. has λυπεῖσθαι .

Verse 36

36. ] ἀββᾶ = אַבָּא , an Aramaic form, and after Mark’s manner inserted, as ‘Ephphatha,’ ch. Mark 7:34 , ‘Talitha cum,’ ch. Mark 5:41 .

ὁ πατήρ is not the interpretation of ἀββᾶ , but came to be attached to it in one phrase , as a form of address: see reff. Meyer rightly supplies the ellipsis after ἀλλ ʼ: nevertheless, the question is not …: not οὐ γινέσθω , which would not come into construction with τί … τί .

Verse 39

39. ] τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον , not verbatim, but in substance: see [44] Matt.

[44] When, in the Gospels, and in the Evangelic statement, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 , the sign (║) occurs in a reference, it is signified that the word occurs in the parallel place in the other Gospels, which will always be found indicated at the head of the note on the paragraph. When the sign (║) is qualified , thus, ‘║ Mk.,’ or ‘║ Mt. Mk.,’ &c., it is signified that the word occurs in the parallel place in that Gospel or Gospels, but not in the other or others .

Verse 41

41. ἀπέχει ] Scil. your γρηγορεῖν μετ ʼ ἐμοῦ . The Lord had no need of it any more, now that the hour had come: not, as Bengel, Kuinoel, alli [45] ., ‘Satis somnorum est:’ this, as Meyer observes, is refuted by the καθεύδετε λοιπόν . This meaning of ἀπέχει , sufficit , is found in very few and late, but those quite sufficient examples. Meyer mentions Pseud.-Anacreon, Od. xxviii. 33, ἀπέχει , βλέπω γὰρ αὐτήν : and Cyril on Haggai 2:9 , ἐμὸν φησὶ τὸ ἀργύριον καὶ ἐμὸν τὸ χρυσίον · τουτέστιν ἀπέχει , καὶ πεπλήρωμαι , καὶ δεδέημαι τῶν τοιούτων οὐδενός .

[45] alli= some cursive mss.

Verses 43-52

43 52. ] BETRAYAL AND APPREHENSION OF JESUS. Matthew 26:47-56 . Luke 22:47-53 .

Verse 44

44. ] On the pluperfect without the augment, see Winer, § 12. 9.

σύσσημον is a word belonging to later Greek. We have in Diod. Sic. xx. 42, ἦρε τὸ συγκείμενον πρὸς μάχην σύσσημον , ἀσπίδα κεχρυσωμένην . See other examples in Kypke.

ἀπάγετε ἀσφαλῶς ] It does not quite appear whether ἀσφαλῶς is to be subjectively taken, ‘ with confidence; ’ or objectively, ‘ safely .’ Some suppose that it has an ironical meaning q. d. ‘He will know how to rescue himself take care that you keep Him safe.’ This of course depends upon the view taken of the whole character and purpose of Judas, on which see notes at Matthew 26:14 ; Matthew 27:3 .

Verse 45

45. ] ῥαββεί appears to have been the usual form in which Judas addressed our Lord see Matthew 26:25 . But we must not conclude from this with Bengel, that he never seems to have called Him Lord: see Matthew 7:21-22 .

Verse 51

51. ] It is impossible to determine, and therefore idle to enquire, who this was . Epiphanius, Hær. lxxviii. 13, vol. i. (ii., Migne) p. 1045, in recounting the traditional austerities of James the brother of the Lord, says, ὃς χιτώνιον δεύτερον οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ὃς τριβωνίῳ ἐκέχρητο λίνῳ μονωτἀτῳ , καθάπερ ἐν εὐαγγελίῳ φησὶν Ἔφυγεν ὁ νεανίας καὶ ἀφῆκε τὴν σινδόνα ἣν ἦν περιβεβλημένος . Chrys. alli [46] . supposed it to have been St. John: alii aliter. It seems to have been some attached disciple of the Lord (probably well known to the readers of Mark), who had gone to rest, and had been aroused by the intelligence. The disciples were not laid hold of: this person perhaps was throwing some obstacle in the way of the removal of Jesus: or he may have been laid hold of merely in wantonness, from his unusual garb.

[46] alli= some cursive mss.

γυμνοῦ does not require σώματος to be supplied, but γυμνόν is a neuter substantive: see on this usage generally Kühner, Gramm. ii. p. 118.

Verse 53

53. ἀρχιερέα ] Caiaphas, de facto , and in the view of our narrator; so Matt. and Luke: but Jesus was first taken before Annas , who was de jure the high-priest: see John 18:12-23 . It is not easy to interpret συνέρχονται αὐτῷ . Meyer, relying on the fact that the dative after συνέρχεσθαι is always one of companionship, maintains that αὐτῷ refers to our Lord ‘ there come with him .’ And so Winer, Exodus 6:0 , § 31. 5 ad fin. But surely this is very precarious. For 1) St. Mark uses this verb once only besides here, and then absolutely. And there could be no difficulty in taking it thus here and applying αὐτῷ to the High-priest as a dative of direction . And 2) could it be said of one whom they ἀπήγαγον , that he ἔρχεται to the High-priest? I venture therefore to prefer the usual construction of the words, ‘ there come together to him .’ The E. V. has ‘ with him were assembled; ’ and so Winer in former editions of his Grammar.

Verses 53-65

53 65. ] HEARING BEFORE CAIAPHAS. Matthew 26:57-68 . (Luke 22:54 ; Luke 22:63-65 .) John 18:24 . See throughout notes on Matt.

Verse 54

54. ] The usage of φῶς for a fire is found in Xen. Cyr. vii. 5. 27, οἱ δ ʼ ἐπὶ τοὺς φύλακας ταχθέντες ἐπεισπίπτουσιν αὐτοῖς πίνουσι πρὸς φῶς πολύ .

Verse 56

56. ] ἴσαι consistent with one another. It was necessary that two witnesses should agree. Deuteronomy 17:6 . ( ἰσος should not be accentuated as in Homer, ἶσος , but as in later writers, ἴσος .)

Verse 57

57. ] τινες , two; see Matt.

Verse 58

58. ] ἡμεῖς and ἐγώ are emphatic. Some have imagined (De Wette, Meyer) that they find in these words χειροπ . and ἀχειρ . traces of later Christian tradition, and an allusion to Hebrews 9:11 ; Acts 7:48 ; but such conjectures are at best very unsafe, and the words are quite as likely to have been uttered by the Lord as they here stand. The allusion is probably to Daniel 2:34 .

Verse 59

59. ] Perhaps the inconsistency of these testimonies may be traced in the different reports here and in Matt.

οὕτως , ‘ in asserting this ’ i.e. they varied in the terms in which it was expressed.

Verse 60

60. ] On the most probable punctuation and construction, see note on Matthew 26:62 .

Verse 61

61. ] τοῦ εὐλ ., Heb. הַבָּרוּךְ , the ordinary Name for God. “This is the only place in the N.T. where the well-known Sanctus Benedicous of the Rabbis is thus absolutely given.” Meyer.

Verse 62

62. ] The ἀπ ʼ ἄρτι of Matt., and ἀπο τοῦ νῦν of Luke, are here omitted.

Verse 63

63. ] χιτῶνας not his priestly robe , which was worn only in the temple, and when officiating: see on Matthew 26:65 .

The plural, τοὺς χιτ ., perhaps is due to the wearing of two inner garments by persons of note: see Winer, Realw. art. “Kleidung,” i. p. 662.

Verse 65

65. ] ἤρξαντο when the sentence was pronounced. The τινες appear to be members of the Sanhedrim: the servants follow. προφήτ . ] Matt. and Luke explain this: ‘Prophesy, who smote thee? ’

The reading ἔλαβον is harsh in sense, but the coincidence of ἐλάμβανον in [47] [48] alli [49] . seems to stamp it with genuineness. The meaning must be ‘ took Him in hand with,’ ‘treated Him with .’ Meyer understands it, took Him into custody, with …, for the further carrying out of the sentence against Him. But the unemphatic position of the verb seems to preclude this.

[47] The CODEX CANTABRIGIENSIS, or BEZÆ, so called because it was presented by Beza in 1581 to the University Library at Cambridge; where it is now exposed to view in a glass case. He procured it in 1562, from the monastery of St. Irenæus at Lyons. It is on parchment, and contains the Gospels and Acts, with a Latin version. Its lacunæ, which are many, will be perceived by the inner marginal letters in this edition. It once contained the Catholic Epistles: 3Jn 1:11-14 in Latin is all that now remains. It was edited with very accurate imitative types, at the expense of the University of Cambridge, by Dr. Kipling, in 1793. A new edition carefully revised and more generally accessible was published by Mr. Scrivener in 1864, and has been collated for this Edition. In the introduction some ten or twelve correctors are distinguished, whose readings are found in the notes at the end of the volume. The text of the Codex Bezæ is a very peculiar one, deviating more from the received readings and from the principal manuscript authorities than any other. It appears to have been written in France, and by a Latin transcriber ignorant of Greek, from many curious mistakes which occur in the text, and version attached. It is closely and singularly allied to the ancient Latin versions, so much so that some critics have supposed it to have been altered from the Latin: and certainly many of the phænomena of the MS. seem to bear out the idea. Where D differs in unimportant points from the other Greek MSS., the difference appears to be traceable to the influence of Latin forms and constructions. It has been observed, that in such cases it frequently agrees with the Latin codex e (see the list further on). Its peculiarities are so great, that in many passages, while the sense remains for the most part unaltered, hardly three words together are the same as in the commonly received text. And that these variations often arise from capricious alteration, is evident from the way in which the Gospels, in parallel passages, have been more than commonly interpolated from one another in this MS. The concurrence with the ancient Latin versions seems to point to a very early state of the text; and it is impossible to set aside the value of D as an index to its history; but in critical weight it ranks the lowest of the leading MSS. Its age has been very variously given: the general opinion now is that it was written in the latter end of the fifth or the sixth century .

[48] The Codex Harleianus, 5684, in the British Museum, brought by Andrew Seidel from the East. Contains the Gospels with many lacunæ. Collated by J. C. Wolf, to whom it once belonged, and recently by Tischendorf and Tregelles (known as Seidelii I., or Wolfii A). Ascribed to the ninth or tenth century .

[49] alli= some cursive mss.

Verse 66

66. ] κάτω , because the house was built round the αὐλή , and the rooms looked down into it. See note on Matthew 26:69 .

Verses 66-72

66 72. ] OUR LORD IS THRICE DENIED BY PETER. Matthew 26:69-75 .Luke 22:56-62; Luke 22:56-62 . Joh 18:17-18 ; John 18:25-27 . See the comparative table, and notes, on Matt.

Verse 68

68. ] οὔτε οἶδα , scil. αὐτόν : an union of two separate answers, which form the 1st and 2nd in Matthew. The οὔτε … οὔτε simply connect: the repetition being that of urgent denial.

τὸ προαύλ . = τὸν πυλῶνα Matt.

The omission of the words καὶ ἀλ . ἐφ . appears to be an attempt to harmonize the accounts.

Verse 69

69. ] ἡ παιδίσκη in Matt. ἄλλη , in Luke ἕτερος . Meyer does not appear to be justified in asserting that this is necessarily the same maid as before: it might be only the maid in waiting in the προαύλιον : see note on Matt.

Verse 70

70. ] μετὰ μικρόν = διαστάσης ὡσεὶ ὥρας μιᾶς , Luke.

καὶ γάρ , for, in addition to all that has been hitherto said …

Verse 72

72. ἐπιβαλών ] No entirely satisfactory meaning has yet been given for this word. 1) Hammond and Palairet supply τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῷ Ἰησοῦ but besides this being most fanciful, the fact was not so: see Luke 22:61 . Luke 22:2 ) The vulgate, Syriac [50] ., Euth., Thl., Luth., Kuin., take ἐπιβαλὼν ἔκλαιεν for ἐπέβαλεν κλαίειν , ‘ he began to weep .’ But granting that this is a later meaning of the word (Kuin. cites ἐπέβαλε τερετίζειν , cantillare cœpit, Diog. Laërt. vi. 2. 4, and Suid [51] has ἐπέβαλεν · ἤρξατο ), yet this participial construction will not bear that interpretation. Acts 11:4 , which Kuin. cites to support it, has quite another meaning see note there. 3) Grot., Le Clerc, alli [52] . render it ‘ addens flevit ’ i.e. he continued weeping (so ἐπιβαλὼν ἐρωτᾶν Theophr. Char. 8. ἐπιβαλών φησι Diod. Sic. p. 345 B); but then his beginning to weep would have been noticed before. Grot. wants to give it the sense of ‘ prœterea .’ 4) Beza, Raphel, Bretschn., Wahl, alli [53] . say, ‘ quum se foras projecisset ;’ but although ἐπιβάλλειν τινί or ἐπί τι may mean ‘ to rush upon ’ (see 1Ma 4:2 ), it cannot stand alone in this meaning. The chief support of this sense is the ἐξελθὼν ἔξω of Matt. and Luke: but this cannot decide the matter. 5) Thl. alli [54] . supply τὸ ἱμάτιον τῇ κεφαλῇ , ‘ casting or drawing his mantle over his head ,’ but this, without any precedent for such an ellipsis, although it suits the sense very well, appears fanciful. 6) Wets [55] . alli [56] . take it for ‘ attendere ,’ and some supply τῇ ἀλεκτοροφωνίᾳ , others τῷ ῥήματι : Wets [57] . and Kypke have however shewn that the word is used absolutely in this sense, in Polyb. and other late writers. One example given by Kypke is much to the point: ‘ ἀεὶ μὲν γινώσκει , ἄλλως δὲ καὶ ἄλλως ἐπιβάλλει , καὶ μᾶλλόν ἐστιν ὅτε καὶ ἧττον , semper quidem cognoscit, sed diversis modis res animadvertit, imo magis interdum et minus:’ Hierocl. in carm. Pythag. p. 14.

[50] The Peschito (or simple) Syriac version. Supposed to have been made as early as the second century . The text as edited is in a most unsatisfactory state.

[51] Suidas the lexicographer, 980

[52] alli= some cursive mss.

[53] alli= some cursive mss.

[54] alli= some cursive mss.

[55] Wetstein.

[56] alli= some cursive mss.

[57] Wetstein.

The above list is taken mainly from De Wette (Exeg. Handb. p. 247), who while preferring this last sense, yet thinks that it was before expressed in ἀνεμνήσθη . But ἐπιβαλών contains more than ἀνεμν .: that was the bare momentary remembrance the ῥῆμα occurred to him; this is the thinking , or, as we sometimes say, casting it over ; going back step by step through the sad history. This sense, though not wholly satisfactory, appears to me the best.

In ἔκλαιεν , Bp. Wordsw. well points out the imperf. “wept, and continued weeping: something more than ἔκλαυσε .”