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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Hebrews 3:8 Commentaries: DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/hebrews/3-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/hebrews/3-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Hebrews 3:8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../hebrews/3-7.htm" title="Hebrews 3:7">◄</a> Hebrews 3:8 <a href="../hebrews/3-9.htm" title="Hebrews 3:9">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/hebrews/3.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/hebrews/3.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/hebrews/3.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/hebrews/3.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/hebrews/3.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/hebrews/3.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/hebrews/3.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/hebrews/3.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/hebrews/3.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/hebrews/3.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hebrews/3.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/hebrews/3.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/hebrews/3.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/hebrews/3.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/hebrews/3.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/hebrews/3.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/hebrews/3.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/hebrews/3.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/hebrews/3.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/hebrews/3.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/hebrews/2-10.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/hebrews/3.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/hebrews/3.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/hebrews/3.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/hebrews/3.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/hebrews/3.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/hebrews/3.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/hebrews/3.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/hebrews/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/hebrews/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/hebrews/3.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/hebrews/3.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/hebrews/3.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/hebrews/3.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hebrews/3.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/hebrews/3.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/hebrews/3.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/hebrews/3.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/hebrews/3.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/hebrews/3.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hebrews/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">In the day of temptation.</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">like the day of the temptation.</span> As in the LXX., so here, two words which in the Hebrew are proper names (“as at Meribah, and as in the day of Massah”) are translated according to their intrinsic meaning. (For the former see <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm" title="And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?">Exodus 17:7</a>; <a href="/numbers/20-13.htm" title="This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.">Numbers 20:13</a>; and for the latter <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm" title="And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?">Exodus 17:7</a>.) We may believe that these places are here chosen for reference partly on account of their significant names; but it is noteworthy that the rebellions recorded in the names belonged to the beginning and to the close of the years of wandering.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/hebrews/3.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>3:7-13 Days of temptation are often days of provocation. But to provoke God, when he is letting us see that we entirely depend and live upon him, is a provocation indeed. The hardening of the heart is the spring of all other sins. The sins of others, especially of our relations, should be warnings to us. All sin, especially sin committed by God's professing, privileged people, not only provokes God, but it grieves him. God is loth to destroy any in, or for their sin; he waits long to be gracious to them. But sin, long persisted in, will make God's wrath discover itself in destroying the impenitent; there is no resting under the wrath of God. Take heed: all who would get safe to heaven must look about them; if once we allow ourselves to distrust God, we may soon desert him. Let those that think they stand, take heed lest they fall. Since to-morrow is not ours, we must make the best improvement of this day. And there are none, even the strongest of the flock, who do not need help of other Christians. Neither are there any so low and despised, but the care of their standing in the faith, and of their safety, belongs to all. Sin has so many ways and colours, that we need more eyes than ours own. Sin appears fair, but is vile; it appears pleasant, but is destructive; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin hardens the soul; one sin allowed makes way for another; and every act of sin confirms the habit. Let every one beware of sin.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/hebrews/3.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>Harden not your hearts - Do not render the heart insensible to the divine voice and admonition. A hard heart is that where the conscience is seared and insensible; where truth makes no impression; where no religious effect is produced by afflictions; where preaching is listened to without interest; and where the mind is unaffected by the appeals of friends. The idea here is, that a refusal to listen to the voice of God is connected with a hardening of the heart. It is in two ways:<p>(1) The very refusal to do this tends to harden it. And,<p>(2) in order to resist the appeals of God, people must resort to the means of "voluntarily" hardening the heart. This they do by setting themselves against the truth; by the excuses which they offer for not becoming Christians: by plunging into sin in order to avoid serious impressions; and by direct resistance of the Holy Spirit. No inconsiderable part of the efforts of sinners consists in endeavoring to produce insensibility in their minds to the truth and the appeals of God.<p>As in the provocation - Literally, "in the embittering" - ἐν τῶ παραπικρασμῶ en tō parapikrasmō. Then it means what embitters or provokes the mind - as disobedience. Here it refers to what they did to "embitter" the mind of God against them; that is to the course of conduct which was adopted to provoke him to wrath.<p>In the day of temptation - In the time of temptation - the word "day" being used here, as it is often, to denote an indefinite period, or "time" in general. The word "temptation" here refers to the various provocations by which they "tried" the patience of God. They rebelled against him; they did what put the divine patience and forbearance to a trial. It does not mean that they tempted God to do evil, but that his long-suffering was "tried" by their sins.<p>In the wilderness - The desert through which they passed. The word "wilderness" in the Scriptures commonly means a "desert;" see the notes at <a href="/matthew/3-1.htm">Matthew 3:1</a>. "One provocation was in demanding bread at Sin; a second for want of water at Massah or Meribah; a third time at Sinai with the golden calf; a fourth time at Taberah for want of flesh; a fifth time at Kadesh when they refused to go up into Canaan, and the oath came that they should die in the wilderness. A like refusal may prevent us from entering into rest." - Dr. John P. Wilson, Manuscript Notes. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/hebrews/3.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>8. Harden not your hearts—This phrase here only is used of man's own act; usually of God's act (Ro 9:18). When man is spoken of as the agent in hardening, the phrase usually is, "harden his neck," or "back" (Ne 9:17).<p>provocation … temptation—"Massah-meribah," translated in Margin "tentation … chiding," or "strife" (Ex 17:1-7). Both names seem to refer to that one event, the murmuring of the people against the Lord at Rephidim for want of water. The first offense especially ought to be guarded against, and is the most severely reproved, as it is apt to produce many more. Nu 20:1-13 and De 33:8 mention a second similar occasion in the wilderness of Sin, near Kadesh, also called Meribah.<p>in the day—Greek, "according to the day of."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/hebrews/3.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">Harden not your hearts:</span> to help in the former duty the Spirit subjoins this negative counsel. That is styled hard, which will not yield to any impression: make not your heart a stone, so as not to understand, believe, or obey God’s voice to it, <span class="bld"><a href="/deuteronomy/15-17.htm" title="Then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant for ever. And also to your maidservant you shall do likewise.">Deu 15:17</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-6.htm" title="Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had worked wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?">1 Samuel 6:6</a></span>; for God requires them to be fleshy tables, to write his will on, <span class="bld"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-3.htm" title="For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.">2 Corinthians 3:3</a></span>. The hardening of this part is the hardening of the whole person, and when hardened by themselves, is provoking God’s judicial hardening of them to their destruction. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">As in the provocation; </span> en tw parapikrasmw, in the bitter contention, comprehending in it both work, season, and place; called Meribah, <span class="bld"><a href="/numbers/20-13.htm" title="This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.">Numbers 20:13</a>,14</span>; names of places and persons by words of the same signification, though not of the same sound. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">In the day of temptation in the wilderness; </span> in the day of Massah, when Israel in the wilderness did murmur, and strive against, and vexed God, (after he had divided the sea for them), for their want of water, <span class="bld"><a href="/exodus/17-2.htm" title="Why the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why chide you with me? why do you tempt the LORD?">Exodus 17:2</a>,7 Deu 6:16 33:8</span>; that bitter contest of unbelief after the sight of so many miracles, when they cried out: <span class="ital">Is the Lord among us?</span> <span class="bld"><a href="/psalms/95-8.htm" title="Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:">Psalm 95:8</a></span>. It may also refer to the whole forty years’ time of their murmuring and tempting him in the wilderness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/hebrews/3.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Harden not you hearts,.... There is a natural hardness of the heart; the heart of man is like a stone, destitute of spiritual life, motion, and activity; it is senseless, stupid, impenitent, stubborn, and inflexible, on which no impressions can be made, but by powerful grace: and there is an acquired, habitual, and voluntary hardness of heart, to which men arrive by various steps; as entertaining pleasing thoughts of sin; an actual commission of it, with frequency, till it becomes customary, and so habitual; an extenuation or justification of it, and so they become hardened against all reproofs and sermons, and to all afflictions and judgments; are insensible and past feeling, and openly declare for sin, and glory in it: and there is a hardness which God's people are liable to, and should guard against; and which is brought on by a neglect of private and public worship, and by keeping bad company, and through the ill examples of others, and by giving way to lesser sins; for all sin is of an hardening nature: <p>as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; the Jews provoked God in the wilderness by their unbelief, murmurings, ingratitude, and idolatry; and they tempted him there by distrusting his power and goodness; hence one of the places in which they murmured against him was called Massah and Meribah, <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm">Exodus 17:7</a> and it is an aggravation of their sin, that it was in the wilderness, after they had been just brought out of bondage into liberty, and had lately had such an instance of the power and goodness of God, in bringing them through the Red sea; and where they could have no human supplies, and therefore should have been entirely dependent on God, and trust in him. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/hebrews/3.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">Harden not your hearts, as in the <span class="cverse3">{g}</span> provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:</span><p>(g) In the day that they troubled the Lord, or struggled with him.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/hebrews/3.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm" title="Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:">Hebrews 3:8</a>. <span class="ital">Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation</span> (contumacy), <span class="ital">on the day of temptation in the wilderness</span>. In the original, <span class="greekheb">παραπικρασμός</span> and <span class="greekheb">πειρασμός</span> are <span class="ital">proper names</span> (“as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness” [כִּמְרִיבָה כְּיו<span class="greekheb">̇ם מַסָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר</span>]), which, however, are understood by the author in the appellative sense (comp. <a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm" title="For some, when they had heard, did provoke: however, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.">Hebrews 3:16</a>), in that he takes <span class="greekheb">κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ πειρασμοῦ</span> as an epexegetical note of time to <span class="greekheb">ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ</span>. On the history, comp. <a href="/context/exodus/17-1.htm" title="And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink....">Exodus 17:1-7</a>; <a href="/context/numbers/20-1.htm" title="Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there....">Numbers 20:1-13</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">τοῦ πειρασμοῦ</span>] in the active sense: the tempting of God by contumacious behaviour, comp. <a href="/hebrews/3-9.htm" title="When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.">Hebrews 3:9</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/hebrews/3.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm" title="Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:">Hebrews 3:8</a>. <span class="greekheb">μὴ σκληρύνητε</span>, the prohibitory subjunctive, <span class="ital">v</span>. Burton, p. 162. “The figure is from the stiffening by cold or disease, of what ought to be supple and pliable” (Vaughan). [The verb occurs first in Hippocrates, <span class="ital">cf. Anz</span>. 342.] It is ascribed to <span class="greekheb">τὸν τράχηλον</span> (<a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm" title="Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked.">Deuteronomy 10:16</a>), <span class="greekheb">τὸν νῶτον</span> (<a href="/2_kings/17-14.htm" title="Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.">2 Kings 17:14</a>), <span class="greekheb">τὴν καρδίαν</span> (<a href="/exodus/4-21.htm" title="And the LORD said to Moses, When you go to return into Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in your hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.">Exodus 4:21</a>), <span class="greekheb">τὸ πνεῦμα</span> (<a href="/deuteronomy/2-30.htm" title="But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as appears this day.">Deuteronomy 2:30</a>). Sometimes the hardening is referred to the man, sometimes it is God who inflicts the hardening as a punishment. Here the possible hardening is spoken of as if the human subject could prevent it. <span class="greekheb">τὰς καρδίας</span>, the whole inner man. <span class="greekheb">ὡς ἐν τῷ</span> … <span class="greekheb">ἐρήμῳ</span>. This stands in the psalm as the translation of the Hebrew which might be rendered: [“Harden not your hearts] as at <span class="ital">Meribah</span>, as on the day of <span class="ital">Massah</span> in the wilderness,” Meribah being represented by <span class="greekheb">παραπικρασμός</span> and Massah by <span class="greekheb">πειρασμός</span>. The tempting of God by Israel in the wilderness is recorded in <a href="/context/exodus/17-1.htm" title="And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink....">Exodus 17:1-7</a>, where the place is called “Massah and Meribah”. This occurred in the first year of the wanderings. <span class="greekheb">παραπικρασμός</span> is found only in this psalm (although <span class="greekheb">παραπικραίνειν</span> is frequent) its place being taken by <span class="greekheb">λοιδόρησις</span> in <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm" title="And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?">Exodus 17:7</a> and by <span class="greekheb">ἀντιλογία</span> in <a href="/numbers/20-12.htm" title="And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.">Numbers 20:12</a>. It means “embitterment,” “exacerbation,” “exasperation”, <span class="greekheb">κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν</span> is rendered by the Vulgate “secundum diem,” rightly. It means “after the manner of the day”. Westcott, however, prefers the temporal sense.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/hebrews/3.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">8</span>. <span class="ital">harden not your hearts</span>] Comp. <a href="/acts/19-9.htm" title="But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.">Acts 19:9</a>. Usually <span class="ital">God</span> is said to harden man’s heart (<a href="/exodus/7-3.htm" title="And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.">Exodus 7:3</a>, &c.; <a href="/isaiah/63-17.htm" title="O LORD, why have you made us to err from your ways, and hardened our heart from your fear? Return for your servants' sake, the tribes of your inheritance.">Isaiah 63:17</a>; <a href="/romans/9-18.htm" title="Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.">Romans 9:18</a>) an anthropomorphic way of expressing the inevitable results of neglect and of evil habit. But that this is man’s own doing and choice is always recognised (<a href="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm" title="Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked.">Deuteronomy 10:16</a>; <a href="/2_kings/17-14.htm" title="Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.">2 Kings 17:14</a>, &c.).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">as in the provocation</span>] Lit., “in the embitterment.” The LXX. here seem to have read Marah (which means “bitter” and which they render by <span class="greekheb">πικρία</span> in <a href="/exodus/15-23.htm" title="And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.">Exodus 15:23</a>) for Meribah which, in <a href="/context/exodus/17-1.htm" title="And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink....">Exodus 17:1-7</a>, they render by <span class="ital">Loidoresis</span> “reproach.” This is not however certain, for though the substantive does not occur again, the verb “I embitter” is frequently used of provoking God to anger. For the story of Meribah, see <a href="/context/numbers/20-7.htm" title="And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,...">Numbers 20:7-13</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">in the day of temptation</span>] Rather, “of the temptation,” i.e. at Massah; <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm" title="And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?">Exodus 17:7</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/6-16.htm" title="You shall not tempt the LORD your God, as you tempted him in Massah.">Deuteronomy 6:16</a>, though the allusion might also be to Numbers 14.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/hebrews/3.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm" title="Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:">Hebrews 3:8</a>. <span class="greekheb">Παραπικρασμῷ</span>—<span class="greekheb">πειρασμοῦ</span>, <span class="ital">in the provocation—in the temptation</span>) By Chiasmus, in <a href="/hebrews/3-9.htm" title="When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.">Hebrews 3:9</a>, as compared with <a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm" title="Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:">Hebrews 3:8</a>, <span class="ital">temptation</span> is first treated, then <span class="ital">provocation;</span> <span class="greekheb">ὕστερον πρότερον ἑβραιδὸν</span>, as Franc. Junius says, when he observed the same figure occurring several times in this epistle. Both refer to the History, <a href="/exodus/17-7.htm" title="And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?">Exodus 17:7</a>, as the first offence; comp. below <a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm" title="For some, when they had heard, did provoke: however, not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.">Hebrews 3:16</a>, <span class="ital">they that came</span> (went) <span class="ital">out</span>. The first offence ought to be guarded against; for more very easily spring up from it, and the first is wont to be most severely reproved.—<span class="greekheb">κατὰ</span>, <span class="ital">according to</span>) that is, <span class="ital">as in the day</span>. So the Hebrew text.—<span class="greekheb">ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ</span>, <span class="ital">in the wilderness</span>) the theatre of very great events.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>Hebrews 3:8<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/hebrews/3.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>Harden not (μὴ σκληρύνητε)<p>In N.T. mostly in this epistle. Comp. <a href="/acts/19-9.htm">Acts 19:9</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/romans/9-18.htm">Romans 9:18</a>, see note. The group of kindred words consists of σκληρός hard (see on <a href="/matthew/25-24.htm">Matthew 25:24</a>; see on Jde 1:14); σκλψρότης hardness (<a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5</a>); σκληρύνειν to harden (<a href="/acts/19-9.htm">Acts 19:9</a>; <a href="/romans/9-18.htm">Romans 9:18</a>); and the compounds σκληροκαρδία hardness of heart (<a href="/matthew/19-8.htm">Matthew 19:8</a>; <a href="/mark/10-5.htm">Mark 10:5</a>), and σκληροτράχηλος stiff-necked (<a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Acts 7:5</a>). All occur in lxx, with the addition of σκληρῶς hardly, painfully (not in N.T.).<p>In the provocation (ἐν τῷ παραπικρασμῷ)<p>Only here and <a href="/hebrews/3-15.htm">Hebrews 3:15</a>. In lxx only <a href="/psalms/94-8.htm">Psalm 94:8</a>. The verb παραπικραίνεινto provoke, only in <a href="/hebrews/3-16.htm">Hebrews 3:16</a>. Often in lxx. The simple verb πικραίνειν to make bitter, <a href="/colossians/3-19.htm">Colossians 3:19</a>; <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Revelation 8:11</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/revelation/10-9.htm">Revelation 10:9</a>, <a href="/revelation/10-10.htm">Revelation 10:10</a>. From πικρός bitter, pungent: hence to stir up to bitterness, to irritate. Comp. lxx <a href="/ezekiel/2-4.htm">Ezekiel 2:4</a>.<p>In the day (κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν)<p>Κατὰ in a temporal sense, as <a href="/acts/12-1.htm">Acts 12:1</a>; <a href="/acts/19-23.htm">Acts 19:23</a>; <a href="/acts/27-27.htm">Acts 27:27</a>. Comp. κατ' ἀρχάς in the beginning, <a href="/hebrews/1-10.htm">Hebrews 1:10</a>.<p>Of temptation (τοῦ πειρασμοῦ)<p>Rend. "of the temptation," referring to a definite event, the murmuring against Moses at Rephidim on account of the lack of water, <a href="http://biblehub.com/exodus/17-1.htm">Exodus 17:1-7</a>. In that passage the lxx gives for the two proper names Massah and Meribah, πειρασμὸς temptation, which is correct, and λοιδόρησις railing or reviling, which is loose, since Meribah signifies strife. In <a href="http://biblehub.com/psalms/94.htm">Psalm 94</a>, lxx renders Meribah παραπικρασμός provocation, which is inexact, and Massah πειρασμὸς temptation, which is correct. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/hebrews/3-8.htm">Hebrews 3:8 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../hebrews/3-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hebrews 3:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hebrews 3:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../hebrews/3-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hebrews 3:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hebrews 3:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>