Hebrews 12:3 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

The figure of the race is still continued, “For unless ye thus look unto Jesus ye will grow weary.”

Consider. — Literally, compare; place your sufferings by the side of His.

Him that endured such contradiction. — Rather, Him that hath endured such gainsaying from sinners against themselves. The word “gainsaying,” (Hebrews 6:16; Hebrews 7:7) is so frequently used in the LXX. for the rebelliousness of the people of Israel, that we need not here limit it to contradiction in words. The change of “Himself” into “themselves” (the reading of the oldest MSS.) is important, but it is not easy to say with what the last two words should be joined; for the meaning may be either “sinners against themselves” (comp. Numbers 16:38), or “gainsaying against themselves,” In either case the force of the words will be that the sin or the opposition manifested against Him was really against themselves, since it was for their salvation that He came upon earth. To all His other sorrows were added the pain of their ingratitude and His grief over their aggravated guilt.

And faint. — Rather, fainting in your souls.

Hebrews 12:3

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.