A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 156. Of the meaning of this word, He took on him.

THe Greek word thus translated, a 1.1 he took on him, is compounded of a b 1.2 Verb that signifieth to take (Matth. 14. 19.) or to receive (Matth. 7. 8.) and a c 1.3 Preposition which hath various significations: as at (Luk. 22. 40.) to (John 21. 11.) in (Matth. 23. 2.) upon (John 19. 19.) and sundry others: answerably words compounded with that Preposition have divers significations. Thus this word in my Text signifieth,

• 1. To catch one being ready to perish, Matth. 14. 31.
• 2. To take one that cannot see, to lead and direct him, Mark 8. 23.
• 3. To take one to him for his good, Luk. 14. 4.
• 4. To lay hold upon one against his minde, Luk. 23. 26.
• 5. To lay fast hold on a thing which he would not lose, 1 Tim. 6. 12.
• 6. To take one kindly by the hand, to testifie a desire of consederacy with him, Heb. 8. 9.

In all these significations may this word here be applied to Christ in reference to man▪ For,

• 1. Christ catcht man being ready utterly to perish.
• 2. He took man stark blinde to open his eyes.
• 3. He took man full of sores to cure him.
• 4. When man was unwilling to come (Gen. 3. 8.) Christ took him.
• 5. He laid fast hold on man and would not let him go.
• 6. Most kindely he took man by the hand and entred into Covenant with him.

Yea further he took mans nature upon him. Thus do most Interpreters, both* 1.4 Ancient and Modern here expound this word. So do our English Translatours This phrase, the nature of, is not in the Greek Originall: but implied under that word, took on him. And it is in our English, as in other Translations, inserted, more fully to expresse the meaning of the Greek word.

Indeed many Expositors both of former and later times, do take this word in this Text, properly to signifie Christs apprehending or laying hold on man, when man would have run away from him: but withall they do inferre that for that end Christ assumed mans nature. So as herein all agree, that Christs assuming our na∣ture is here intended: only some would have it properly intended in the meaning of the word: others would have it implied by just and necessary con∣sequence.

* 1.5 The Greek word is of the present tence, he taketh. Yet for perspicuity sake it is translated in the Preterperfect tense, he took. For it is usuall in the Hebrew Dia∣lect to put one tense for another▪ as the Present for the Future, (Zech. 9. 9.) to shew that Divine promises of future good things, are as sure and certain as things present. So here the Present tense is put for the Preterperfect, which signifieth the time past, to represent a thing past as ever in doing. This therefore is an elegant and emphaticall Hebraism.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.4

  Ambros. Chrysost. Calvin. Beza. Paraeus, alu{que}.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.