Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 9].
share in the meat and drink going at such a time" (Bruce).
Besides the several flute-players (voluntary or hired) there were
probably "some hired mourning women (Jer 9:17) _praeficae_,
whose duty it was to sing _naenia_ in praise of the dead"
(Bruce). These when put out by Jesus, "laughed him to scorn"
(\kategel•n\), in a sort of loud and repeated (imperfect) guffaw
of scorn. Jesus overcame all this repellent environment.
9:27 {As Jesus passed by} (\paragonti I•sou\). Associative
instrumental case with \•kolouth•san\. It was the supreme
opportunity of these two blind men. Note two demoniacs in Mt
8:28 and two blind men in Mt 20:30. See the same word
\parag•n\ used of Jesus in 9:9.
9:29 {Touched their eyes} (\h•psato t•n ophthalm•n\). The men had
faith (9:28) and Jesus rewards their faith and yet he touched
their eyes as he sometimes did with kindly sympathy.
9:30 {Were opened} (\•ne•ichth•san\). Triple augment (on \oi=•i,
e\ and then on preposition \an = •n\). {Strictly charged them}
(\enebrim•th• autois\). A difficult word, compound of \en\ and
\brimaomai\ (to be moved with anger). It is used of horses
snorting (Aeschylus, _Theb_. 461), of men fretting or being angry
(Da 11:30). Allen notes that it occurs twice in Mark (Mr 1:43;
14:5) when Matthew omits it. It is found only here in Matthew.
John has it twice in a different sense (Joh 11:33 with \en
heaut•i\). Here and in Mr 1:32 it has the notion of commanding
sternly, a sense unknown to ancient writers. Most manuscripts
have the middle \enebrim•sato\, but Aleph and B have the passive
\enebrim•th•\ which Westcott and Hort accept, but without the
passive sense (cf. \apekrith•\). "The word describes rather a
rush of deep feeling which in the synoptic passages showed itself
in a vehement injunctive and in Joh 11:33 in look and manner"
(McNeile). Bruce translates Euthymius Zigabenus on Mr 1:32:
"Looked severely, contracting His eyebrows, and shaking His head
at them as they are wont to do who wish to make sure that secrets
will be kept." "See to it, let no one know it" (\horate, m•deis
gin•sket•\). Note elliptical change of persons and number in the
two imperatives.
9:32 {A dumb man} (\k•phon\). Literally blunted in tongue as here
and so dumb, in ear as in Mt 11:5 and so deaf. Homer used it of
a blunted dart (_Iliad_ xi. 390). Others applied it to mental
dulness.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT9.RWP.html (4 of 5) [28/08/2004 09:03:04 a.m.]