Robert Strand , in his book,
Especially for the Hurting Heart, has a wonderful discussion of Hebrews 13:5 in
which we read these encouraging words: "God
has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!"
Strand asks, "Whatever does never
mean?" He notes that in the original language "never" is
really a compounding of five negatives. Not that each negative is added to
another. Rather, each negative is multiplied by the other. According to Strand , it really should read, "I will never, no,
not ever, no never leave you or forsake you!" It is a synergistic
compounding negative. It's a forever never which has no exceptions!
Then he asks, "What does 'leave' mean?" He says that in the original Greek it means "to leave behind, to abandon, to give up on, to send back." Well then, so far our verse will read: "I will never, no not ever, no never leave you behind, abandon you, give up on you, or send you back!"
Finally he asks, "What does 'forsake' mean?" In the Greek it means, "to leave one in a helpless state, to disregard." It also can be further expanded to include "not relaxing my watchfulness over you." To this point, then, says Strand, our verse, in the full, amplified version reads: "I will never, no not ever, no never give up on you, abandon you, leave you behind, cause you not to survive, leave you helpless, nor shall I ever relax concerning keeping my presence with you!"
Then he asks, "What does 'leave' mean?" He says that in the original Greek it means "to leave behind, to abandon, to give up on, to send back." Well then, so far our verse will read: "I will never, no not ever, no never leave you behind, abandon you, give up on you, or send you back!"
Finally he asks, "What does 'forsake' mean?" In the Greek it means, "to leave one in a helpless state, to disregard." It also can be further expanded to include "not relaxing my watchfulness over you." To this point, then, says Strand, our verse, in the full, amplified version reads: "I will never, no not ever, no never give up on you, abandon you, leave you behind, cause you not to survive, leave you helpless, nor shall I ever relax concerning keeping my presence with you!"
A pearl to string: Just want to pray His peace
into your loneliness, into your pain, pray His healing into your suffering and
pray His love surround you completely for I have learned Jesus truly means:
"I will never, no not ever, no never give up on you, abandon you, leave
you behind, cause you not to survive, leave you helpless, nor shall I ever
relax concerning keeping my presence with you!" Hebrews 13:5
May the words of His love comfort you.
You are loved.
Lyndi
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