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The Greek version of the Old Testament
consists chiefly of three groups of
words that come into the New Testament.
,
is the most important, and it is used to
translate several Hebrew words. Mary’s song recalls the promise in Ps. 103:11, 17, where
translates both
and
as “mercy”: “His mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50).
is probably behind the often-heard
plea: “Thou son of David, have mercy on us” (Matt. 9:27).
C. Adjective.
$
(
, 7349), “compassionate; merciful.” The adjective is used in that
important proclamation of God’s name to Moses: “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful
and gracious …” (Exod. 34:6,
NASB
,
NIV
, “compassionate”).
TO COMPLETE
A. Verb.
(
, 7999), “to finish, complete, repay, reward.” The Hebrew root denotes
perfection in the sense that a condition or action is “complete.” This concept emerges
when a concrete object is described. When sufficient building materials were at hand and
workmen had enough time to apply them, “the wall [of Jerusalem] was finished” at the
time of Nehemiah (Neh. 6:15). However, this Hebrew root is also found in words with so
many nuances and applications that at times its original and basic intent is all but
obscured. In the
NASB
, for example,
is represented with such words as: “fulfill,
make up, restore, pay, repay, full, whole, wholly, entire, without harm, friendly,
peaceably, to be at peace, make peace, safe, reward, retribution, restitution, recompense,
vengeance, bribe, peace offering.”
Perfection and completeness is primarily attributed to God. He is deficient in nothing;
His attributes are not marred by any shortcomings; His power is not limited by weakness.
God reminded Job of His uninhibited independence and absolute self-sufficiency: “Who
hath prevented me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is
mine” (Job 41:11). And Job himself admitted: “And who shall repay him what he hath
done?” (Job 21:31).
Without any deficiency or flaw in executing justice, God is likewise never lacking in
mercy and power to bestow benevolences of every kind. Job is told by his friend: “If thou
wert pure … he would make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous” (Job 8:6).
He can make it happen that “… to the righteous good shall be repaid” (Prov. 13:21).
Cyrus says of the Lord: “He … shall perform all my pleasure” (Isa. 44:28). The Lord will
also “… restore comforts unto him and to his mourners” who wept in the Babylonian
exile (Isa. 57:18).
The God of perfect justice and goodness expects total devotion from His creatures.
Job, suspected of not rendering the required obedience to his Maker, is therefore urged to
“be at peace [with God]” (Job 22:21).
The concept of meeting one’s obligation in full is basic in human relationships.
Israel’s social law required that the person causing injury or loss “… shall surely make it
good” (Exod. 22:14). “And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast”
(Lev. 24:18). In some instances, an offender “… shall pay double unto his neighbor”
(Exod. 22:9). David declared that the rich man who slaughtered the poor man’s only lamb