2 maccabees 6:29 - And when they changed the good will they bare him a little before into ill will, because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness,

Generated Verse: 2 maccabees 6:29

What does "2 maccabees 6:29" mean?


This verse from 2 Maccabees 6:29 describes a shift in public opinion and sentiment towards a person, likely Eleazar, based on his recent words and actions. Let's break it down:

"And when they changed the good will they bare him a little before into ill will...": This signifies a complete reversal of feelings. Previously, the people held him in good regard, possibly even admired or respected him. However, something has happened to make them dislike him now.

"...because these words of his were, as they thought, sheer madness...": The reason for this shift is attributed to his recent statements, which the people considered to be completely illogical, irrational, or utterly foolish – "sheer madness." This suggests that he said or did something that went against their understanding, beliefs, or expectations to such a degree that they viewed him as insane.

Contextual Understanding

In the broader context of 2 Maccabees 6, it is dealing with the persecution of Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Eleazar, an elderly and respected scribe, is being pressured to eat pork (which is against Jewish law) to publicly renounce his faith. He refuses and is about to be killed.

Therefore, this verse likely refers to the Jews around Eleazar. They might have initially supported him or held him in high esteem, but when he chose to die rather than compromise his religious principles (which they might have viewed as overly strict or fanatical in the face of persecution), they saw his stance as "sheer madness". They might have believed he was being unnecessarily stubborn and endangering himself for a seemingly trivial matter. Perhaps they thought he was being unreasonably stubborn and not willing to make the necessary compromise to stay alive.

In summary, the verse highlights how someone who was once held in high regard can quickly fall out of favor when their actions or words are perceived as irrational or incomprehensible, especially in the face of difficult situations.