3 maccabees 6:3 - look upon the seed of Abraham, upon the children of the sanctified Jacob, your sanctified inheritance, O Father, now being wrongfully destroyed as strangers in a strange land.
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What does "3 maccabees 6:3" mean?
This verse from 3 Maccabees 6:3 is a prayer, likely offered by Jews facing persecution in Egypt under Ptolemy IV Philopator (around 217-205 BCE). Let's break down the meaning:
"Look upon the seed of Abraham...": This is a plea to God to pay attention to the descendants of Abraham, the patriarch considered the father of the Jewish people. It's an appeal to God's covenantal relationship with Abraham and his promise to bless his descendants.
"...upon the children of the sanctified Jacob...": This reinforces the previous appeal by invoking Jacob (also known as Israel), Abraham's grandson and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. "Sanctified" means set apart or consecrated for a special purpose by God. Highlighting Jacob's sanctification emphasizes the special relationship between God and the Jewish people.
"...your sanctified inheritance, O Father...": This emphasizes that the Jewish people are not just any people, but God's chosen people, his "inheritance," something precious and belonging to him. The use of "Father" emphasizes God's protective and caring role. The term "sanctified inheritance" suggests the Jewish people have been set apart as special to God.
"...now being wrongfully destroyed as strangers in a strange land.": This is the core of the plea. It describes the present situation of the Jews:
"Wrongfully destroyed": They are facing unjust persecution and potential annihilation.
"Strangers in a strange land": They are living as aliens in Egypt, a foreign land, and therefore vulnerable and lacking the protections they would have in their own land. This phrase echoes the story of the Israelites in Egypt in the book of Exodus. The destruction implies their situation is mirroring that of their ancestors prior to the Exodus.
In summary, the verse is a desperate prayer to God to recognize the plight of the Jewish people who are being unjustly persecuted in Egypt, even though they are his chosen people and rightfully belong to him. It's a plea based on God's past promises and relationship with their ancestors, Abraham and Jacob, and an appeal to his sense of justice and compassion. The verse highlights the contrast between their status as God's "sanctified inheritance" and their vulnerable position as "strangers" facing destruction.
3 maccabees 6:3 - look upon the seed of Abraham, upon the children of the sanctified Jacob, your sanctified inheritance, O Father, now being wrongfully destroyed as strangers in a strange land.
What does "3 maccabees 6:3" mean?
This verse from 3 Maccabees 6:3 is a prayer, likely offered by Jews facing persecution in Egypt under Ptolemy IV Philopator (around 217-205 BCE). Let's break down the meaning:
"Look upon the seed of Abraham...": This is a plea to God to pay attention to the descendants of Abraham, the patriarch considered the father of the Jewish people. It's an appeal to God's covenantal relationship with Abraham and his promise to bless his descendants.
"...upon the children of the sanctified Jacob...": This reinforces the previous appeal by invoking Jacob (also known as Israel), Abraham's grandson and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. "Sanctified" means set apart or consecrated for a special purpose by God. Highlighting Jacob's sanctification emphasizes the special relationship between God and the Jewish people.
"...your sanctified inheritance, O Father...": This emphasizes that the Jewish people are not just any people, but God's chosen people, his "inheritance," something precious and belonging to him. The use of "Father" emphasizes God's protective and caring role. The term "sanctified inheritance" suggests the Jewish people have been set apart as special to God.
"...now being wrongfully destroyed as strangers in a strange land.": This is the core of the plea. It describes the present situation of the Jews:
"Wrongfully destroyed": They are facing unjust persecution and potential annihilation.
"Strangers in a strange land": They are living as aliens in Egypt, a foreign land, and therefore vulnerable and lacking the protections they would have in their own land. This phrase echoes the story of the Israelites in Egypt in the book of Exodus. The destruction implies their situation is mirroring that of their ancestors prior to the Exodus.
In summary, the verse is a desperate prayer to God to recognize the plight of the Jewish people who are being unjustly persecuted in Egypt, even though they are his chosen people and rightfully belong to him. It's a plea based on God's past promises and relationship with their ancestors, Abraham and Jacob, and an appeal to his sense of justice and compassion. The verse highlights the contrast between their status as God's "sanctified inheritance" and their vulnerable position as "strangers" facing destruction.