4 maccabees 8:4 - O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you; and greatly honouring so numerous a band of kindred, I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before,
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What does "4 maccabees 8:4" mean?
Let's break down the meaning of this verse from 4 Maccabees 8:4:
"O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you..." This sets the scene and tone. A figure (likely a leader or influential person) is addressing a group of young men. They express admiration for their physical appearance and, more importantly, a sense of goodwill towards them. "Favourable feelings" suggests affection and a desire for their well-being.
"...and greatly honouring so numerous a band of kindred..." This acknowledges the familial connection between the young men. "Kindred" implies they are related, likely brothers or close relatives. The speaker emphasizes the respect they have for this family bond and the strength in their numbers.
"...I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before..." Here's the core message. The speaker strongly advises the youths not to follow the example of an "old man" who has already been tortured. This "old man" likely represents Eleazar, who was tortured and killed in the preceding chapters of 4 Maccabees for refusing to violate Jewish law. "Madness" implies that the speaker views the old man's unwavering adherence to his beliefs as foolish or irrational, given the suffering it caused him. The speaker is trying to persuade the young men to avoid a similar fate.
Overall Meaning:
The verse is a plea to these young men to prioritize their own well-being and survival over religious conviction. The speaker, acknowledging their youth, beauty, and family ties, urges them not to emulate the unwavering faith and resulting martyrdom of the "old man." The speaker sees the old man's actions as a form of "madness," suggesting that preserving one's life is more important than adhering to principle when faced with torture and death.
Context in 4 Maccabees:
4 Maccabees is a philosophical treatise that argues for the supremacy of pious reason over the passions. The book tells the story of the Maccabean martyrs, who chose to endure torture and death rather than violate Jewish law during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
This verse is spoken during the torture of the seven brothers, where Antiochus tries to make the brothers to eat pork in order to test their resolve and strength of faith.
The speaker in this verse is attempting to persuade the youths to abandon their faith in order to save their own lives. This highlights the central conflict of the book: the struggle between reason and passion, and the importance of faith in overcoming temptation and suffering. The fact that the youths ultimately refuse and die for their faith is a testament to the power of piety and reason in overcoming even the most extreme forms of persecution.
4 maccabees 8:4 - O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you; and greatly honouring so numerous a band of kindred, I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before,
What does "4 maccabees 8:4" mean?
Let's break down the meaning of this verse from 4 Maccabees 8:4:
"O youths, with favourable feelings, I admire the beauty of each of you..." This sets the scene and tone. A figure (likely a leader or influential person) is addressing a group of young men. They express admiration for their physical appearance and, more importantly, a sense of goodwill towards them. "Favourable feelings" suggests affection and a desire for their well-being.
"...and greatly honouring so numerous a band of kindred..." This acknowledges the familial connection between the young men. "Kindred" implies they are related, likely brothers or close relatives. The speaker emphasizes the respect they have for this family bond and the strength in their numbers.
"...I not only counsel you not to share the madness of the old man who has been tortured before..." Here's the core message. The speaker strongly advises the youths not to follow the example of an "old man" who has already been tortured. This "old man" likely represents Eleazar, who was tortured and killed in the preceding chapters of 4 Maccabees for refusing to violate Jewish law. "Madness" implies that the speaker views the old man's unwavering adherence to his beliefs as foolish or irrational, given the suffering it caused him. The speaker is trying to persuade the young men to avoid a similar fate.
Overall Meaning:
The verse is a plea to these young men to prioritize their own well-being and survival over religious conviction. The speaker, acknowledging their youth, beauty, and family ties, urges them not to emulate the unwavering faith and resulting martyrdom of the "old man." The speaker sees the old man's actions as a form of "madness," suggesting that preserving one's life is more important than adhering to principle when faced with torture and death.
Context in 4 Maccabees:
4 Maccabees is a philosophical treatise that argues for the supremacy of pious reason over the passions. The book tells the story of the Maccabean martyrs, who chose to endure torture and death rather than violate Jewish law during the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
This verse is spoken during the torture of the seven brothers, where Antiochus tries to make the brothers to eat pork in order to test their resolve and strength of faith.
The speaker in this verse is attempting to persuade the youths to abandon their faith in order to save their own lives. This highlights the central conflict of the book: the struggle between reason and passion, and the importance of faith in overcoming temptation and suffering. The fact that the youths ultimately refuse and die for their faith is a testament to the power of piety and reason in overcoming even the most extreme forms of persecution.