There is no comma….

 

There is no comma….

There is a list of uses of the “comma” in sentences…I remember one teacher saying that the use of a comma is like taking a breath  in a sentence…

“Rule 5b. If something or someone is sufficiently identified, the description that follows is considered nonessential and should be surrounded by commas.”  Grammar Book…

And why am  bringing this up…it was about the word, “behold”…

In the ESV translation, the word “behold “ is used over 1000 times…most with a comma following the word.  Each time a description follows behold…

Such as, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Or, to list a few…

And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.

Zechariah 6:12

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalm 54:4 

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 1:12

Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

Genesis 47:23

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:29,31 

7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:7,12

There are two very striking verses in the book of John where there is no comma, no need of a breath, no need of an explanation….Pilate, who wanted nothing to do with Jesus’ judgment, who washed his hands of Jesus’ death…says, “behold the man…behold your King”….

“So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

John 19:5,14

I don’t know what went through Pilate’s mind or his thinking…but, he presented Jesus without a comma…

It brings to mind the verses…

for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:11-12 

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

Most of the people may not  have realized it then, with Pilate, but like the centurion at the cross, there will come a time when we will…”behold the King”….

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:54 

Thank YOU….