20:7 “You shall not take 7 the name of the Lord your God in vain, 8 for the Lord will not hold guiltless 9 anyone who takes his name in vain.
16:21 and 10 he contends with God on behalf of man
as a man 11 pleads 12 for his friend.
41:8 “You, my servant Israel,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
offspring of Abraham my friend, 13
1 tn “Face to face” is circumstantial to the action of the verb, explaining how they spoke (see GKC 489-90 §156.c). The point of this note of friendly relationship with Moses is that Moses was “at home” in this tent speaking with God. Moses would derive courage from this when he interceded for the people (B. Jacob, Exodus, 966).
2 tn The verb in this clause is a progressive imperfect.
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Moses) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 sn Moses did not live in the tent. But Joshua remained there most of the time to guard the tent, it seems, lest any of the people approach it out of curiosity.
5 sn This seems not to be the same as the Angel of the Presence introduced before.
6 sn See T. Ishida, “The Structure and Historical Implications of Lists of Pre-Israelite Nations,” Bib (1979): 461-90.
7 tn Or “use” (NCV, TEV); NIV, CEV, NLT “misuse”; NRSV “make wrongful use of.”
8 tn שָׁוְא (shav’, “vain”) describes “unreality.” The command prohibits use of the name for any idle, frivolous, or insincere purpose (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 196). This would include perjury, pagan incantations, or idle talk. The name is to be treated with reverence and respect because it is the name of the holy God.
9 tn Or “leave unpunished.”
10 tn E. Dhorme (Job, 240) alters this slightly to read “Would that” or “Ah! if only.”
11 tn This is the simple translation of the expression “son of man” in Job. But some commentators wish to change the word בֵּן (ben, “son”) to בֵּין (ben, “between”). It would then be “[as] between a man and [for] his friend.” Even though a few
12 tn The verb is supplied from the parallel clause.
13 tn Or perhaps, “covenantal partner” (see 1 Kgs 5:15 HT [5:1 ET]; 2 Chr 20:7).
14 tn Or “one dies willingly.”
15 sn This verse really explains John 15:10 in another way. Those who keep Jesus’ commandments are called his friends, those friends for whom he lays down his life (v. 13). It is possible to understand this verse as referring to a smaller group within Christianity as a whole, perhaps only the apostles who were present when Jesus spoke these words. Some have supported this by comparing it to the small group of associates and advisers to the Roman Emperor who were called “Friends of the Emperor.” Others would see these words as addressed only to those Christians who as disciples were obedient to Jesus. In either case the result would be to create a sort of “inner circle” of Christians who are more privileged than mere “believers” or average Christians. In context, it seems clear that Jesus’ words must be addressed to all true Christians, not just some narrower category of believers, because Jesus’ sacrificial death, which is his act of love toward his friends (v. 13) applies to all Christians equally (cf. John 13:1).
16 tn See the note on the word “slaves” in 4:51.
17 tn Or “does not know.”
18 tn Grk “all things.”
19 tn Or “learned.”