παραπικρασμός

From the study of Hebrews 3:15

Range of meaning

Embitterment, provocation: the act of provoking someone to bitter anger. In the Bible it occurs only in LXX Ps 94:8 and in Hebrews 3:8, 15. The related verb parapikrainō ("embitter, provoke, rebel against") is common in the LXX for Israel's defiance of God.

Against the English

KJV and YLT "provocation" keep the root idea of provoking God. BSB, WEB and most modern versions have "rebellion," which names what Israel did but loses the picture of God being embittered. No English version shows that the Greek stands for a place name.

How it drifted

Not a drift so much as a lost connection. The Hebrew psalm names places, and the Greek translators turned the names into descriptive nouns, so the geography disappeared from view.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrew Ps 95:8 reads kimrivah keyom massah bammidbar, "as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness." Meribah means "quarrel" and Massah means "testing" (Exod 17:1–7; Num 20:1–13). The LXX translated the names by meaning: "as in the Embitterment (parapikrasmos), as on the day of the Testing (peirasmos)." The verb parapikrainō translates Hebrew marah ("to rebel") in passages such as Deut 31:27 and Ps 78 (LXX 77):17, 40, 56.

From the study of Hebrews 3:8

Range of meaning

From parapikrainō, "to embitter, provoke, exasperate", which is built on pikros, "bitter". It means an act of provocation or rebellion that embitters the relationship and angers the one provoked. BDAG gives "embitterment" and "revolt, rebellion".

Against the English

KJV/YLT "provocation" keeps the sense of goading God to anger. BSB/ESV/NIV/WEB "rebellion" keeps the defiance. Neither captures both, and none keeps the Hebrew place-name Meribah ("quarrel") that sits behind it.

Used elsewhere in the period

A rare noun. In the Septuagint it appears only at Ps 94:8 (= Hebrew 95:8), where it renders the place-name Meribah. The verb parapikrainō is common in the Septuagint for Israel provoking or rebelling against God (e.g., Deut 31:27; Ps 77[78]:17, 40, 56; Ezek 2:3–8). It often translates Hebrew marah, "to rebel". Scholars have suggested the choice may reflect an association with mar, "bitter". In the NT it occurs only here and at Heb 3:15. The verb appears at Heb 3:16.