I HAD NOT STUDIED ENOUGH

Hugo Mccord

I erred in the first three editions of the Freed-Hardeman version of the New Testament by saying that Sarah "received strength to conceive" (Hebrews 11:11). The Greek word for "conceive" (sullambano) is not in Hebrews 11:11. I fell into this error because Sarah is mentioned in the verse.

Moreover, what is said in verse 11 was and is biologically impossible for a woman: katabole spermatos, a phrase referring to "the injection or depositing of the virile semen in the womb" (Thayer, p. 330). Since the ability to produce seed, "virile semen," is only masculine, the "interpretation cannot stand" that Sarah "received power to conceive seed" (Thayer). This "expression could not be used of Sarah, but only of Abraham" (B-G-D, p. 409).

Furthermore, an examination of the context (verses 8-12) makes it clear that Abraham, though he was too old, received power to produce "virile semen" and to father a son. In addition, the one described in verse 12 grammatically is strictly masculine (henos and nenekromenou).

To be technical, teknoo, "to beget children," when spoken "of the father," in the first aorist active infinitive becomes teknosai; when spoken "of the mother," the first aorist middle infinitive becomes teknosasthai (CLASSIC GREEK DICTIONARY). Accordingly, the phrase after elaben in the Greek of Hebrews 11:11 of manuscripts D, P, 81, and 2495 is masculine, eis to teknosai. The NIV and the NRSV corrected the mistake of the KJV, ASV, NASV, and the NKJV, and I have done so in the copy being prepared for the fourth edition of the FHV:

By faith he received strength to father a child when he was too old (Sarah herself being barren), because he regarded him who had made the promise to be dependable (Hebrews 11:11).