Acts 5:19 - Exposition

An angel for the angel, A.V. ; out for forth, A.V. An angel , etc. The phrase is a translation of the Old Testament phrase הוָהֹיְ כְאַלְםַ . But in Hebrew it is impossible to insert the definite article before הוָהֹיְ , and therefore the phrase is properly rendered, "the angel of the Lord." In the passage before us and other similar passages, κύριος seems to stand for הוֹיְ , and therefore the rendering of the A.V. would seem to be right, in spite of what is said by eminent grammarians to the contrary. Compare, too, the phrases ὁδὸν εἰρήνηνς ( Luke 1:19 ); ῥῆμα θεοῦ ( Luke 3:2 ); φωνὴ βοῶντος ( Luke 3:4 ); and see especially Luke 2:9 , where, ἄγγελος κυρίου ("the angel of the Lord,) and δόξα κυρίου ("the glory of the Lord") stand in parallel clauses. The R.V. inconsistently renders the first "an angel," and the second" the glory." In like manner φωνὴ κυρίου ( Acts 7:31 ) is "the voice of the Lord;" and in Psalms 29:3 , Psalms 29:4 , Psalms 29:5 , Psalms 29:7 , Psalms 29:8 , Psalms 29:9 , the LXX . have uniformly φωνὴ κυρίου for הוָהֹיְ לוֹק (see Acts 8:26 , note). Out (comp. Acts 12:7 , etc.).