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:

33

“

Then having drawn near, the commander laid hold of him and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and began inquiring who he might be and what it is he has been doing.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
Then Then, at that time. Adv H5119 τότε tote
the The, the definite article. N-NMS H5506 χιλίαρχος chiliarchos
having drawn near, To bring near; to come near, approach. V-APA-NMS H1448 ἐγγίσας engisas
laid hold To lay hold of, take hold of, seize (sometimes with beneficent, sometimes with hostile, intent). V-AIM-3S H1949 ἐπελάβετο epelabeto
commanded [him] To command, order, direct, bid. V-AIA-3S H2753 ἐκέλευσεν ekeleusen
to be bound To bind, tie, fasten; to impel, compel; to declare to be prohibited and unlawful. V-ANP H1210 δεθῆναι dethēnai
vvv Two. Adj-DFP H1417 δυσί dusi
with two chains, A (light) chain, bond. N-DFP H254 ἁλύσεσιν alusesin
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 
began inquiring To ask, inquire, ascertain by inquiry, understand. V-IIM/P-3S H4441 ἐπυνθάνετο epunthaneto
who Who, which, what, why. IPro-ANS H5101 τις tis
what Who, which, what, why. IPro-ANS H5101 τί ti
he has been doing. (a) to make, manufacture, construct, (b) to do, act, cause. V-RPA-NMS H4160 πεποιηκώς pepoiēkōs

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
Berean Bible Then having drawn near, the commander laid hold of him and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and began inquiring who he might be and what it is he has been doing.
King James Bible Then having drawn the chief captain came near, the commander laid hold of him and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, chains; and began inquiring demanded who he might be was, and what it is he has been doing.had done.
Hebrew Greek English Then having drawn near, the commander laid came up and took hold of him him, and commanded ordered him to be bound with two chains, chains; and he began inquiring asking who he might be was and what it is he has been doing.had done.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Then having drawn near, the commander laid came up and took hold of him him, and commanded ordered him to be bound with two chains, chains; and he began inquiring asking who he might be was and what it is he has been doing.had done.