New American Standard Bible 1995

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2 Corinthians

12

:

2

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
I know to have seen or perceived, hence to know H3609    
a man a man, human, mankind N-AMS H444 ἄνθρωπον anthrōpon
in Christ the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ N-DMS H5547 Χριστῷ christō
who fourteen fourteen Adj-GNP H1180 δεκατεσσάρων dekatessarōn
Analysis:

Fourteen: A double blessing or God's providence

The idea that is expressed by the number fourteen is a double blessing or an expression of God's providence to His people. The Rabbis point out that Jacob worked fourteen years and the outcome of these fourteen years of labor were his two wives, Leah and Rachel. A wife is a helpmate (Genesis 2:18) and the Scripture instructs that he who has found a wife has found a good thing (Proverbs 18:22). Hence, the outcome of these fourteen years of labor was the children of Israel.

Passover is on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Here again, according to the Rabbis (Talmud— Rosh HaShana 11a), not only did the first redemption take place on the 14th day of Nissan, so too will the final redemption רבי יהושוע— בניסן נגאלו בניסן עתידין ליגאל. The point is that this date, the 14th day of Nissan, will serve as a double blessing or a second expression of providence to His people. The first blessing was the Exodus from Egypt into the Land of Promise, i.e. Israel; and the second blessing will be the Exodus from sin into the Kingdom by means of our Passover Lamb, Yeshua the Messiah.

In a similar fashion, King Solomon dedicated the Temple during the Festival of Tabernacles. This festival is seven days; however, because Solomon wanted to express what a great blessing this was, he in fact celebrated for an additional seven days, i.e. 14 days in total.

In the New Testament, the number 14 appears in the very first chapter of Matthew's Gospel. The reader is told that in Messiah's genealogy, there are 14 generations between Abraham and David and 14 generations between David and the Exile, and 14 generations from the Exile to Messiah. It is understood that the Messiah is the second Redeemer (Moses being the first) and the establishment of the Kingdom, being the role of Messiah, is the second expression of God's promise to His people of which the Prophets frequently spoke.  Careful attention reveals that there was actually only 13 generations from the Exile to the birth of Messiah.  The fact that the text states 14 is not an error.  It is a subtle reference to not the first coming of Messiah, but to the second, when the Kingdom will be established.  In Judaism, the final generation is often referred to as the next generation, so as to emphasize an expectancy for the Kingdom. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

years a year N-GNP H2094 ἐτῶν etōn
ago-- before Prep H4253 πρὸ pro
whether if -- if, whether -- or Conj H1535 εἴτε eite
in the body a body N-GNS H4983 σώματι sōmati
I do not know, to have seen or perceived, hence to know H3609    
or if -- if, whether -- or Conj H1535 εἴτε eite
out of the body a body N-GNS H4983 σώματος sōmatos
I do not know, to have seen or perceived, hence to know H3609    
God God, a god N-NMS H2316 θεὸς theos
knows-- to have seen or perceived, hence to know H3609    
such a man such as this, such DPro-AMS H5108 τοιοῦτον toiouton
was caught to seize, catch up, snatch away V-APP-AMS H726 ἁρπαγέντα arpagenta
up to the third third Adj-GMS H5154 τρίτου tritou
heaven. heaven N-GMS H3772 οὐρανοῦ ouranou

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
King James Bible I know knew a man in Christ who above fourteen years ago-- ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body body, I do not know, cannot tell: God knows-- knoweth;) such a man was an one caught up to the third heaven.
Berean Bible I know a man in Christ who Christ, fourteen years ago-- whether ago—whether in the body body, I do not know, or out of the body body, I do not know, know; God knows-- such knows—such a man was man, having been caught up to the third heaven.
Hebrew Greek English I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven.