God knows all: An intertextual study of Hebrews 4:12–13 and Deuteronomy 29:28

Abstract

While most scholars view Hebrews 4:12–13 as the author’s own composition which contains various parallels with Old Testament language and thought, very few consider Deuteronomy 29:28 (29:29 ET) as one of the possible conceptual backgrounds of the passage. The current article argued that Hebrews 4:12–13 contains among others a conceptual echo of Deuteronomy 29:28, which when noted, enhances the interpretation of the passage. The article started with a baseline interpretation of Hebrews 4:12–13, by discussing its content and message, and especially its proposed backgrounds. It found that of all the parallels between Hebrews 4:12–13 and the LXX, Wisdom 1:6 and 1 Enoch 9:5 forms the closest parallels, and that scholars do not view Hebrews 4:12–13 as containing an echo of Deuteronomy 29:28. Next, the article investigated Deuteronomy 29:28, particularly the meaning of the phrase ‘the hidden things’ known to God. The article argued that from the wider context of Deuteronomy 29:15–27 ’the hidden things’ refer to ’the hidden intentions’ of the human heart, which is known to God. The next section of the article indicated that this interpretation of ’the hidden things’ as the unknown intentions of the human heart, finds support in Philo’s De Cherubim 16. Revisiting Hebrews 4:12–13, the article argued that based on the similarities of thought, structure and function, Deuteronomy 29:28 forms one of the conceptual backgrounds of Hebrews 4:12–13 and indicated how this enhances the interpretation of the passage. The article concluded by very briefly reflecting on the contribution of Hebrews 4:12–13 to the biblical concept of the knowledge of God.

Contribution: The article contributed to the investigation of the well-known and important Hebrews 4:12–13, as well as the investigation of the occurrence and use of Deuteronomy in the book of Hebrews.