Bible Commentaries

Ezra 7:1 — favor of the first being meant here: he was the grandson of Darius Hystaspis, Jeshua’s contemporary.The genealogy of Ezra here is incomplete. The time between the Exodus and Ezra must have exceeded one thousand years, and cannot have been covered by 16 generations. One gap may be filled up from 1 Chronicles 6:7-10, which supplies six names between Meraioth and Azariah Ezra 7:3 : another gap probably occurs between Seraiah Ezra 7:1 and Ezra himself; since Seraiah appears to be the high priest of Zedekiah’s

Psalms 18:45 — The strangers shall fade away - Hebrew, “The sons of the stranger.” That is, foreigners. The word rendered fade away - נבל nâbêl - means properly to wilt, wither, fall away, as applicable to flowers, leaves, or plants, Psalms 1:3; Psalms 37:2; Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 28:1. Here it means that those foreign nations would diminish in numbers and in power, until they should wholly disappear. The idea is, that all his foes would vanish, and that he and his kingdom would be left in

Psalms 28:8 — similar circumstancaes; or that all His people might confide in Him as he had done.And he is the saving strength - Margin, as in Hebrew, “strength of salvations.” That is, In Him is found the strength which produces salvation. See the notes at Psalms 27:1.Of his anointed - See Psalms 2:2, note; Psalms 20:6, note. The primary reference here is doubtless to the psalmist himself, as one who had been annointed or set apaart to the kingly office; but the connection shows that he intended to include all the

Psalms 45:3 — of the world; and saw that he would do it. Compare Psalms 45:5-6. It is needless to remark that this is easily and naturally applicable to the Messiah - the Lord Jesus - as going forth for the subjugation of the world to the authority of God. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:25, 1 Corinthians 15:28. See also, in reference to the figure used here, Isaiah 49:2; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 19:15.

Psalms 66:15 — I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings - Margin, marrow. On the word rendered “burnt-offerings” see the notes at Isaiah 1:11. The word rendered “fatlings” is rendered in Isaiah 5:17, lambs. It may be applied to any animal considered as fat - a qualification required in sacrifices to be made on the altar, Isaiah 1:11.With the incense of rams - The word here rendered incense

Psalms 68:25 — The singers went before - That is, in the removal of the ark; in the solemn procession referred to in the previous verse. “In” that procession those who sang preceded those who performed on instruments of music. Compare 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16. “The players on instruments followed after.” The different classes of performers would naturally be ranged together. In 1 Chronicles 13:8, the following instruments of music are mentioned as having been employed

Psalms 71:22 — I will also praise thee with the psaltery - Margin, as in Hebrew, “with the instrument of psaltery.” The Hebrew word is נבל nebel. In Isaiah 5:12 it is rendered “viol.” See the notes at that passage. It is rendered “psaltery” in 1 Samuel 10:5; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Kings 10:12; and elsewhere. Compare the notes at Psalms 33:2.Even thy truth - I will make mention of thy truth and faithfulness in my

Psalms 76:2 — In Salem also - This was the ancient name for Jerusalem, and is evidently so used here. It continued to be given to the town until the time of David, when it was called “Jerusalem.” See the notes at Isaiah 1:1. The word properly means “peace,” and is so rendered here by the Septuagint, ἐν εἰρήνῃ ὁ τόπος αύτοῦ en eirēnē ho topos autou - “his place is in peace.” There may have been an allusion here to that ancient signification of the name, as being

Song of Solomon 2:1 — The division of the chapters is unfortunate; Song of Solomon 2:0 ought to have begun at Song of Solomon 1:15, or Song of Solomon 1:0 to have been continued to Song of Solomon 2:7. The bride replies, “And I am like a lovely wild flower springing at the root of the stately forest-trees.” The majority of Christian fathers assigned this verse to the King (Christ).

Ezekiel 40:46 — Zadok - The priests were all descended from one or other of the two sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar. David distributed the priestly offices between the families of Zadok, the representative of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, the representative of Ithamar 1 Chronicles 24:3. From the time of Solomon not only the high priesthood, but the priesthood itself, so far as concerned its service, that of offering upon the two altars, seems to have been confined to the descendants of Zadok (see 1 Chronicles 6:49-53).

Zechariah 8:20 — It shall yet be that - The promises are those which God had already made by Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2 ff) and Micah (Micah 4:1 ff). Yet where was the show of their fulfillment? The Jews themselves, a handful: the temple unfinished; its completion depending, in human sight, upon the will of their pagan masters, the rival worship at Samaria standing and inviting to coalition.

Matthew 7:23 — Profess unto them - Say unto them; plainly declare.I never knew you - That is, I never approved of your conduct; never loved you; never regarded you as my friends. See Psalms 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 8:3. This proves that, with all their pretensions, they had never been true followers of Christ. Jesus will not then say to false prophets and false professors of religion that he had once known them and then rejected

Luke 1:32 — “great” is meant he shall be distinguished or illustrious; great in power, in wisdom, in dominion on earth and in heaven.Shall be called - This is the same as to say he “shall be” the Son, etc. The Hebrews often used this form of speech. See Matthew 21:13.The Highest - God, who is infinitely exalted; called the Highest, because He is exalted over all his creatures on earth and in heaven. See Mark 5:7.The throne - The kingdom; or shall appoint him as the lineal successor of David in the kingdom.His

Acts 13:21 — And afterward they desired a king - See 1 Samuel 8:5; Hosea 13:10. It was predicted that they would have a king, Deuteronomy 17:14-15.Saul, the son of Cis - is the Greek mode of writing the Hebrew name Kish. In the Old Testament it is uniformly written as “Kish,” and it is to be regretted that

Acts 13:36 — For David ... - This verse is designed to show that the passage in Psalms 16:1-11; could not refer to David, and must therefore relate to some other person. In Acts 13:37 it is affirmed that this could refer to no one, in fact, but to the Lord Jesus.After he had served his own generation - See the margin. Syriac, “David in

Acts 5:37 — Judas of Galilee - Josephus has given an account of this man (Antiq., xvii. 10, section 5), and calls him a “Galilean.” He afterward calls him a “Gaulonite,” and says he was of the city of “Gamala” (Antiq., 18:1:1). He says that the revolt took place under “Cyrenius,” a Roman senator, who came into “Syria to be judge of that

Acts 7:35 — Whom they refused - That is, when he first presented himself to them, Exodus 2:13-14. Stephen introduces and dwells upon this refusal in order, perhaps, to remind them that this had been the character of their nation, and to prepare the way for the charge which he intended to bring against those whom he addressed, as being stiff-necked

Romans 12:6 — Todos los dones que los cristianos tienen son considerados por el apóstol como dones. Dios los ha conferido; y este hecho, cuando se siente correctamente, tiende mucho a evitar que pensemos más en nosotros mismos de lo que deberíamos pensar, Romanos 12:3. Para el uso de la palabra traducida como "regalos", vea Romanos 1:11; Romanos 5:15; Romanos 6:23; Romanos 11:29; 1Co 7: 7 ; 1 Corintios 12:4, 1 Corintios 12:9, 1 Corintios 12:28, etc. Puede referirse tanto a las dotaciones naturales como

Romans 12:8 — la iglesia, el primero es evidentemente lo que se pretende. Se consideró un asunto importante entre los primeros cristianos impartir liberalmente su sustancia para apoyar a los pobres y proveer a los necesitados: Hechos 2:44; Hechos 4:34; Hechos 5:1; Gálatas 2:1; Rom 15:26 ; 2 Corintios 8:8; 2Co 9: 2 , 2 Corintios 9:12. Por lo tanto, se hizo necesario nombrar personas sobre estas contribuciones, que deberían estar especialmente encargadas de la gestión de las mismas, y que verían que se distribuyeran

1 Corinthians 4:21 — if they would not do it, the task would devolve on him as the founder and father of the church, and as entrusted with power by the Lord Jesus to administer the severity of Christian discipline, or to punish those who offended by bodily suffering; see 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 11:30. See also the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 ff), and of Elymas the sorcerer. Acts 13:10-11.Remarks On 1 Corinthians 4:01. We should endeavor to form a proper estimate of the Christian ministry; 1 Corinthians