Bible Commentaries

Genesis 1:1 — - Section I - The Creation - The Absolute Creationראשׁית rḕshı̂̂yt, the “head-part, beginning” of a thing, in point of time Genesis 10:10, or value Proverbs 1:7. Its opposite is אחרית 'achărı̂̂yth Isaiah 46:10. בראשׁית rê'shı̂̂yth, “in the beginning,” is always used in reference to time. Here only is it taken absolutely.ברא bārā', “create, give being to something new.” It always

Exodus 25:17-22 — standing on it, the whole beaten out of one solid piece of metal Exodus 37:7; it was placed upon the ark and so took the place of a cover. “mercy” seat expresses well the distinct significance and recognized designation of the Hebrew name.Exodus 25:18-20The cherubim of the mercy-seat were human figures, each having two wings. They must have been of small size, proportioned to the area of the mercy-seat. Comparing the different references to form in this place, in 2 Samuel 22:11 Psalms 18:10, in

1 Kings 17:1 — Israelite prophet, we must always bear in mind that the wild and mountainous Gilead, which bordered on Arabia, and was half Arab in customs, was the country wherein he grew up.His abrupt appearance may be compared with the similar appearances of Ahijah 1 Kings 11:29, Jehu 1 Kings 16:1, Shemaiah 2 Chronicles 11:2, Azariah 2 Chronicles 15:1, and others. It is clear that a succession of prophets was raised up by God, both in faithful Judah and in idolatrous Israel, to witness of Him before the people of

Psalms 15:4 — virtue and piety for their own sake, he hates all that is opposite; and where conduct deserves reprobation, no matter where found, he does not hesitate to avow his conviction in regard to it. The sentiment here is substantially the same as in Psalms 1:1. See the notes at that verse.But he honoreth them that fear the Lord - No matter in what rank or condition of life they may be found. Where there is true piety he honors it. He is willing to be known as one that honors it, and is willing to bear all

Psalms 26:1 — matter before God for Him to decide; he submits the facts in regard to himself to God, so that He may pronounce upon them whether they constitute evidence of real piety.For I have walked in mine integrity - On the word “walk,” see the notes at Psalms 1:1. The word “integrity” here is the same which is elsewhere rendered “perfection.” See the notes at Job 1:1. Compare Psalms 37:37. See also Psalms 7:8; Psalms 25:21; where the word is rendered, as here, “integrity.” It means here “uprightness, sincerity.”

Psalms 65:1 — the temple, contrary to the opinion of DeWette and others, as noticed in the Introduction to the psalm, for after the building of the temple the seat of worship was transferred from Mount Zion, where David had placed the ark and prepared a tent for it 1 Chronicles 15:1; 1Ch 16:1; 2 Chronicles 1:4, to Mount Moriah. It is true that the general name Zion was given familiarly to Jerusalem as a city, but it is also true that the particular place for the worship of God in the time of David was Mount Zion

Psalms 96:6 — Honour and majesty are before him - This part of the verse is taken literally from 1 Chronicles 16:27. The meaning is, that that which constitutes honor, glory, majesty, is in his presence, or wherever he is. Whereever he manifests himself, there are the exhibitions of honor and majesty. They are always the accompaniments of his presence.Strength

Isaiah 30:1 — Wo, - (see the note at Isaiah 18:1).To the rebellious children - To those whom he had nourished as children, and who had rebelled against him (see the note at Isaiah 1:23).That take counsel, but not of me - They look to Egypt, and depend on a human arm.And that cover with a covering

Isaiah 33:3 — he would himself fall and become an easy prey to those whom he intended to subdue. But probably it should be regarded as a part of the address which the Jews made to Yahweh Isaiah 33:2, and the word ‘tumult’ - המון hâmôn, sound, noise, as of rain 1 Kings 18:41, or of music Ezekiel 26:13; Amos 5:23, or the bustle or tumult of a people 1 Samuel 4:11; 1 Samuel 14:19; Job 39:7 - refers here to the voice of God by which the army was overthrown. Yahweh is often represented as speaking to people in a

Hosea 6:9 — And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent - Or (more probably) “in the way to Shechem.” Shechem too was a “city of refuge” John 20:7, and so also a city of Levites and priests John 21:21. It was an important city. For there Joshua assembled all Israel for his last address to them, and made a covenant with them John 24:1, 25. There, Rehoboam came to be accepted by Israel as their king 1 Kings 12:1, and was rejected by them. There

Zechariah 12:7 — ‘siege,’ the gathering of all the peoples of the earth ‘against Jerusalem, the horse and his rider.’ On the other, no human strength; not, as before, in the prophecy of the Maccabees, the bow, the arrow, and the sword, though in the hand of God Zechariah 9:13. It is thrice, ‘I will make’ Zechariah 9:2-3,; ‘I will smite’ (Zechariah 9:4 bis); and now, ‘The Lord shall save.’ By ‘the tents,’ he probably indicates their defenselessness. God would ‘save’ them first; that ‘the glory of the house of David - ‘be

Matthew 21:1 — And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem - They were going up now from Jericho.Matthew 20:29. The distance was about 19 miles. The most of the way was a desert, or filled with caves, and rocks, and woods - a suitable place for robbers. See Luke 10:30. The Mount of Olives, or “Olivet,” is on the east of Jerusalem. Between this and Jerusalem there runs a small stream

Matthew 5:11 — Blessed are ye when men shall revile you - Reproach you; call you by evil and contemptuous names; ridicule you because you are Christians. Thus, they said of Jesus that he was a Samaritan and had a devil John 8:48; that he was mad John 10:20; and thus they reviled and mocked him on the cross, Matthew 27:39-44. But, being reviled, he reviled not again 1 Peter 2:23; and thus being reviled, we should bless 1 Corinthians 4:12; and thus, though the contempt of the world is not in itself

1 Corinthians 14:29 — Let the prophets - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1.Speak two or three - On the same days, or at the same meeting; see the note at 1 Corinthians 14:27.And let the other judge - The word “other” (οἱ ἄλλοι hoi alloi, “the others”), Bloomfield supposes refers to the other prophets; and

2 Corinthians 9:2 — For I know the forwardness of your mind - I know your promptitude, or your readiness to do it; see 2 Corinthians 8:10. Probably Paul here means that he had had opportunity before of witnessing their readiness to do good, and that he had learned in particular of Titus that they had formed the plan to aid in this contribution.For which I boast of you to them of Macedonia

Ephesians 2:7 — are made to partake of his honor and glory in order that others may forever be impressed wish a sense of the divine goodness and mercy to us.The exceeding riches of his grace - The “abounding, overflowing” riches of grace; compare the notes, Ephesians 1:7. This is Paul’s favorite expression - an expression so beautiful and so full of meaning that it will bear often to be repeated. We may learn from this verse:(1) That one object of the conversion and salvation of sinners, is to furnish a “proof” of

1 Timothy 6:16 — representación muy común de la morada de Dios. Véanse los ejemplos citados en Pricaeus, en loc. El cielo se representa constantemente como un lugar de la luz más pura y brillante, que no necesita la luz del sol, la luna o las estrellas Apocalipsis 21:23; Apocalipsis 22:5, y Dios está representado como morando en esa luz, rodeado de una gloria asombrosa e inaccesible comparar Apocalipsis 4:6; Ezequiel 1:4; Hebreos 1:3. A quien ningún hombre ha visto ni puede ver - notas en Juan 1:18. A quien

Hebrews 10:13 — De ahora en adelante esperando - O esperando. Él espera allí hasta que esto se cumpla de acuerdo con la promesa que se le hizo de que todas las cosas se someterán bajo él; ver las notas en 1 Corintios 15:25. Hasta sus enemigos - Aquí hay una alusión a Salmo 110:1, donde se dice: "El Señor le dijo a mi Señor, siéntate en mi mano derecha hasta que ponga a tus enemigos como estrado de tus pies ". Los enemigos del Redentor son Satanás, los

1 Peter 1:13 — significado aquí es que debían tener sus mentes en constante preparación para cumplir con los deberes, o para soportar las pruebas de la vida, como aquellos que estaban preparados para el trabajo, una raza o un conflicto. Sea sobrio - Vea la nota 1 Timoteo 3:2; Tito 1:8; Tito 2:2 notas. Y espero hasta el final - Margen, "perfectamente". La traducción en el texto es la más correcta. Significa que no debían desmayarse o cansarse en sus pruebas. No debían abandonar las esperanzas del evangelio,

Revelation 2:18 — Y al ángel de la iglesia - Vea las notas en Apocalipsis 1:2. Estas cosas dice el Hijo de Dios - Esta es la primera vez, en estas epístolas, que se hace referencia al nombre del hablante. En cada otra instancia, hay simplemente algún atributo del Salvador mencionado. Quizás la severidad de la reprensión contemplada