Bible Commentaries

Psalms 104:7 — At thy rebuke they fled - At thy command; or when thou didst speak to them. The Hebrew word also implies the notion of “rebuke,” or “reproof,” as if there were some displeasure or dissatisfaction. Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 17:10; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Isaiah 30:17; Psalms 76:6. It is “as if” God had been displeased that the waters prevented the appearing or the rising of the dry land, and had commanded them to “hasten” to their beds and channels, and no longer

Psalms 119:11 — Thy word have I hid in mine heart - Compare the notes at Psalms 37:31. The word rendered “hid” means properly to conceal, so that a thing may be secret, private, inaccessible; then, to lay up in private, to treasure up. to hoard - as money or jewels - commonly “hidden” from public view. Job 20:26; Psalms 17:14. Then it

Psalms 132:1 — what is specified in the following verses (his bringing up the ark to Mount Zion), but to his purpose to build a house for God, and - since he was not permitted himself to build it because he was a man of war, and had been engaged in scenes of blood, 1 Kings 5:3; 1 Chronicles 22:8 - to his care and toil in collecting materials for the temple to be erected by his son and successor. It is not, therefore, his general afflictions which are here meant, but his anxiety, and his efforts to secure a lasting

Psalms 80:4 — that seem marshalled as hosts or armies, and that are led forth each night with such order and grandeur; or(c) God of the hosts on earth - the armies that are mustered for war. The phrase is one which is often applied to God. See the notes at Psalms 24:10; and at Isaiah 1:24.How long wilt thou be angry - Margin, as in Hebrew, wilt thou smoke. The allusion is derived from the comparison of anger with fire. See the notes at Psalms 74:1.Against the prayer of thy people - That is, Thou dost not answer their

Psalms 89:16 — same, and thy people may find happiness in them always. There is no reason why the people of God should not be constantly happy; they who have such a God, and such hopes as they are permitted to cherish, should be so. Compare the notes at Philippians 3:1; notes at Philippians 4:4.And in thy righteousness - Under thy righteous government; or, in the knowledge of thy righteous character.Shall they be exalted - See Proverbs 14:34. The effect of that knowledge shall be to exalt or to elevate them in moral

Psalms 95:1 — convened for worship addressing the other portion, and calling on them to unite in the praise of God.Let us make a joyful noise - The word used here means commonly to make a loud noise, to shout, Job 30:5. It is especially used(a) of warlike shouts, Jos 6:16; 1 Samuel 17:20;(b) of the shout of triumph, Judges 15:14;(c) of the sound or clangor of a trumpet, Numbers 10:9; Joel 2:1.It may thus be used to denote any shout of joy or praise. In public worship it would denote praise of the most animated kind.To

Psalms 96:10 — Say among the heathen - Among the nations; all nations. Make this proclamation everywhere. This is changed from the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 16:0. The language there is, “Fear before him, all the earth; the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved: let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let people say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.” The sense is,

Psalms 98:4 — Make a joyful noise unto the Lord - By singing; by instruments of music. See the notes at Psalms 95:1.All the earth - All lands. The event is of sufficient importance to be celebrated by all nations. It is a matter of universal exultation and joy.Make a loud noise - The word used here - פצח pâtsach - means properly to break in pieces; then, to break

Isaiah 13:6 — Howl ye - Ye inhabitants of Babylon, in view of the approaching destruction.The day of the Lord - The time when Yahweh will inflict vengeance on you draws near (see the note at Isaiah 2:12; compare Isaiah 13:9).As a destruction from the Almighty - Not as a desolation from man, but as destruction sent from him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Destruction meditated by man might be resisted; but destruction that should come from

Isaiah 43:8 — gods, therefore, could save; but Yahweh, who had so often foretold events that were fulfilled, was able to deliver, and of that fact his own people had had abundant evidence.That have eyes - They had natural faculties to see and know God (compare Romans 1:20), but they had not improved them, and they had, therefore, run into the sin and folly of idolatry. The phrase ‘bring forth,’ implies a solemn appeal made by God to them to enter into an argument on the subject (compare the note at Isaiah 41:1).

Ezekiel 20:27-31 — 20:29Bamah - The Hebrew word for “high place.” Another instance of the perversion of God’s laws. When the Israelites first entered Canaan they were to set up the “tabernacle” on a “high place,” and upon this and upon no other they were to worship Yahweh (1 Samuel 9:12 ff; 1 Kings 3:4). But the Israelites followed the custom of the country, and set up idol-worship on every high hill, and the word “high place” (“Bannah,” plural “Bamoth”) became a by-word (compare “Bamoth-Baal,” Joshua 13:17). “Bamoth” occurs

Amos 3:4 — Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? - Then, further, each question by itself suggests its own thought. Amos had already, in repeating Joel’s words, spoken of God’s Voice, under the image of a lion roaring (Amos 1:2; Hosea 11:10 (add Hosea 5:14; Hosea 6:1; Hosea 13:7); Jeremiah 25:30). Hosea had likened Israel to “a silly dove without heat Hosea 7:11; on the other hand, he had likened God’s loud call to repentance to the roaring of the lion, the conversion of

Amos 8:11 — is not one with us who understandeth, how long!’ Psalms 74:9.” Even the profane, when they see no help, will have recourse to God. Saul, in his extremity, “inquired of the Lord and He answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” 1 Samuel 28:6. Jeroboam sent his wife to inquire of the prophet Ahijah about his son’s health 1 Kings 14:2-3. They sought for temporal relief only, and therefore found it not.

Micah 4:12 — first step was the same; God willed that His people should be punished; they willed to punish them. But all which lay beyond, they saw not; that God willed (on their repentance) to pardon His own people, but to punish themselves for their pride Isaiah 10:7, Isaiah 10:12 and cruelty Zechariah 1:15, Zechariah 1:19. : “Almighty God corrects the elect through the reprobate, as with a rod; after which He condemns the reprobate eternally, as when the son has been disciplined, the rod is cast into the fire.”For

Zechariah 2:1 — Lord, of whom Ezekiel has a like vision. Jerome: “He who before, when he lift up his eyes, had seen in the four horns things mournful, now again lifts up his eves to see a man, of whom it is written, “Behold a man whose name is the Branch” Zechariah 6:12; of whom we read above, “Behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees, which were in the bottom” Zechariah 1:8. Of whom too the Father saith; He builded My city, “whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11:10. He too is

Zechariah 7:9 — Thus spake the Lord - that is, through the former prophets, for he goes on to speak of their rejection in the past. “Execute true judgment.” He retains the words of Ezekiel. The injunction itself runs throughout the prophets. “Shew mercy” (as Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 58:6-7; Jeremiah 7:5; Ezekiel 18:8; Hosea 12:6, etc.), that is, tender love, to all; compassion, to the unhappy. Omit no act of love, God so loves the loving. Lap.: “Like Paul to the Romans Romans 13:9, he names only the duties

Matthew 11:27 — All things are delivered ... - The same doctrine is clearly taught often in the New Testament. See John 3:35; John 6:46; John 10:15; Colossians 1:16-17. It means that Christ has control over all things for the good of his church; that the government of the universe is committed to him “as Mediator,” that he may redeem his people and guide them to glory, Ephesians 1:20-22.No

Matthew 21:4-5 — hills on which the city of Jerusalem was built. On this stood the city of David and some strong fortresses. The names “daughter and virgin” were given to it often, in accordance with the Oriental figurative manner of expression. See the notes at Isaiah 1:8. Compare Amos 5:2; Psalms 45:13; Psalms 137:8; Isaiah 47:1. It was given to them as an expression of their beauty or comeliness.Meek - See the notes at Matthew 5:5. The expression here rather denotes “peaceful, not warlike;” not with pomp, and state,

John 11:47 — A council - A meeting of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council of the nation. See the notes at Matthew 2:4. They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. See the notes at John 1:19.What do we? - What measures are we taking to arrest the progress of his sentiments?For this man doeth many miracles - If they admitted that he performed miracles, it was clear what they ought to do. They should have received him as the Messiah. It

John 11:49 — 3:2.Being high-Priest that same year - It is probable that the office of high priest was at first for life, if there was no conduct that rendered the person unworthy the office. In that case the incumbent was removed. Thus Abiathar was removed by Solomon, 1 Kings 2:27. Subsequently the kings, and especially the conquerors of Judea, claimed and exercised the right of removing the high priest at pleasure, so that, in the time of the Romans, the office was held but a short time. (See the Chronological Table.)