Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 21:20 — Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1-13.

Proverbs 26:7 — Or, Take away the legs of the lame man, and the parable that is in the mouth of fools: both are alike useless to their possessors. Other meanings are:(1) “The legs of the lame man are feeble, so is parable in the mouth of fools.”(2) “the lifting up of the legs of a lame man, i. e., his attempts at dancing, are as the parable in the mouth of fools.”

Proverbs 6:26 — The two forms of evil bring, each of them, their own penalty. By the one a man is brought to such poverty as to beg for “a piece of bread” (compare 1 Samuel 2:36): by the other and more deadly sin he incurs a peril which may affect his life. The second clause is very abrupt and emphatic in the original; “but as for a man’s wife; she hunts for the precious life.”

Leviticus 12 overview — Lev 12–15. Ceremonial PurificationsThe Purifications of the Law fall under three heads; (1). Those for defilement arising from secretions; (2). Those for the leprosy; (3). Those for pollution from corpses.The first and second classes are described in these chapters; the last, as relates to human corpses, in Numbers 19:11, etc., and as relates to the bodies of dead animals, in Leviticus 11:24-28, Leviticus 11:31-40.

Song of Solomon 5:10 — My beloved is white and ruddy - Compare 1 Samuel 16:12; Daniel 7:9. The complexion most admired in youth. Jewish interpreters remark that he who is elsewhere called “the Ancient of Days” is here described as the Ever-Young. “White in His virgin-purity,” says Jerome, “and ruddy in His Passion.”The chiefest among ten thousand - literally, “a bannered one among a myriad;” hence one signalized, a leader of ten thousand warriors.

Jeremiah 48:24 — Kerioth - A synonym of Ar, the old capital of Moab. It appears to have been a considerable place, and has been identified with El-Korriat, situated on the long ridge of Mount Attarus.Bozrah - Probably the Bosora mentioned in 1 Macc. 5:26 in company with Bosor, i. e., Bezer. Since the word means sheepfolds, it was no doubt a common name for places in this upland region, fit only for pasturage.

Ezekiel 14 overview — This prophecy Ezekiel 14:1-11 is a reproof of those who consult the false prophets. Some of the chief exiles come to Ezekiel as to one who has authority; but he, endowed with the genuine prophetic spirit, sees deep into their hearts, and finds the idols of self-will and unsubmissiveness set up therein. The prophet warns them that God will not be inquired of in such a spirit as this.

Matthew 13:54 — Into his own country - That is, into Nazareth. Mark, who has also recorded this Mark 6:1-6, says that it took place on the Sabbath. It was common for our Saviour to speak in the synagogues. Any Jew had a fight to address the people, if called on by the minister; and our Saviour often availed himself of the right to instruct the people and declare his doctrines. See Matthew 4:23.

Luke 1:78 — Whereby the dayspring ... - The word “dayspring” means the morning light, the aurora, the rising of the sun. It is called the dayspring “from on high” because the light of the gospel shines forth from heaven. God is its Author, and through His mercy it shines upon people. There is here, doubtless, a reference to Isaiah 60:1-2; indeed, almost the very words of that place are quoted. Compare also Revelation 22:16.

Luke 14:2 — Cierto hombre antes que él - De qué manera llegó allí, no lo sabemos. Podría haber sido uno de la familia del fariseo, o podría haber sido colocado allí por los fariseos para ver si lo curaría. Esta última suposición no es improbable, ya que se dice en Lucas 14:1 que lo observaron. La hidropesía - Una enfermedad producida por la acumulación de agua en varias partes del cuerpo; muy angustiante y comúnmente incurable.

John 11:54 — No more openly - No more publicly, in the cities and towns. Jesus never exposed his life unnecessarily to hazard. Although the time of his death was determined in the counsel of God, yet this did not prevent his using proper means to preserve his life.The wilderness - See the notes at Matthew 3:1.A city called Ephraim - This was probably a small town in the tribe of Ephraim, about five miles west of Jericho.

John 15:27 — Ye also shall bear witness - You shall be witnesses to the world to urge on them the evidences that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah.Have been with me - They had for more than three years seen his works, and were therefore qualified to bear witness of his character and doctrines.From the beginning - From his entrance on the public work of the ministry, Matthew 4:17-22. Compare Acts 1:21-22.

John 8:51 — Si un hombre guarda mi dicho - Si cree en mí y obedece mis mandamientos. Nunca verá la muerte - Ver la muerte, o probar la muerte, es lo mismo que morir, Lucas 2:26; Mateo 16:28; Marco 9:1. El sentido de este pasaje es: "Obtendrá vida eterna, o será resucitado a esa vida donde no habrá muerte". Ver Juan 6:49-5; Juan 3:36; Juan 5:24; Juan 11:25.

Acts 1:21 — Wherefore of these men - Of those who had witnessed the life and works of Christ, and who were therefore qualified to discharge the duties of the office from which Judas fell. Probably Peter refers to the seventy disciples, Luke 10:1-2.Went in and out - A phrase signifying that he was their constant companion. It expresses in general all the actions of the life, Psalms 121:8; Deuteronomy 28:19; Deuteronomy 31:2.

Acts 27:23 — There stood by me - There appeared to me.The angel of God - The messages of God were often communicated by angels. See Hebrews 1:14. This does not mean that there was any particular angel, but simply an angel.Whose I am - Of the God to whom I belong. This is an expression of Paul’s entire devotedness to him.Whom I serve - In the gospel. To whom and to whose cause I am entirely devoted.

Acts 9:16 — For I will show him ... - This seems to be added to encourage Ananias. He had feared Saul. The Lord now informs him that Saul, hitherto his enemy, would ever after be his friend. He would not merely profess repentance, but would manifest the sincerity of it by encountering trials and reproaches for his sake. The prediction here was fully accomplished, Acts 20:23; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 2 Timothy 1:11-12.

Romans 15:23 — But now ... - Having no further opportunity in these regions to preach to those who have never heard the gospel.In these parts - In the regions before specified. He had gone over them, had established churches, had left them in the care of elders Acts 20:17, and was now prepared to penetrate into some new region, and lay the foundation of other churches.And having a great desire ... - See Romans 1:9-13.

1 Corinthians 14:11 — The meaning of the voice - Of the language that is uttered, or the sounds that are made.I shall be unto him ... - What I say will be unintelligible to him, and what he says will be unintelligible to me. We cannot understand one another any more than people can who speak different languages.A barbarian - See the note at Romans 1:14. The word means one who speaks a different, or a foreign language.

2 Thessalonians 3:17 — The salutation of Paul with mine own hand; - See the notes, 1 Corinthians 16:21. “Which is the token in every epistle.” Greek: “sign.” That is, this signature is a sign or proof of the genuineness of the epistle; compare the notes on Galatians 6:11.So I write - Referring, probably, to some mark or method which Paul had of signing his name, which was well known, and which would easily be recognized by them.

2 Thessalonians 3:18 — The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all; - See the notes, Romans 16:20.From the subscription to this Epistle, it purports to have been “written from Athens.” This is probably incorrect, as there is reason to think that it was written from Corinth. See the introduction. At all events, this subscription is of no authority. See the notes at the end of the Epistles to the Romans and 1 Corinthians.