Bible Commentaries

Job 37:13 — justice.Whether for correction - Margin, as in Hebrew “a rod.” The rod is often used as an emblem of punishment. The idea is, that God, when he pleases, can send the rain upon the earth for the purpose of executing punishment. So he did on the old world Genesis 7:11-12, and so the overflowing flood is often now sent to sweep away the works of man, to lay waste his fields, and to cut off the wicked.Or for his land - When necessary to render the land productive. He waters it by timely rains. It is called “his land,”

Psalms 109:8 — integrity, the sternest patriotism, and the highest form of piety. The word rendered office here is in the margin “charge.” It properly denotes a “mustering, an enumeration;” then, care, watch, oversight, charge, as in an army, or in a civil office. In Acts 1:20, this passage is applied to Judas, and the word - the same word as in the Septuagint here - is rendered in the text “bishopric,” in the margin, “office.” See the notes at that passage. It had no original reference to Judas, but the language was exactly

Psalms 110:7 — exulting, triumphant. All this is under the image of a victorious hero; all this will be accomplished in the conquest of the world by the Gospel; in the subduing of the foes of God; in the final scene when the Redeemer shall deliver up the kingdom to God. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Psalms 121:1 — turned to the quarter from which help might be expected to come. What the danger was cannot now be ascertained.Unto the hills - Hebrew, the mountains. To the quarter from where I look for assistance. This (as has been shown in the Introduction) may refer(1) to the mountains from where one in danger expected help; or(2) to heaven, considered as high, and as the abode of God; or(3) to the hills on which Jerusalem was built, as the place where God dwelt, and from where aid was expected.The third of these

Psalms 144:3 — interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In Psalms 8:4, the language is “that thou art mindful of him,” that is, that thou dost remember him - that thou dost not altogether pass him over. In Psalms 8:1-9 the remark is made in view of the heavens as being so exalted in comparison with man, and the wonder is, that in view of worlds so vast occupying the divine attention, and needing the divine care, “man,” so insignificant, does not pass out of his

Psalms 18:15 — Then the channels of waters were seen - In 2 Samuel 22:16 this is, “And the channels of the sea appeared.” The idea is that, by the driving of the storm and tempest, the waters were driven on heaps, leaving the bottom bare. In the place before us the word used, “waters” - מים mayim - would denote waters of

Psalms 50:9 — I will take no bullock out of thy house - Bullocks were offered regularly in the Hebrew service and sacrifice Exodus 29:11, Exodus 29:36; Leviticus 4:4; 1Ki 18:23, 1 Kings 18:33; and it is with reference to this that the language is used here. In obedience to the law it was right and proper to offer such sacrifices; and the design here is not to express disapprobation

Psalms 78:34 — the dawn. Then it comes to denote the beginning of anything; or, the first thing. Thus employed, it may refer to the act of seeking God as the first thing; in youth; in the morning; at the commencement of any enterprise or undertaking. See Proverbs 8:17; Proverbs 1:28. Here it means that, in their affliction, they did not delay to seek God, but expressed an early intention of serving him. They evinced a prompt purpose to break off their sins, and to return to him.

Psalms 88:3 — says here, that this trouble was as great as he could bear; he could sustain no more. He had reached the utmost point of endurance; he had no power to bear anymore.And my life draweth nigh unto the grave - Hebrew, to Sheol. Compare the notes at Isaiah 14:9; notes at Job 10:21-22. It may mean here either the grave, or the abode of the dead. He was about to die. Unless he found relief he must go down to the abodes of the dead. The Hebrew word rendered life is in the plural number, as in Genesis 2:7;

Psalms 96:2 — Sing unto the Lord, bless his name - This verse is substantially the same as 1 Chronicles 16:23; “Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; show forth from day to day his salvation.”Show forth his salvation - His interposition; the fact that he has saved or delivered us. This may have referred originally in particular to what he had

Isaiah 3:2 — The mighty man - The hero, The idea expressed is not simply that of personal strength and prowess, but the higher one of military eminence or heroism. “Prof. Alexander.” This was fully accomplished in the time of Nebuchadnezzar; 2 Kings 24:14.And the prudent - This word in the original - קסם qosēm - means properly “a diviner,” or a “soothsayer.” But it is sometimes used in a good sense; see Proverbs 16:10, “margin.” The Chaldee understands it of a man “who is consulted,” or whose opinion

Isaiah 33:2 — threatened invasion from thy hand (compare the note at Isaiah 26:8).Be thou their arm - The arm is a symbol of strengh. It is used in the Scriptures as emblematic of the divine protection, or of the interposition of God in time of calamity and dancer Exodus 15:16; Job 40:9; Psalms 44:3; Psalms 77:15; Psalms 89:21; Psalms 98:1. Lowth proposes to read ‘our arm instead of ‘their arm;’ and the connection would seem to demand such a reading. The Vugate and the Chaldee read it in this manner, but there is no authority

Isaiah 54:16 — The idea is, that he produces an instrument as the result of his work.I have created the waster to destroy - I have formed every man who is engaged in spreading desolation by wars, and I have every such man under my control (see the notes at Isaiah 10:5-7; Isaiah 37:26-27; Isaiah 46:1-6). The sense here is, that as God had all such conquerors under his control, they could accomplish no more than he permitted them to do.

Isaiah 60:13 — means the trees that grew on Lebanon (see the notes at Isaiah 35:2).Shall come unto thee - That is, thy beauty and glory will be as great as if those valuable trees were brought and planted around the temple.The fir-tree - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 55:13).The box - (See also the notes at Isaiah 41:19).To beautify the place of my sanctuary - The site of the temple, as if they were planted around it, and as if the magnificence of Lebanon was transferred there at once. The idea is, that

Isaiah 9:21 — thirsting for each other’s blood.And they together - They would be united in opposing Judah while they were devouring each other, as it is not an uncommon thing for those who are opposed to each other to unite in hostility to a common foe; compare Luke 23:12. This is an image that heightens the description of the anarchy - introducing implacable animosity against another tribe, while they were contending among themselves. That such anarchies and factions existed, is apparent from all the history of the

Daniel 9:14 — Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil - The word here used and rendered watched - שׁקד shâqad - means, properly, “to wake; to be sleepless; to watch.” Then it means to watch over anything, or to be attentive to it. Jeremiah 1:12; Jeremiah 31:28; Jeremiah 44:27. - Gesenius, “Lexicon” The meaning here is, that the Lord had not been inattentive to the progress of things, nor unmindful of his threatening. He had never slumbered, but had carefully observed the course of events,

Micah 2:8 — imputeth not past sins, but those recent and, as it were, of yesterday.” “My people is risen up vehemently”. God upbraideth them tenderly by the title, “Mine own people,” as John complaineth, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” John 1:11. God became not their enemy, but they arose as one man, - “is risen up,” the whole of it, as His. In Him they might have had peace and joy and assured gladness, but they arose in rebellion against Him, requiting Him evil for good, (as bad Christians

Matthew 17:3 — proper that he should appear, when his prophecies and types were about to be fulfilled, and the rites which he had instituted were about to be done away. Elias, or Elijah, a distinguished prophet, taken to heaven without seeing death. See 2 Kings 2:11. Elijah had been honored eminently by being thus translated, and still more by being made the model of the forerunner of the Messiah, Malachi 4:5; Luke 1:17; Matthew 11:14. They appeared “in glory” Luke 9:31; i. e., as they are in heaven with the glory

Matthew 25:18 — as much as he did others, and they will therefore do nothing. These pleas are without foundation; because:God does not require us to do as much as those who have greater abilities; but this is not a reason why we should do nothing, 2 Corinthians 8:12. Any situation is honorable, and may be useful, where God has placed us; and though humble, yet in that we may do much good, 1 Corinthians 12:11-31. People of slender abilities may often do more good in the world than people of much greater talents.

Matthew 6:1 — margin, as in the best editions of the Greek it is “righteousness;” either referring to almsgiving as eminently a righteous act, or more probably including all that is specified in this and the following verses - almsgiving, prayer, fasting, Matthew 6:2-18. Our Saviour here does not positively command his disciples to aid the poor, but supposes that they would do it of course, and gives them directions how to do it. It is the nature of religion to help those who are really needy; and a real Christian