Bible Commentaries

Psalms 149:9 — execute upon them the judgment written - Either, that which is written in the law in general as what is threatened to wicked men; or, that which was written for their particular case, or which they were specifically commanded to do. Compare Deuteronomy 7:1-2; Deuteronomy 32:41-43. Most probably the reference is to some particular command in this case.This honor have all his saints - (a) It is an honor to engage in executing or carrying out the purposes of God. As it is an honor to be a magistrate, a

Psalms 87:5 — there; and it indicates(a) their conviction that it would be permanent; and(b) their desire that it might be: that a place so honored and distinguished might be perpetuated.The practical truths suggested by this verse, as applied to the church, are(1) that it is a privilege to have been born in connection with the Christian church; to have had a Christian parentage, and to have been early dedicated to God;(2) that the time will come when this will be a ground of commendation, or when it will be

Proverbs 6:1 — Surety - The “pledge,” or security for payment, which, for example, David was to bring back from his brothers 1 Samuel 17:18. So the word was used in the primitive trade transactions of the early Israelites.In the warnings against this suretyship, in the Book of Proverbs, we may trace the influence of contact with the Phoenicians. The merchants of Tyre and Zidon

Isaiah 1:9 — power or merit of theirs, but solely to the mercy of God. This passage the apostle Paul has used in an argument to establish the doctrine of divine sovereignty in the salvation of people; see the note at Romans 9:29.The Lord - Hebrew Yahweh. Note Isaiah 1:2.Of hosts - צבאות tsebâ'ôth - the word sometimes translated “Sabaoth”; Romans 9:29; James 5:4. The word means literally armies or military hosts. It is applied, however, to the angels which surround the throne of God; 1Ki 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18;

Isaiah 16:6 — that is, we “know” that he is proud. The evident design of the prophet here is, to say that Moab was so proud, and was well known to be so haughty, that he would “reject” this counsel. He would neither send the usual tribute to the land of Judea Isaiah 16:1, thus acknowledging his dependence on them; nor would he give protection to the exiled Jews as they should wander through his land, and “thus” endeavor to conciliate their favor, and secure their friendship. As a consequence of this, the prophet

Isaiah 18:7 — In that time - When shall thus be disconcerted, and their armies be overthrown.Shall the present be brought... - The word ‘present’ (שׁי shay) denotes a gift, and is found only in the phrase ‘to bring gifts,’ or ‘presents’ Psalms 68:30; Psalms 76:11. It means here evidently a tribute, or an offering to Yahweh as the only true God; and possibly may mean that the people would be converted to him, and embrace the true religion.Of a people ... - From a people. The description which follows is the

Isaiah 19:3 — And the spirit of Egypt - (see Isaiah 19:1). They shall be exhausted with their long internal contentions and strifes; and seeing no prospect of deliverance, and anxious that the turmoils should end, they shall seek counsel and refuge in their gods and necromancers, but in vain.Shall fail

Isaiah 19:4 — parallel member, also, a name in the singular number is used - ‘a fierce king;’ and as this evidently denotes the same, it follows that the word here is used to denote a single monarch. The plural form is often thus used in the Hebrew (see Psalms 7:10; Ezekiel 29:3; Hosea 12:1). God here claims jurisdiction over the nation, and says that “he” will do it - a most striking illustration of the power which he asserts over contending people to deliver them to whomsoever he will.Dr. Newton supposes that

Isaiah 22:6 — And Elam - The southern part of Persia, perhaps used here to denote Persia in general (see the note at Isaiah 21:2). Elam, or Persia, was at this time subject to Assyria, and their forces were united doubtless in the invasion of Judea.Bare the quiver - A ‘quiver’ is a case in which arrows are carried. This was usually hung upon the shoulders, and thus “borne”

Isaiah 25:5 — of “a song;” a song of praise, or a song of exultation, from a second signification of זמר zâmar, “to sing; perhaps” from the song with which the work of the vineyard was usually accompanied. See the verb used in this sense in Judges 5:3; Psalms 9:12; Psalms 30:5; Psalms 47:7; and the word which occurs here (zamir) used in the sense of a song in Psalms 119:54; 2 Samuel 23:1; Job 35:10. Here it is undoubtedly used in the sense of a song, meaning either a shout of victory or of revelry; and the idea

Isaiah 29:9 — these sins, of the judgments that must follow, and of the fact that there should yet be an extensive reformation, and turning to the Lord. The word rendered ‘stay yourselves’ (התמהמהוּ hı̂temahemehû) means properly “to linger,” tarry, delay Genesis 19:16; Genesis 43:10; 2 Samuel 15:28. Here it seems to denote that state of mind in which anyone is “fixed in astonishment;” in which one stops, and stares at some strange and unexpected occurrence. The object of amazement which the prophet supposes would

Isaiah 30:24 — - Hebrew, ‘Labouring,’ or ‘cultivating the ground,’ that is, plowing it. The Old English word “ear” (from the Latin aro) meant to till, to cultivate. The word is now obselete, but this is the sense which it has in the Bible Genesis 45:6; Exodus 34:21; Deu 21:4; 1 Samuel 8:12.Shall eat clean provender - Margin, ‘Leavened,’ or ‘savory.’ The word rendered ‘provender’ (בליל belı̂yl) is a verbal from בלל bâlal, “to mix, mingle, confuse;” and denotes provender that is made by “mixing” various substances,

Isaiah 33:1 — thee that spoilest - This description accords entirely with Sennacherib and his army, who had plundered the cities and countries which they had invaded, and who were about to advance to Jerusalem for the same purpose (compare Isaiah 29:7-8; Isaiah 37:11).And thou wast not spoiled - That is, thou hadst not been plundered by the Jews against whom thou art coming. It was because the war was so unprovoked and unjust, that God would bring so signal vengeance on them.And dealest treacherously - (See the

Isaiah 33:15 — prospect of reward.That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood - This is the fifth characteristic. It means, evidently, he who does not listen to a proposal to shed blood, or to any scheme of violence, and robbery, and murder (see the note at Isaiah 1:15).And shutteth his eyes from seeing evil - He does not desire to see it; he is not found in the places where it is committed. A righteous man should not only have no part in evil, but he will keep himself if possible from being a witness of it. A

Isaiah 34:5 — For my sword shall be bathed in heaven - A sword is an instrument of vengeance, and is often so used in the Scriptures, because it was often employed in capital punishments (see the note at Isaiah 27:1). This passage bas given much perplexity to commentators, on account of the apparent want of meaning of the expression that the sword would be bathed in heaven. Lowth reads it: For my sword is made bare in the heavens;Following in this the Chaldee which

Isaiah 35:6 — Then shall the lame man leap - This was literally fulfilled after the coming of the Messiah Acts 14:10; Acts 3:8. It is an emblem of the general joy which the coming of the Messiah would impart, and is an instance of the blessings which it would convey.As an hart - The word used here denotes the stag, or male deer. In Arabic it denotes the wild,

Isaiah 44:2 — Thus saith the Lord that made thee - (See the note at Isaiah 43:1).And formed thee from the womb - This is equivalent to the declaration that he was their Maker, or Creator. It means, that from the very beginning of their history as a people, he had formed and moulded all their institutions, and directed all things

Isaiah 50:8 — it is a solemn call, on any who would dare to oppose him, to enter into a trial, and allege the accusations against him before the tribunal of a holy God.Let us stand together - Before the seat of judgment as in a court (compare the note at Isaiah 41:1).Who is mine adversary? - Margin, ‘Who is the master of my cause?’ The Hebrew is ‘Lord (בעל ba‛al) of judgment.’ The expression means not merely one who has a lawsuit, or a cause, but one who is ‘lord of the judgment,’ i. e, possessor of the cause,

Isaiah 9:3 — was commonly gathered amid songs and rejoicings, and concluded with a festival. The phrase ‘before thee’ refers to the fact that the first-fruits of the harvest among the Hebrews were presented with thanksgiving before God in the temple; Deuteronomy 12:7; Deuteronomy 14:22-26.And as men rejoice ... - This is also an expression of great joy and rejoicing. Such an occasion, at the close of a battle, when great spoil or plunder had been taken, would be one of great rejoicing; see Judges 5:30; 1 Samuel

Isaiah 9:4 — derived from the nature of the prophetic visions, where that is described as past which is seen to pass before the eyes of the prophet; see the Introduction, section 7.The yoke - This word is often used to denote oppression, or tyranny; Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 28:48 - where oppression is described as ‘an iron yoke;’ compare 1 Kings 12:4; Isaiah 47:6; Isaiah 58:6.The staff of his shoulder - The word rendered staff here may mean a bough, a branch, a staff, stick, or rod. Gesenius supposes that