Bible Commentaries

Psalms 120:1 — 134:0, fifteen in number, are called Psalms of Degrees; for thus the Hebrew title המעלות hammaaloth is generally translated, as coming from the root עלה alah, to ascend or mount upwards. Hence מעלות maaloth, steps or stairs for ascending, 1 Kings 10:19-20; 2 Kings 9:13. But as the word may be applied to elevation in general, hence some have thought that it may here signify the elevation of voice; "these Psalms being sung with the highest elevations of voice and music." Others have thought the word

Psalms 139:1 — PSALM CXXXIX A fine account of the omniscience of God, 1-6; of his omnipresence, 7-12; of his power and providence, 13-16. The excellence of his purposes, 17, 18. His opposition to the wicked, 19, 20; with whom the godly can have no fellowship, 21, 22. NOTES ON PSALM CXXXIXThe title of this Psalm in the Hebrew is, To the chief Musician, or, To the Conqueror, A Psalm of David. The Versions in general follow the Hebrew. And yet, notwithstanding

Psalms 42:1 — PSALM XLII The psalmist earnestly longs for the ordinances of the Lord's house, 1-4; describes his deep distress, 5-7; endeavours to take comfort from the consideration that the Lord would appear in his behalf, 8, 9; speaks of the insults of his enemies, 10; and again takes encouragement, 11. NOTES ON PSALM XLIIThe title, To the chief Musician giving instruction to the sons of Korah. This is the first of the Psalms that has this title prefixed, and it is probable

Psalms 62:1 — PSALM LXII David, in imminent danger, flees to God for help and safety, 1, 2; points out the designs of his adversaries, 3, 4; encourages his soul to wait on God, 5-8; shows the vanity of trusting in man, and of trusting in riches, 9, 10; and concludes with asserting that power and mercy belong to God, and that he will give to every man according to his works, 11, 12. NOTES ON PSALM LXIIThe title, "To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun," may mean that the Psalm was sent to him who

Psalms 63:1 — soul thirsts after God, while absent from the sanctuary, and longs to be restored to the Divine ordinances, 1, 2. He expresses strong confidence in the Most High, and praises him for his goodness, 3-8; shows the misery of those who do not seek God, 9, 10; and his own safety as king of the people, 11. NOTES ON PSALM LXIIIThe title of this Psalm is, A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judea; but instead of Judea, the Vulgate, Septuagint, AEthiopic, Arabic, several of the ancient Latin

Psalms 83:18 — a wood or forest in a state of general conflagration, Psalms 83:14. 4. Of a flame that even consumes the mountains, Psalms 83:14.Their fall and ruin he wished to be - 1. Speedy and perpetual: "Do unto them as unto the Midianites," &c., Psalms 83:9-13.2. Sudden and violent: "As fire," Psalms 83:13.3. Terrible and shameful: "Fill their faces with shame," Psalms 83:15-16.There are here three particulars of their punishment: 1. Flight. 2. Terror. 3. Shame and ignominy.IV. The charitable ends proposed.

Proverbs 9:1 — plot of the whole, with all the requisite elevations and specifications of materials, comes to show us, in this part, that the whole has been constructed on this plan; and specifies the end for which this august building has been raised.Verse Proverbs 9:1. Wisdom hath builded her house — The eternal counsel of God has framed the universe.She hath hewn out her seven pillars — Every thing has been so constructed as to exhibit a scene of grandeur, stability, and durableness.

Proverbs 9:5 — Verse Proverbs 9:5. Come, eat of my bread — Not only receive my instructions, but act according to my directions.Drink of the wine - I have mingled. — Enter into my counsels; be not contented with superficial knowledge on any subject, where any thing deeper

Isaiah 1:7 — Verse Isaiah 1:7-9. Your country is desolate — The description of the ruined and desolate state of the country in these verses does not suit with any part of the prosperous times of Uzziah and Jotham. It very well agrees with the time of Ahaz, when Judea was ravaged

Isaiah 40:9 — Verse Isaiah 40:9. O Zion, that bringest good tidings - "O daughter, that bringest glad tidings to Zion"] That the true construction of the sentence is this, which makes Zion the receiver, not the publisher, of the glad tidings, which latter has been the most prevailing

Isaiah 64:4 — Verse Isaiah 64:4. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard - "For never have men heard"] St. Paul is generally supposed to have quoted this passage of Isaiah, Isaiah 64:1; Isaiah 2:9; and Clemens Romanus in his first epistle has made the same quotation, very nearly in the same words with the apostle. But the citation is so very different both from the Hebrew text and the version of the Septuagint, that it seems very difficult, if

Haggai 2:7 — who are acquainted with the genius and construction of the Hebrew language. Bp. Chandler thinks that בא, he came, cannot be used of things, but of persons only. Here he is widely mistaken, for it is used of days perpetually; and of the ark, 2 Samuel 6:9; and of mounts coming against Jerusalem, Jeremiah 32:24; and of trees coming to adorn the temple, Isaiah 60:13; and of silver and gold coming into the temple, Joshua 6:19; and Jeremiah 6:20, Why doth incense come to me? See Abp. Secker's notes. I cannot

Matthew 16:18 — earthly, takes occasion from the name, the metaphorical meaning of which was strength and stability, to point out the solidity of the confession, and the stability of that cause which should be founded on THE CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD. Luke 9:62.Upon this very rock, επι ταυτη τη πετρα - this true confession of thine - that I am THE MESSIAH, that am come to reveal and communicate THE LIVING GOD, that the dead, lost world may be saved - upon this very rock, myself, thus confessed (alluding

Matthew 25:35 — Verse 35. I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat — Every thing which is done to a follower of Christ, whether it be good or evil, he considers as done to himself, see Matthew 25:40; Acts 9:4-5; Hebrews 6:10. Of all the fruits of the Spirit, none are mentioned here but those that spring from love, or mercy; because these give men the nearest conformity to God. Jesus had said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy; and he

Matthew 6:24 — hating to degrees of inclusion and exclusion, in which neither the justice nor mercy of God are honoured!Ye cannot serve God and mammon. — ממון mamon is used for money in the Targum of Onkelos, Exodus 18:21; and in that of Jonathan, Judges 5:19; 1 Samuel 8:3. The Syriac word ממונא mamona is used in the same sense, Exodus 21:30. Dr. Castel deduces these words from the Hebrew אמן aman, to trust, confide; because men are apt to trust in riches. Mammon may therefore be considered any thing a man

Luke 1:1 — THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. -Usherian year of the World, 3999. -Alexandrian year of the World, 5497. -Antiochian year of the World, 5487. -Constantinopolitan AEra of the World, 5503. -Rabbinical year of the World, 3754. -Year of the Julian Period, 4708. -AEra of the Seleucidae, 307. -Year before the Christian

John 1:9 — Verse John 1:9. Which lighteth every man — As Christ is the Spring and Fountain of all wisdom, so all the wisdom that is in man comes from him; the human intellect is a ray from his brightness; and reason itself springs from this Logos, the eternal reason. Some

John 10:3 — discover the second mark of a true minister-his labour is crowned with success. The Holy Spirit opens his way into the hearts of his hearers, and he becomes the instrument of their salvation. See Colossians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Revelation 3:8.The sheep hear his voice — A third mark of a good shepherd is that he speaks so as to instruct the people - the sheep hear HIS voice; he does not take the fat and the fleece, and leave another hireling on less pay to do the work

John 9:41 — Verse John 9:41. If ye were blind — If ye had not had sufficient opportunities to have acquainted yourselves with my Divine nature, by the unparalleled miracles which I have wrought before you? and the holy doctrine which I have preached, then your rejecting

Acts 2:9 — Verse Acts 2:9. Parthians — Parthia anciently included the northern part of modern Persia: it was situated between the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf, rather to the eastward of both.Medes — Media was a country lying in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea; having