Bible Commentaries

Genesis 38:5 — Verse Genesis 38:5. And he was at Chezib when she bare him. — This town is supposed to be the same with Achzib, which fell to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:44. "The name," says Ainsworth, "has in Hebrew the signification of lying; and to it the prophet alludes, saying the houses of Achzib shall be (Achzab) a lie to the kings of Israel, Micah 1:14."

Exodus 2:21 — Verse Exodus 2:21. Zipporah his daughter. — Abul Farajius calls her "Saphura the black, daughter of Rewel the Midianite, the son of Dedan, the son of Abraham by his wife Keturah." The Targum calls her the granddaughter of Reuel. It appears that Moses obtained Zipporah something in the same way that Jacob obtained Rachel; namely, for the performance of certain services, probably keeping of sheep: see Exodus 3:1.

Leviticus 4:6 — Verse Leviticus 4:6. Seven times — Exodus 29:30. The blood of this sacrifice was applied in three different ways:1. The priest put his finger in it, and sprinkled it seven times before the veil, Leviticus 4:6.2. He put some of it on the horns of the altar of incense.3. He poured the remaining part at the bottom of the altar of burnt-offerings, Leviticus 4:7.

Luke 1:38 — Verse 38. Behold the handmaid of the Lord — I fully credit what thou sayest, and am perfectly ready to obey thy commands, and to accomplish all the purposes of thy grace concerning me. It appears that at the instant of this act of faith, and purposed obedience, the conception of the immaculate humanity of Jesus took place; and it was DONE unto her according to his word. See Luke 1:35.

Luke 1:57 — Verse 57. Now Elisabeth's full time came, &c.] But, according to others, we are to understand the three months of Mary's visit as preceding the birth of John, which would complete the time of Elisabeth's pregnancy, according to Luke 1:36, and the only difficulty is to ascertain whether Mary went immediately to Hebron after her salutation, or whether she tarried nearly three months before she took the journey.

Luke 5:12 — Verse Luke 5:12. A certain city — This was some city of Galilee; probably Chorazin or Bethsaida.A man full of leprosy — See this disease, and the cure, largely explained on Matthew 8:2-4; and see it particularly applied to the use of public preaching, Mark 1:40, &c. See also the notes on Leviticus 13:0, and Leviticus 14:0.Leviticus 13:1ff, Leviticus 14:1ff

Luke 5:17 — Verse Luke 5:17. On a certain day — This was when he was at Capernaum. See Mark 2:1.The power of the Lord — Δυναμις Κυριου The mighty or miraculous power of the Lord, i.e. of Jesus, was there to heal them - as many as were diseased either in body or soul. Where the teaching of Christ is, there also is the power of Christ to redeem and save.

John 16:25 — Verse 25. In Proverbs — That is, words which, besides their plain, literal meaning, have another, viz. a spiritual or figurative one. I have represented heavenly things to you through the medium of earthly.The time cometh — viz. the interval from his resurrection to his ascension, which consisted of forty days, during which he instructed his disciples in the most sublime mysteries and truths of his kingdom. Acts 1:3.

Acts 20:33 — Verse 33. I have coveted no man's silver, c.] And from this circumstance they would be able to discover the grievous wolves, and the perverters for these had nothing but their own interests in view; whereas the genuine disciples of Christ neither coveted nor had worldly possessions. St. Paul's account of his own disinterestedness is very similar to that given by Samuel of his, 1 Samuel 12:3-5.

Romans 1:24 — Verse 24. God-gave them up, c.] They had filled up the measure of their iniquities, and God, by permitting them to plunge into all manner of irregularities, thus, by one species of sin, inflicted punishment on another.Dishonour their own bodies — Probably alluding here to what is more openly expressed, Romans 1:26-27.Between themselves — ενεαυτοις, Of themselves, of their own free accord none inciting, none impelling.

1 Corinthians 10:15 — Verse 1 Corinthians 10:15. I speak as to wise men — The Corinthians valued themselves not a little on their wisdom and various gifts; the apostle admits this, and draws an argument from it against themselves. As ye are so wise, surely ye can see the propriety of abominating idolatry of every kind: for an idol is nothing in the world, and can do nothing for you and nothing against you.

1 Corinthians 2:5 — Verse 1 Corinthians 2:5. That your faith should not stand — That the illumination of your souls and your conversion to God might appear to have nothing human in it: your belief, therefore, of the truths which have been proposed to you is founded, not in human wisdom, but in Divine power: human wisdom was not employed; and human power, if it had been employed, could not have produced the change.

1 Corinthians 5:10 — Verse 1 Corinthians 5:10. For then must ye needs go out of the world. — What an awful picture of the general corruption of manners does this exhibit! The Christians at Corinth could not transact the ordinary affairs of life with any others than with fornicators, covetous persons, extortioners, railers, drunkards, and idolaters, because there were none others in the place! How necessary was Christianity in that city!

Joshua 24:2 — Verse Joshua 24:2. On the other side of the flood — The river Euphrates.They served other gods. — Probably Abraham as well as Terah his father was an idolater, till he received the call of God to leave that land. See on Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:1. And for the rest of the history referred to here, see the notes on the parallel passages in the margin.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 — Verse 9. Touching brotherly love — They were remarkable for this; and though the apostle appears to have had this as a topic on which he intended to write to them, yet, from the account which he received of their prosperous state by Timothy, he finds that it is unnecessary to spend any time in inculcating a doctrine which they fully understood and practised. See 1 Thessalonians 3:6.

Philemon 1:13 — Verse Philemon 1:13. That in thy stead he might have ministered unto me — As Philemon was one of Paul's converts, he became thereby his spiritual father, and had a right to his services when in need. This was a strong argument, not only to induce Philemon to forgive his servant, but to send him back to the apostle, that he might minister to him in his master's stead.

1 Peter 4:2 — Verse 1 Peter 4:2. That he no longer should live - in the flesh — Governed by the base principle of giving up his faith to save his life; to the lusts of men-according to the will of his idolatrous persecutors; but to the will of God; which will of God is, that he should retain the truth, and live according to its dictates, though he should suffer for it.

1 Peter 4:4 — Verse 1 Peter 4:4. They think it strange — ξενιζονται. They wonder and are astonished at you, that ye can renounce these gratifications of the flesh for a spiritual something, the good of which they cannot

Judges 7:24 — Verse Judges 7:24. Take before them the waters unto Beth-barah — This is probably the same place as that mentioned John 1:28, where the Hebrews forded Jordan under the direction of Joshua. To this place the Midianites directed their flight that they might escape into their own country; and here, being met by the Ephraimites, they appear to have been totally overthrown, and their two generals taken.

Ruth 1:17 — Verse Ruth 1:17. The Lord do so to me, and more — May he inflict any of those punishments on me, and any worse punishment, if I part from thee till death. And it appears that she was true to her engagement; for Naomi was nourished in the house of Boaz in her old age, and became the fosterer and nurse of their son Obed, Ruth 4:15-16.