Bible Commentaries

Nehemiah 4:7 — Verse Nehemiah 4:7. The walls of Jerusalem were made up — That is, they were made up to the half height of the wall; for the preceding verse seems to intimate that the whole wall was thus far built; not half of the wall completed, but the whole wall built to half its height.

Job 20:6 — Verse Job 20:6. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens — Probably referring to the original state of Adam, of whose fall he appears to have spoken, Job 20:4. He was created in the image of God; but by his sin against his Maker he fell into wretchedness, misery, death, and destruction.

Job 41:4 — Verse Job 41:4. Will he make a covenant — Canst thou hire him as thou wouldst a servant, who is to be so attached to thy family as to have his ear bored, that he may abide in thy house for ever? Is not this an allusion to the law, Exodus 21:1-6?

Psalms 139:4 — Verse Psalms 139:4. There is not a word in my tongue — Although (כי ki) there be not a word in my tongue, behold O Jehovah, thou knowest the whole of it, that is, thou knowest all my words before they are uttered, as thou knowest all my thoughts while as yet they are unformed.

Psalms 144:3 — Verse Psalms 144:3. Lord, what is man — Psalms 8:4; "Psalms 8:5". What is Adam, that thou approvest of him? Can he do any thing worthy of thy notice? Or the son of feeble perishing man, that thou shouldest hold him in repute? What care, love, and attention, dost thou lavish upon him!

Psalms 21:4 — Verse Psalms 21:4. He asked life of thee — This verse has caused some interpreters to understand the Psalm of Hezekiah's sickness, recovery, and the promised addition to his life of fifteen years; but it may be more literally understood of the Messiah, of whom David was the type, and in several respects the representative.

Psalms 93:4 — Verse Psalms 93:4. The Lord - is mightier than the noise of many waters — Greater in strength than all the peoples and nations that can rise up against him.Mighty waves of the sea. — Even the most powerful empires can prevail nothing against him; therefore those who trust in him have nothing to fear.

Ecclesiastes 1:4 — Verse Ecclesiastes 1:4. One generation passeth away — Men succeed each other in unceasing generations: but the earth is still the same; it undergoes no change that leads to melioration, or greater perfection. And it will continue the same לעולם leolam, during the whole course of time; till the end of all things arrives.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 — Verse Ecclesiastes 3:4. A time to weep, - laugh, - mourn, - dance — _________________ "When private griefs affect The heart, our tears with decent sorrow flow; Nor less becoming, when the public mourns, To vent the deepest sighs. But all around When things a smiling aspect bear, our souls May well exult; 'tis then a time for joy."

Joel 2:7 — Verse 7. Like mighty men-like men of war (and as horsemen, Joel 2:4)] The prophet does not say they are such, but they resemble. They are locusts; but in their operations they are LIKE the above.They shall not break their ranks — See the account on Joel 2:2, from Dr. Shaw.

Amos 4:9 — Verse Amos 4:9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew — He sent blasting and mildew on the crops, and the locust on the gardens, vineyards, and fields; and this in such a way as to show it was a Divine judgment. They saw this; "yet they did not return to the Lord!"

Micah 4:10 — Verse Micah 4:10. There shalt thou be delivered — There God shall meet thee; and by redeeming thee from thy captivity, bringing thee back to thine own land, and finally converting thee unto himself, shall deliver thee from the burden of grief and wo which thou now bearest, and under which thou dost groan.

Zechariah 9:10 — Verse Zechariah 9:10. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem — No wars shall be employed to spread the kingdom of the Messiah; for it shall be founded and established, "not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts," Zechariah 4:6.

Matthew 24:4 — Verse Matthew 24:4. Take heed that no man deceive you. — The world is full of deceivers, and it is only by taking heed to the counsel of Christ that even his followers can escape being ruined by them. From this to Matthew 24:31, our Lord mentions the signs which should precede his coming.

Luke 3:5 — Verse Luke 3:5. Every valley shall be filled — All hinderances shall be taken out of the way: a quotation from the Greek version of Isaiah 40:4, containing an allusion to the preparations made in rough countries to facilitate the march of mighty kings and conquerors. See the instance produced on Matthew 3:3.

Acts 8:4 — Verse Acts 8:4. They that were scattered - went every where preaching — Thus the very means devised by Satan to destroy the Church became the very instruments of its diffusion and establishment. What are counsel, or might, or cunning, or rage, or malice, against the Lord, whether they are excited by men or devils!

Hebrews 10:4 — Verse Hebrews 10:4. For it is not possible — Common sense must have taught them that shedding the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy Divine justice, nor take away guilt from the conscience; and God intended that they should understand the matter so: and this the following quotation from the Psalmist sufficiently proves.

Hebrews 7:13 — Verse Hebrews 7:13. For he of whom these things are spoken — That is, Jesus the Messiah, spoken of in Psalms 110:4, who came, not from the tribe of Levi, but from the tribe of Judah, of which tribe no priest ever ministered at a Jewish altar, nor could minister according to the law.

1 John 4:2 — Verse 1 John 4:2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God — We know that the man who teaches that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, and that he is come in the flesh, is of God-is inspired by the Divine Spirit; for no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

Revelation 4:10 — Verse Revelation 4:10. Cast their crowns before the throne — Acknowledge the infinite supremacy of God, and that they have derived their being and their blessings from him alone. This is an allusion to the custom of prostrations in the east, and to the homage of petty kings acknowledging the supremacy of the emperor.