Bible Commentaries

Psalms 103:15 — his days!” The thought is fixed on man: man so frail and weak; man, not only made originally of earth, but man delicate, feeble, soon to pass away like the springing grass, or like the fading flower.His days are as grass - See the notes at Psalms 90:5-6; compare Isaiah 40:6-8, notes; 1 Peter 1:24, note.As a flower of the field - As a blossom. It opens with beauty and fragrance, but soon fades and perishes.So he flourisheth - Rather, “So he blossoms.” That is, he is like a flower that is fresh and

Psalms 106:2 — human language must fall immeasurably short of adequately expressing the praises of Yahweh, or conveying the fullness of what he has done. Who has not felt this when he has endeavored to praise God in a proper manner? Compare the notes at Psalms 40:5.Who can shew forth all his praise - Hebrew, “Cause to be heard.” That is, Language cannot be found which would cause “it to be heard” in a suitable manner.

Psalms 106:3 — to illustrate this “by contrast;” that is, by showing, in the conduct of the Hebrew people, the consequences of “disobedience,” and thus impliedly what would have been, and what always must be, the consequences of the opposite course. Compare Psalms 15:1-5.

Psalms 119:57 — Thou art my portion, O Lord - This begins a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Cheth (ח ch), which may be represented in English by “ch.” On the meaning of the language here, see the notes at Psalms 16:5. God was to him what other people seek in wealth, honor, pleasure, fame. To him, God was all and in all. He asked nothing else.I have said - I have formed the purpose, and have expressed it. It is the deliberate and settled design of my life.That I

Psalms 128:6 — children - This is a continuation of the idea of blessedness as connected with a numerous posterity - an object of so much interest to the Hebrews (see the notes at Psalms 128:3), and having its foundation in our nature.And peace upon Israel - See Psalms 125:5. As the crowning blessing; a blessing above that of success in worldly affairs; above that of seeing a numerous and happy posterity. The love of God is the supreme affection in the mind of a pious man; the desire that his cause may prosper and triumph

Psalms 135:4 — among all the people of the earth as especially his own. He had chosen them; he had redeemed them; he had made them his own, and he regarded them with the interest with which anyone looks on his own property, the fruit of his own toil. See Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 32:9; 1 Kings 8:53.

Psalms 149:1 — new and a special occasion for praise. This would be so if the psalm was composed on the return from the exile; on the rebuilding of the city; and on the re-dedication of the temple. On the meaning of the language, see Psalms 33:3, note; Revelation 5:9, note; Revelation 14:3, note; see also Psalms 96:1; Isaiah 42:10.And his praise in the congregation of saints - In the assembly of the people of God. See Psalms 148:14, note; Psalms 111:1, note.

Psalms 89:18 — For the Lord is our defense - Margin, “Our shield is of the Lord.” The original word rendered “defense,” is shield. Compare Psalms 5:12, note; Psalms 33:20, note; Psalms 59:11, note. The meaning is, that protection was to be found in God alone. The true construction of this verse is, “For to Yahweh (belongs) our shield, and to the Holy One of Israel our king.” That is, All that they

Isaiah 13:9 — means that God would not spare them. The effect would be that the inhabitants of Babylon would be destroyed.Fierce anger - Hebrew, (חרון אף 'aph chărôn) ‘A glow, or burning of anger.’ The phrase denotes the most intense indignation (compare Numbers 25:4; Numbers 32:14; 1 Samuel 28:18).To lay the land desolate - Chaldea, Isaiah 13:5.

Isaiah 14:25 — Assyrian - Sennacherib (see Isaiah 10:0.)In my land - That is, in the land of Canaan. This is often called his land; and this expression shows that the passage does not and cannot refer to the king of Babylon, for he was destroyed in his own city Daniel 5:0)And upon my mountains - That is, upon the mountains of Palestine. The army of Sennacherib was destroyed on the mountains that were near to Jerusalem (see the notes at Isaiah 10:33-34).Then shall his yoke - The yoke of the Assyrian (see the note at

Isaiah 37:28 — But I know - The language of God. ‘I am well acquainted with all that pertains to you. You neither go out to war, nor return, nor abide in your capital without my providential direction’ (see the notes at Isaiah 10:5-7).Thy abode - Margin, ‘Sitting.’ Among the Hebrews, sitting down, rising up, and going out, were phrases to describe the whole of a man’s life and actions (compare Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 28:6; 1 Kings 3:7; Psalms 121:8). God here says that he

Isaiah 41:20 — the apocryphal book of Baruch there is an expression respecting the return from Babylon remarkably similar to that which is used here by Isaiah: ‘Even the woods and every sweet-smelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God’ Isaiah 5:8.

Jeremiah 2:21 — A noble vine - Properly, a Sorek vine (see Isaiah 5:2), which produced a red wine Proverbs 23:31, and had a lasting reputation Genesis 49:11.A right seed - literally, “a seed of truth,” i. e., true, genuine seed, not mixed with weeds, nor with seed of an inferior quality. Compare Matthew 13:24.How then

Jeremiah 6:4 — her. War in ancient times was never undertaken without religions solemnities (see Deuteronomy 20:2 note). For some of these compare Ezekiel 21:21-23.At noon - The mid-day heat is so great in the East as to be usually passed under shelter 2 Samuel 4:5; Song of Solomon 1:7. The morning-march of an army was made fasting, and was usually over by eight or nine. But so great is the impatience of the Chaldeans for the assault that they cry, “we will make the assault at noon!”Woe unto us! - Or,Alas for

Ezekiel 19:4-9 — Chains - See the marginal rendering to Ezekiel 19:9 and Isaiah 27:9, note.Ezekiel 19:5Another - Jehoiachin who soon showed himself no less unworthy than Jehoahaz. The “waiting” of the people was during the absence of their rightful lord Jehoahaz, a captive in Egypt while Jehoiakim, whom they deemed an usurper, was on the throne. It was

Luke 17:12 — There met him - They were in his way, or in his path, as he was entering the village. They were not allowed to enter the village while they were afflicted with the leprosy, Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2-3.Lepers - See the notes at Matthew 8:2.Stood afar off - At a distance, as they were required by law. They were unclean, and it was not lawful for them to come near to those who were in health. As Jesus was traveling, they were also walking in the

Luke 3:11 — “nature” of religion is to do good. This requires self-denial, and none will deny themselves who are not attached to God. And, This is to imitate Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. Coats - See the notes at Matthew 5:40.Meat - Provision of any kind.

John 10:11 — remain to protect them. To give his life, here, means the same as not to fly, or to forsake his flock; to be willing to expose his life, if necessary, to defend them. Compare Judges 12:3; “I put my life in my hands and passed over,” etc.; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 28:21. See John 10:15. The Messiah was often predicted under the character of a shepherd.

Acts 12:8 — about thee - The outer garment, that was thrown loosely around the shoulders. It was nearly square, and was laid aside when they slept, or worked, or ran. The direction was that he should dress himself in his usual apparel. See the notes on Matthew 5:38-42.

Acts 24:12 — And they neither found me ... - The first charge of Tertullus against Paul was Acts 24:5 that he was “a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition.” The charge of his being a Test was so general that Paul did not think it necessary to attempt to refute it. To the specification that he was a mover of sedition, he replies by a firm denial,