Bible Commentaries

Job 15:29 — however, to its being regarded as meaning possessions - and then the sense is, that he would fail in that which is so much the object of ambition with every avaricious man - that his possessions should extend through the land; compare the notes at Isaiah 5:8.

Job 20:27 — Probably the meaning is, that the divine dispensations toward such a man - the overwhelming calamities which he would experience, would show what he was. The word “heaven” is not unfrequently put for God himself. Daniel 4:23, “the heavens do rule.” Luke 15:21, “I have sinned against heaven.”The earth shall rise up against him - Calamities from the earth. The course of events here. Want of success - sterility of soil - blight and mildew, would rise up against such a man and show what he was. His real character

Job 5:22 — perfectly safe and happy. They shall not come upon thee; and when they approach with threatening aspect, thou shalt smile with conscious security. The word here rendered famine (כפן kâphân) is an unusual word, and differs from that occurring in Job 5:20, רעב râ‛âb. This word is derived from כפן kâphan - to languish, to pine from hunger and thirst. It then means the languid and feeble state which exists where there is a lack of proper nutriment. A sentiment similar to that which is here expressed

Job 9:22 — are cut off are especially guilty, and long prosperity is no evidence that a man is holy. Calamity, by fire and flood, on a steamboat, or in the pestilence, does not demonstrate the unusual and eminent wickedness of those who suffer (compare Luke 13:1-5), nor should those who escape from such calamities infer that of necessity they are the objects of the divine favor.

Psalms 102:2 — 10:1; compare Psalms 13:1; Psalms 27:9; Job 13:24; Job 34:29; Deuteronomy 31:17.In the day when I am in trouble - When sorrows come upon me; when I need thy gracious help. Literally, “When there is distress to me.”Incline thine ear unto me - See Psalms 5:1, note; Psalms 17:6, note; compare Psalms 17:1; Psalms 55:1; Psalms 86:6; Psalms 39:12.In the day when I call, answer me speedily - Grant at once my requests; give me immediate evidence that my prayer is heard. The psalmist believed in an immediate

Psalms 102:28 — expectation of the psalmist that, as God was unchangeable, all his promises toward his people would be fulfilled, even though the heavens and the earth should pass away. God was the same. His word would not fail. His promises were sure. Compare Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35. The word rendered “continue,” means to dwell, as in a habitation; then, to abide. It stands opposed to a wandering, nomadic life, and indicates permanency.And their seed shall be established before thee - The word used here means

Psalms 104:16 — - as the expression “mountains of God” means great and lofty mountains - as if they seemed to “approach” God, or as if no appellation would so well describe their nature as that which was derived from the Infinite One. See Psalms 36:6, note; Psalms 65:9, note; Psalms 80:10, note.Are full of sap - The word so rendered means merely to be full, to be saturated - the words “of sap” being supplied by the translators. The idea is, that, lofty as they are, they are abundantly supplied with that which is

Psalms 118:17 — object; that he would be protected; that he would live to declare what God had done for him. He does not say how he had this assurance, but there is no impropriety in supposing that he had it, as Hezekiah had in similar circumstances (see Isaiah 38:5-8, Isaiah 38:21), by a direct divine intimation. Things like this are not uncommon now, when, in danger or in sickness, the mind is strongly impressed with the belief that there will be a restoration to health and safety, and when the mind is made calm

Psalms 119:147 — I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried - I anticipated it; I rose up to pray before the morning dawned. On the word “prevent,” see the notes at 1 Thessalonians 4:15; notes at Psalms 21:3; notes at Psalms 59:10; notes at Psalms 79:8. The meaning here is, that he rose up before the dawn, to pray. Thus the Saviour did, Mark 1:35.(a) It is proper thus to pray, for our earliest thoughts should be those of devotion;

Psalms 125:5 — As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways - The wicked. Those who leave the right or straight path, and wander in forbidden ways. The word here rendered “crooked ways” occurs nowhere else except in Judges 5:6, where it is rendered “by-ways,” meaning unfrequented paths or roads; narrow and crooked paths, remote from the highways, or the ways commonly traversed. Hence, the word means also paths of sin - as deviations from the straight road which man should

Psalms 150:1 — 1:6. It properly means an expanse - a thing spread out. The verb from which the word is derived means to beat; then, to beat out - that is, to spread out by beating, as gold is; and then, simply to spread out, to expand. Compare Psalms 136:6; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24. In Syriac the word means to make firm; but this idea is not necessarily in the Hebrew word. The idea of a firmament as something firm is derived from the Septuagint - in Genesis 1:6, στερέωμα stereōma - in this place, ἐν στερεώματι

Psalms 150:5 — like a dish, producing, when two are struck gether, a sharp, ringing sound - Webster. An instrument of this kind is evidently referred to here. The word occurs in the Bible in the following places only: Deuteronomy 28:42, rendered locust; 2 Samuel 6:5, rendered, as here, cymbal; Job 41:7, rendered fish-spears; and Isaiah 18:1, rendered shadowing with.Praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals - The cymbals of joyful voice. On the word teruah, rendered high, see the notes at Psalms 89:16. A loud, lofty

Psalms 23:2 — flocks and herds lie down for repose. The word rendered in the margin “tender grass” - דשׁא deshe' - refers to the first shoots of vegetation from the earth - young herbage - tender grass - as clothing the meadows, and as delicate food for cattle, Job 6:5. It differs from ripe grass ready for mowing, which is expressed by a different word - חציר châtsı̂yr. The idea is that of calmness and repose, as suggested by the image of flocks “lying down on the grass.” But this is not the only idea. It is that

Psalms 33:12 — - Chosen to be “His;” or, His portion. The primary reference here is undoubtedly to the Hebrew people, called his “inheritance:” Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 9:26; Deuteronomy 32:9; Psalms 74:2; Psalms 78:62, Psalms 78:71; or “heritage,” Psalms 94:5; Jeremiah 12:7, Jeremiah 12:9; but what is here affirmed of that people is true also of all other people who worship the true God.

Psalms 39:11 — destroyed, as the texture of cloth is by the moth.Surely every man is vanity - That is, he is seen to be vanity - to have no strength, no permanency - by the ease with which God takes away all on which he had prided himself. See the notes at Psalms 39:5.

Psalms 45:17 — die away; and in all the eternity beyond the termination of this world’s history there never will arrive a period when thy name will not be honored, and when thy praises shall cease to be sung. Compare the notes at Revelation 4:10; notes at Revelation 5:9-13. Happy are they who join in that song on earth; happy they who will unite in it in the heavenly world!

Psalms 77:6 — I call to remembrance my song in the night - Compare Job 35:10, note; Psalms 42:8, note. The word here rendered “song” - נגינה negı̂ynâh - means properly the music of stringed instruments, Lamentations 5:14; Isaiah 38:20; then, a stringed instrument. It is the word which we have so often in the titles to the

Psalms 88:3 — the grave, or the abode of the dead. He was about to die. Unless he found relief he must go down to the abodes of the dead. The Hebrew word rendered life is in the plural number, as in Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:14, Genesis 3:17; Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:15; et al. Why the plural was used as applicable to life cannot now be known with certainty. It may have been to accord with the fact that man has two kinds of life; the animal life - or life in common with the inferior creation; and intellectual, or higher

Psalms 99:5 — majesty of God, the earth itself is represented as being merely his footstool; as being, in comparison with the heaven - the place of his seat - his “throne,” only as the footstool is as compared with the splendid chair of state. Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34-35.For he is holy - See Psalms 99:3. Margin, “it is holy.” The translation in the text best expresses the sense. The fact that God is “holy” is a reason for lowly and profound prostration before him.

Proverbs 4:4-20 — The counsel which has come to him, in substance, from his father. Compare it with 2 Samuel 23:2 etc.; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 15:1-5; Psalms 24:1-10; Psalms 37:0.Proverbs 4:7Or, “The beginning of wisdom is - get wisdom.” To seek is to find, to desire is to obtain.Proverbs 4:12The ever-recurring parable of the journey of life. In the way of wisdom the path is clear and open, obstacles