Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 5:12 — habits, and their consequent forgetfulness of God. That they commonly had musical instruments in their feasts, is evident from many passages of the Old Testament; see Amos 6:5-6. Their feasts, also, were attended with songs; Isaiah 24:8-9.The harp - - כנור kinnôr. This is a well-known stringed instrument, employed commonly in sacred music. It is often mentioned as having been used to express the pious feelings of David; Psalms 32:2; Psalms 43:4; Psalms 49:5. It is early

Jeremiah 38:16 — That made us this soul - This very unusual addition to the formula of an oath 1 Samuel 20:3 was intended to strengthen it. By acknowledging that his soul was God‘s workmanship Zedekiah also implied his belief in God‘s power over it.

Lamentations 3:43 — In verses 43-66, far from pardoning, God is still actively punishing His people. Rather, “Thou hast covered” Thyself “with wrath and pursued (Lamentations 1:3 note) us.” The covering (here and in Lamentations 3:44) is that of clothing and enwrapping.

Ezekiel 12:10 — Burden - A word used to indicate a prediction of woe to be borne by some individual or people (Isaiah 13:1 note). Ezekiel, bearing his “stuff” on his shoulder was a sign of the weight of calamity coming upon king and people.

Daniel 2:4 — Then spake the Chaldeans to the king - The meaning is, either that the Chaldeans spoke in the name of the entire company of the soothsayers and magicians (see the notes, Daniel 1:20; Daniel 2:2), because they were the most prominent among them, or the name is used to denote the collective body of soothsayers, meaning that this request was made by the entire company.In Syriac - In the original - ארמית 'ărâmı̂yt - in “Aramean.”

Amos 1:11 — treading of the sole of the foot, for I have given Mount Seir unto Esau for a possession” Deuteronomy 2:4-5.From this time until that of Saul, there is no mention of Edom; only that the Maonites and the Amalekites, who oppressed Israel Judges 6:3; Judges 10:12, were kindred tribes with Edom. The increasing strength of Israel in the early days of Saul seems to have occasioned a conspiracy against him, such as Asaph afterward complains of; “They have said, come and let us cut them off from being a nation,

Amos 1:11 — Moses expressed it to Edom himself , and, after the suspicious refusal of Edom to allow Israel to march on the highway through his territory, he speaks as kindly of him, as before; “And when we passed by from our brethren, the children of Esau” Deuteronomy 2:8. It was the unkindness of worldly politics, and was forgiven. The religious love of the Egyptian and the Edomite was, on distinct grounds, made part of the law. “Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother: thou shalt

Malachi overview — whom he foreannounced under his own name . “The messenger of the Lord,” willed to be but “the voice of one crying in the wilderness;” as his great successor, who took up his message, when asked, “Who art thou? What sayest thou of thyself?” said John 1:23, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” He mentions neither his parentage, nor birthplace, nor date; nor did he add the name of his office , and he has left it to be guessed, whether the name under which

Malachi overview — Introduction to MalachiThe last prophet of the Old Testament, like the forerunner of our Lord, whom he foreannounced under his own name . “The messenger of the Lord,” willed to be but “the voice of one crying in the wilderness;” as his great successor, who took up his message, when asked, “Who art thou? What sayest thou of thyself?” said John 1:23, “I am the voice of one crying in the

Malachi overview — name. “The messenger of the Lord,” willed to be but “the voice of one crying in the wilderness;” as his great successor, who took up his message, when asked, “Who art thou? What sayest thou of thyself?” said John 1:23, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” He mentions neither his parentage, nor birthplace, nor date; nor did he add the name of his office, and he has left it to be guessed, whether the name

John 7:30 — Then they sought to take him - The rulers and their friends. They did this:1.because of his reproof; and, 2.for professing to be the Messiah. His hour - The proper and the appointed time for his death. See Matthew 21:46.

Acts 1:11 — immediate presence of God; or into the place of perpetual purity and happiness, where God especially manifests his favor. The same thing is frequently designated by his sitting on the right hand of God, as emblematic of power, honor, and favor. See the Mark 16:19; Mark 14:62 notes; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1 notes; Acts 7:55 note; Romans 8:34 note; Ephesians 1:20 note.Shall so come - At the day of judgment. John 14:3, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,” etc.In like manner ... - In clouds,

Acts 2:31 — He, seeing this before … - By the spirit of prophecy. From this it appears that David had distinct views of the great doctrines pertaining to the Messiah.Spake … - See Psalm 16:1-11.That his soul … - See the notes on Acts 2:27.

Romans 12:3 — may evince a mind that is not conformed to the world.Through the grace - Through the favor, or in virtue of the favor of the apostolic office. By the authority that is conferred on me to declare the will of God as an apostle; see the note at Romans 1:5; see also Galatians 1:6, Galatians 1:15; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:14.Not to think ... - Not to over-estimate himself, or to think more of himself than he ought to. What is the true standard by which we ought to estimate ourselves

Romans 5:14 — over all that period, and overall those generations. Under his dark and withering reign people sank down to the grave. We have a similar expression when we represent death as “the king of terrors.” It is a striking and affecting personification, for.(1) His reign is absolute. He strikes down whom he pleases, and when he pleases.(2) There is no escape. All must bow to his sceptre, and be humbled beneath his hand,(3) It is universal. Old and young alike are the subjects of his gloomy empire.(4) It would

Romans 8:29 — become Christians; or to ordain, and constitute them to be Christians, and to be saved, has been a subject of almost endless discussion. Without entering at large into an investigation of the word, perhaps the following remarks may throw light on it.(1) It does not here have reference to all the human family; for all are not, and have not, been conformed to the image of his Son. It has reference therefore only to those who would become Christians, and be saved.(2) It implies “certain knowledge.” It

1 Corinthians 2:7 — in the sense of that which is beyond comprehension; and it is often applied to such doctrines as exhibit difficulties which we are not able to explain.But this is not the sense in which it is commonly used in the Scriptures; see the note at Matthew 13:11; compare Campbell on the Gospels, Dissertation 9; part 1. The word properly denotes that which is “concealed” or “hidden;” that which has not yet been made known; and is applied to those truths which until the revelation of Jesus Christ were concealed

Philippians 4:16 — For even in Thessalonica; - see the notes, Acts 17:1. Paul remained there long enough to establish a flourishing church. He met, indeed, with much opposition and persecution there; and, hence, it was necessary that his wants should be supplied by others.

Philippians 4:16 — For even in Thessalonica; - see the notes, Acts 17:1. Paul remained there long enough to establish a flourishing church. He met, indeed, with much opposition and persecution there; and, hence, it was necessary that his wants should be supplied by others.

Titus 1:5 — For this cause left I thee in Crete - Compare the notes, 1 Timothy 1:3. On the situation of Crete, see the Introduction, Section 2.That thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting - Margin, “left undone.” The Greek is: “the things that are left;” that is, those which were left unfinished; referring,