Bible Commentaries

Psalms 102:13 — mercy = compassion. Zion. See App-68 . the set time. First, the end of the seventy years (Daniel 9:2 .Nehemiah 2:17-20 ; Nehemiah 3:1-32 ); and second, the still future set time in God's counsels. All this is prophecy. No need to think it was written after Jerusalem's desolation. David was a prophet (Acts 2:30 , Acts 2:31 ). Compare Isaiah 40:2 ; Isaiah 61:2 .

Psalms 145:21 — let all flesh = all flesh shall, as in Psalms 145:10 ; thus completing and perfecting the Structure above. all flesh. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , put for all men. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 . ever and ever. Many codices, with one early printed edition, here add: "And we will bless Jah: From henceforth even for ever, Praise ye Jah. "Compare Psalms 115:18 .

Psalms 72:17 — And men shall be blessed in him: All nations shall call him blessed = Yea, all nations shall be blessed in him shall call him happy. "Blessed" is not the same word as in the preceding line. Hebrew ' a s h ar, cognate with 'ashrey. See App-63 . in him. Thus confirming the promise to Abraham. See Genesis 12:3 ; Genesis 18:18 ; Genesis 22:18 ; Genesis 26:4 ; Genesis 28:14 .

Proverbs 10:21 — feed = shepherd: i.e. instruct. Illustrations: Job (Proverbs 4:3 , Proverbs 4:4 ; Proverbs 29:21 , Proverbs 29:22 ); David (Psalms 78:70-72 ); Peter (Acts 4:1-4 ); Philip (Acts 8:5-8 ); Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:26 ; Acts 14:22-28 ); Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32 , Acts 15:33 ). for = through. wisdom: Hebrew "heart", put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for understanding.

Proverbs 11:1 — A false balance = False balances. abomination. See note on Proverbs 3:32 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . weight = stone. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the weight it represents. This proverb is repeated three times (Proverbs 16:11 ; Proverbs 20:10 , Proverbs 20:23 ). Compare Leviticus 19:36 . Deuteronomy 25:13-15 , and Micah 6:11 . There was a royal standard (2 Samuel 14:26 ).

Proverbs 11:8 — The righteous = A righteous one. delivered = drawn out, liberated with gentle effort. Hebrew. chalaz . The same word as in Proverbs 11:9 , but not the same as in verses: Proverbs 11:4 , Proverbs 11:6 ; Proverbs 11:21 . Illustrations: Mordecai and Haman (Esther 7:9 , Esther 7:10 ); Daniel and his accusers (Daniel 6:23 , Daniel 6:24 ); Israel and Egyptians (Exodus 14:0 , and Isaiah 43:3 , Isaiah 43:4 ).

Proverbs 14:7 — foolish. Hebrew. kesil . See note on Proverbs 1:7 . Same word as in verses: Proverbs 14:16 , Proverbs 14:33 ; not the same word as in verses: Proverbs 14:1 , Proverbs 14:3 , Proverbs 14:9 , Proverbs 1:17 , Proverbs 1:18 , Proverbs 1:29 . man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 . When thou perceivest not = "And acknowledge not". Hebrew. yada to know, as in verses: Proverbs 14:10 , Proverbs 14:33 , &c.

Proverbs 15:16 — Better. See note on Proverbs 8:11 . Illustrations: the shepherds (Luke 2:20 . Compare Matthew 2:3 ); Paul in prison (Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:11 , Philippians 1:13 , Philippians 1:18 ; 1 Timothy 6:6 ). Contrast Ahab in palace (1 Kings 21:4 ). Jehovah is a substitute for every good thing, but nothing is a substitute for Him. the fear of the LORD. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

Proverbs 17:15 — justifieth the wicked, &c. Illustrations: the counsellors (Ezra 4:1-16 ); Tertullus (Acts 24:1-9 ); Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:5-24 ). Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Mazdik rasha' umarshia' zadik, which may be Englished, "he who wrongs the right and rights the wrong". the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 . the just = a just one. abomination, &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 .

Proverbs 20:10 — weights . . . measures. Hebrew "a stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah". Ephah put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all kinds of weights and measures. There is no word for "divers" = diverse. abomination, &c. Compare Proverbs 20:23 , and Proverbs 11:1 ; Proverbs 16:11 , &c. See note on Proverbs 3:32 , and compare Deuteronomy 25:13 , &c. the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Proverbs 28:26 — his . . . heart, &c. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for himself. Illustrations: Hazael (2 Kings 8:13 ); . Johanan (Jeremiah 42:7-22 ; Jeremiah 43:1-7 ); Peter (Matthew 26:33 , Matthew 26:74 ); David (2 Samuel 24:2 , Compare Proverbs 28:10 ); Absalom (2 Samuel 15:4 ), Contrast Solomon (1 Kings 3:7-9 ). fool. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . Compare Jeremiah 17:9 .

Ecclesiastes 2:14 — fool. Hebrew. kesil = fat, inert. Same word as in verses: Ecclesiastes 2:15 , Ecclesiastes 2:16 ; not the same word as in Ecclesiastes 2:19 . and I myself perceived = and I too knew: i.e. as well as they. event = a happening. Hebrew. mikreh. Said to be a later word, but it occurs in 1Sa 6:9 ; 1 Samuel 20:26 . Ruth 2:3 . See note on Ecclesiastes 2:8 .

Ecclesiastes 9:3 — an evil. The Preposition (= B) in bebol, gives the force of the superlative: i.e. the greatest or worst calamity of all, &c. evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a' App-44 . under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 . madness. Plural as elsewhere. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:17 . they go. Omit these words and note the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ), "and after that to the dead! "See the following note.

Isaiah 10:20 — that day. Passing on to the final fulfilment in the day of the LORD. the house of Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 . the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4 . in truth. Hebrew. be'emeth. Occurs three times in the "former" portion (here; Isaiah 16:5 ; Isaiah 38:3 ); and twice in the "latter" portion (Isaiah 48:1 ; Isaiah 61:8 ). See App-79 .

Isaiah 15:4 — Heshbon. Now Heshoan. The capital of the Amorites. Rebuilt by Reuben (Numbers 32:37 ). cry = cry in pain. Elealeh. Nowel' Al, near Heshbon. Compare Isaiah 16:9 . Numbers 32:3 , Numbers 32:37 . Jeremiah 48:34 . Jahaz. Not identified. Numbers 21:23 .Deuteronomy 2:32 .Judges 11:20 . armed soldiers = light-armed troopers. cry out = shout for joy. ife = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . grievous unto him = vexed within him.

Isaiah 24:22 — pit. Not the same word as in verses: Isaiah 24:17 , Isaiah 24:18 . Here, Hebrew. bor , a dug-out pit, or dungeon. Occurs in Isaiah 14:15 , Isaiah 14:19 ; Isaiah 36:13 ; Isaiah 38:18 ; and in "latter" portion, Isaiah 51:1 . App-79 . and = even. visited: i.e. with the judgments foretold in the preceding Verses. Compare Isaiah 10:3 ; Isaiah 26:14 , Isaiah 26:16 ; Isaiah 29:6 .

Jeremiah 2:31 — generation. Once a chosen generation (Psalms 22:30 ; Psalms 24:6 ; Psalms 112:2 .Isaiah 53:8; Isaiah 53:8 ); now a perverse generation (Jeremiah 7:29 . Deuteronomy 32:5 .Psalms 78:8; Psalms 78:8 ). Compare Matthew 3:7 ; Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 12:34 , Matthew 12:39 , Matthew 12:41-45 ; Matthew 16:4 ; Matthew 17:17 . a land of darkness: or, Is the land the darkness of Jah?

Jeremiah 22:24 — Coniah = (by Figure of speech Aphaeresis) , by which the first syllable is cut off. He is called "Jeconiah" (1 Chronicles 3:16 ), which means "Let Jehovah establish"; but the cutting off of the Divine name "Je" (for Jah or Jehovah) is meant to show the departure of Jehovah from Jeconiah, and that he himself would be cut off. signet. Compare Haggai 2:23 . right hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Jeremiah 8:12 — could they blush. See note on Jeremiah 6:15 . the time of their visitation. A phrase ("time" or "year") used eight times in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 8:12 ; Jeremiah 10:15 ; Jeremiah 11:23 ; Jeremiah 23:12 ; Jeremiah 46:21 ; Jeremiah 48:44 ; Jeremiah 50:27 ; Jeremiah 51:18 ). Nowhere else, except Isaiah 10:3 .Hosea 9:7 . Micah 7:4 , until our Lord used it in Luke 19:44 .

Ezekiel 7:2 — son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 . the Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4 . the land of Israel = the soil or ground of Israel. 'Ad math Israel, not 'eretz, as in the next clause. See note on Ezekiel 11:17 . An end . . . the end . . . the end . The Figure of speech Repetitio for emphasis. Compare verses: Ezekiel 2:3 . See App-6 . the land . Hebrew. 'eretz.