Bible Commentaries

Genesis 4:1-16 — 2. The murder of Abel 4:1-16 Chapter 4 shows the spread of sin from Adam’s family to the larger society that his descendants produced. Not only did sin affect everyone, but people became increasingly more wicked as time passed. Human self-assertion leads to violence.

1 Kings 4:1-6 — Solomon’s chief officials 4:1-6 Delegation of authority is a mark of wisdom in a person with more to do than he or she can personally manage effectively. Azariah (1 Kings 4:2) was apparently Zadok’s grandson (1 Chronicles 6:8-9). "The priest" is a common designation

2 Kings 4:8-37 — God’s blessing of those who honor Him 4:8-37 In contrast to the incident above, this one shows God’s blessing on a wealthy woman. She was not the marriage partner of a prophet but a simple faithful believer in Yahweh (cf. 2 Kings 4:8-10; 2 Kings 4:16; 2 Kings 4:21-22; 2 Kings 4:24-25;

Job 4:1-27 — 1. Eliphaz’s first speech chs. 4-5 Eliphaz’s first speech has a symmetrical introverted (chiastic) structure that emphasizes the central section. "A    Opening remark (Job 4:2)     B    Exhortation (Job 4:3-6)         C    God’s

Ecclesiastes 1:12-15 — 1. Solomon’s investigation of human achievement 1:12-15 Solomon had unique resources for investigating life. He was the king of Israel (Ecclesiastes 1:12), and he possessed superlative wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:13; cf. Ecclesiastes 1:16; 1 Kings 4:26-34). He says he made a comprehensive study of all kinds of human activities (Ecclesiastes 1:14). He observed that they were all a "grievous task" (Ecclesiastes 1:13; cf. Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:14), namely, difficult and disappointing.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-16 — 3. The motivations of labor 4:4-16 The phrase "vanity and striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 4:16) brackets this section. This structure emphasizes the relative vapidity of everything between these statements. The main theme seems to be "the power complex common among humans and ways of reacting to it." [Note: J. S. Wright, "Ecclesiastes," p. 1165.]

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 — Envy of others 4:4-6 "Every labor and every skill" (Ecclesiastes 4:4) undoubtedly means every type of labor and skill, rather than every individual instance of these things. Solomon used hyperbole. Much achievement is the result of a desire to be superior.

Lamentations 4:1-11 — A. Conditions during the siege 4:1-11 This section of the poem consists of two parallel parts (Lamentations 4:1-11). The Judahites had become despised (Lamentations 4:1-2; Lamentations 4:7-8), and both children and adults (everyone) suffered (Lamentations 4:3-5; Lamentations 4:9-10). This calamity was the result of Yahweh’s punishment for sin (Lamentations 4:6; Lamentations 4:11).

Ezekiel 5:1-4 — The hair 5:1-4 Ezekiel was also to do something else during the time he was dramatizing the siege of Jerusalem with his model (ch. 4). "After Ezekiel represented the fact of the siege (first sign [Ezekiel 4:1-3]), the length of the siege (second sign [Ezekiel 4:4-8]), and its severity (third sign [Ezekiel 4:9-17]), he demonstrated the results of the siege (fourth sign [Ezekiel 5:1-4])." [Note: Dyer, "Ezekiel," p. 1236.]

Daniel 4 overview — C. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and humbling ch. 4 We have seen that in the first three chapters of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar came to an increasing appreciation of the greatness of Yahweh. In this chapter, he learned that Yahweh is sovereign over kings as well as kingdoms (cf. ch. 1). As the head

Hosea 4:1-3 — Israel’s breach of covenant 4:1-3 The Lord brought a legal charge against the Israelites for breaking the Mosaic Covenant. Again the literary form of this section is a legal confrontation (Heb. rib, cf. Hosea 2:2). Scholars therefore often refer to these courtroom type charges as

Amos 4 overview — 2. The second message on women, worship, and willfulness ch. 4 This message consists of seven prophetic announcements each of which concludes, "declares the LORD" (Amos 4:3; Amos 4:5-6; Amos 4:8-11). Amos 4:12 is a final conclusion, and Amos 4:13 is a doxology.

Micah 4:8 — Micah returned to contemplate again Mt. Zion in the future (cf. Micah 4:1). It would become like a watchtower to the flock of God’s people Israel and a stronghold to her descendants then. Israel’s former dominion over her world under David and Solomon would return then, even the kingdom of the descendants of

Deuteronomy 4:1-8 — 1. The appeal to hearken and obey 4:1-8 Moses urged the Israelites to "listen to" (Deuteronomy 4:1) and to "obey" (Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 4:5-6) the Mosaic Law. "Statutes" (Deuteronomy 4:1) were the permanent basic rules of conduct whereas "judgments"

Mark 4:35-41 — The stilling of a storm 4:35-41 (cf. Matthew 8:18, 23-27; Luke 8:22-25) Many unique features of Mark’s narrative indicate that it came from an eyewitness account, probably Peter. These include mention of "that day" (Mark 4:35), "as He [Jesus] was" and the other boats (Mark 4:36), the stern and the cushion (Mark 4:38), and the rebuke, terror, and bewilderment of the disciples (Mark 4:38; Mark 4:41).

Acts 4:1-4 — The arrest of Peter and John 4:1-4 In chapters 4-7 there is a series of similar confrontations with each one building up to the crisis of Stephen’s death and the persecution that followed. The first four verses of chapter 4 conclude the incident recorded in chapter 3 ("as they were speaking," Acts 4:1), and they introduce what follows in Acts 4:5-31.

Acts 4:23-28 — After hearing the apostles’ report, the Christians sought the Lord (Gr. Despota, sovereign ruler) in prayer. "Three movements may be discerned in this prayer of the early church: (1) God is sovereign (Acts 4:24). (2) God’s plan includes believers’ facing opposition against the Messiah (Acts 4:25-28). (3) Because of these things they petitioned God to grant them boldness to preach (Acts 4:29-30)." [Note: Toussaint, "Acts," p. 364.]

James 4:1-10 — A. Interpersonal and Inner Personal Tensions 4:1-10 "James 4 continues the same topic of strife, and addresses now not only the teachers of James 3:14 but also the rest of the brotherhood who are in similar sin: strife springs from within (James 4:1-3) and is fostered by worldliness; love of the world and love of God cannot coexist (James 4:4-6); Christians must resist the devil and draw near to God (James 4:7-10)." [Note: Adamson, p. 165.]

Judges 4:12-16 — When word reached Sisera that Barak had mustered Israelite troops at Mt. Tabor, he moved east across the Jezreel Valley with his 900 iron chariots and warriors to engage Barak. Structurally Judges 4:14 is the center of a chiasm. The chiastic structure of this chapter focuses the reader’s attention on Yahweh as Israel’s deliverer (cf. Judges 4:15; Exodus 15:3; 1 Samuel 8:20; 2 Samuel 5:24). This is the writer’s main point in the

Revelation 4:5 — from this throne. The seven burning lamps (or torches, Gr. lampades, cf. lychniai, "lampstands," Revelation 1:12; Revelation 1:20) probably picture divine preparedness for battle against wickedness (cf. Judges 7:16; Judges 7:20; Nahum 2:3-4; Isaiah 4:4; Zechariah 4:2-3; Zechariah 4:6; Zechariah 4:10; Malachi 4:1). [Note: Seiss, p. 103.] The seven spirits of God (perhaps the seven principal angels of God, cf. Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:1) will carry out this judgment. The picture is of