Bible Commentaries

Hosea 14:5 — 5. as the dew—which falls copiously in the East, taking the place of the more frequent rains in other regions. God will not be "as the early dew that goeth away," but constant (Hosea 6:3; Hosea 6:4; Job 29:19; Proverbs 19:12). the lily—No plant is more productive than the lily, one root often producing fifty bulbs [PLINY, Natural History, 21.5]. The common lily is white, consisting of six leaves opening like bells. The royal lily grows to the

Jonah 2:4 — 4. cast out from thy sight—that is, from Thy favorable regard. A just retribution on one who had fled "from the presence of the Lord" ( :-). Now that he has got his desire, he feels it to be his bitterest sorrow to be deprived of God's presence, which

Micah 7:16 — 26:11). confounded at all their might—having so suddenly proved unavailing: that might wherewith they had thought that there is nothing which they could not effect against God's people. lay . . . hand upon . . . mouth—the gesture of silence (Job 21:5; Job 40:4; Psalms 107:42; Isaiah 52:15). They shall be struck dumb at Israel's marvellous deliverance, and no longer boast that God's people is destroyed. ears . . . deaf—They shall stand astounded so as not to hear what shall be said [GROTIUS]. Once they

Haggai 2:5 — 5. According to the word that—literally, "(I am with you) the word (or thing) which I covenanted"; that is, I am with you as I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt (Exodus 19:5; Exodus 19:6; Exodus 34:10; Exodus 34:11). The covenant promise of God to the elect people at Sinai is an additional motive for their persevering. The Hebrew for to "covenant" is literally "to cut," alluding to the sacrificial victims cut in ratification of a covenant. so—or,

Zechariah 14:4 — 4. The object of the cleaving of the mount in two by a fissure or valley (a prolongation of the valley of Jehoshaphat, and extending from Jerusalem on the west towards Jordan, eastward) is to open a way of escape to the besieged (compare Joel 3:12; Joel

Zechariah 8:20 — 20. (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2). Thus saith the Lord of hosts—a preface needed to assure the Jews, now disheartened by the perils surrounding them, and by the humble aspect of the temple. "Unlikely as what follows may seem to you, Jehovah of hosts, boundless in resources, saith

Malachi 2:3 — away with it—that is, ye shall be taken away with it; it shall cleave to you wherever ye go [MOORE]. Dung shall be thrown on your faces, and ye shall be taken away as dung would be, dung-begrimed as ye shall be (Malachi 3:11- :; compare Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 22:19).

Mark 5:21 — over again by ship unto the other side—from the Gadarene side of the lake, where He had parted with the healed demoniac, to the west side, at Capernaum. much people gathered unto him—who "gladly received Him; for they were all waiting for Him" (Luke 8:40). The abundant teaching earlier that day (Mark 4:1-34; Matthew 13:1-58) had only whetted the people's appetite: and disappointed, as would seem, that He had left them in the evening to cross the lake, they remain hanging about the beach, having got

Luke 19:8 — stood—before all. said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord—Mark how frequently Luke uses this title, and always where lordly authority, dignity, or power is intended. if I have—that is, "so far as I have," for evidently the "if" is so used (as in Philippians 4:8). taken by false accusation—defrauded, overcharged (Luke 3:12; Luke 3:13). fourfold—The Roman law required this; the Jewish law, but the principal and a fifth more (Luke 3:13- :). There was no demand made for either; but, as if to revenge himself

John 11:41 — 41. Jesus lifted up his eyes—an expression marking His calm solemnity. (Compare :-). Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me—rather, "heardest Me," referring to a specific prayer offered by Him, probably on intelligence of the case reaching Him

Romans 6:6 — expressing the sin-destroying efficacy of our union with the crucified Saviour. that our old man—"our old selves" that is, "all that we were in our old unregenerate condition, before union with Christ" (compare Colossians 3:9; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:24; Galatians 6:14). is—rather, "was." crucified with him—in order. that the body of sin—not a figure for "the mass of sin"; nor the "material body," considered as the seat of sin, which it is not; but (as we judge)

2 Corinthians 4:2 — disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). handling . . . deceitfully—so "corrupt" or adulterate "the word of God" (2 Corinthians 2:17; compare 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). commending—recommending ourselves: recurring to 2 Corinthians 3:1. to—to the verdict of. every man's conscience— (2 Corinthians 5:11). Not to men's carnal judgment, as those alluded to (2 Corinthians 5:11- :). in the sight of God— (2 Corinthians

Galatians 2:4 — 4. And that—that is, What I did concerning Titus (namely, by not permitting him to be circumcised) was not from contempt of circumcision, but "on account of the false brethren" (Acts 15:1; Acts 15:24) who, had I yielded to the demand for his being circumcised,

1 Thessalonians 2:17 — time (perhaps alluding to the suddenness of his unexpected departure), we the more abundantly (the shorter was our separation; for the desire of meeting again is the more vivid, the more recent has been the parting) endeavored," c. (Compare 2 Timothy 1:4). He does not hereby, as many explain, anticipate a short separation from them, which would be a false anticipation for he did not soon revisit them. The Greek past participle also forbids their view.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 — 3. they—the men of the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, "others," all the rest of the world save Christians. Peace— (Judges 18:7; Judges 18:9; Judges 18:27; Judges 18:28; Jeremiah 6:14; Ezekiel 13:10). then—at the very moment when they least expect it. Compare the case of Belshazzar, Daniel 5:1-5;

2 Thessalonians 3:5 — Ghost (2 Corinthians 3:17), the three Persons of the Trinity will occur in this verse. love of God—love to God. patient waiting for Christ—rather as Greek, "the patience (endurance) of Christ," namely, which Christ showed [ALFORD] (2 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:3). ESTIUS, however, supports English Version (compare Revelation 1:9; Revelation 3:10). At all events, this grace, "patience," or persevering endurance, is connected with the "hope" (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:10) of

1 Timothy 4:4 — 4, 5. Translate as Greek, "Because" (expressing a reason resting on an objective fact; or, as here, a Scripture quotation)—"For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind). every creature . . . good— (Genesis 1:31; Romans 14:14; Romans

1 Timothy 6:15 — 3:20): "He" is the Father (1 Timothy 6:16). blessed—in Himself: so about to be the source of blessing to His people at Christ appearing, whence flows their "blessed hope" (1 Timothy 1:11; Titus 2:13). only— (John 17:3; Romans 16:27; Revelation 15:4). King of kings—elsewhere applied also to Jesus (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16).

2 Timothy 1:15 — him was at his apprehension in Nicopolis, whither they had escorted him on his way to Rome, but from which they turned back to Asia. A hint to Timothy, now in Asia, not to be like them, but to imitate rather ONESIPHORUS, and to come to him (2 Timothy 4:21). Phygellus and Hermogenes—specified perhaps, as being persons from whom such pusillanimous conduct could least be expected; or, as being well known to Timothy, and spoken of before in conversations between him and Paul, when the latter was in

Hebrews 8:13 — spake. For in Paul's time, according to his view, the new had absolutely set aside the old covenant. The Greek for (Kaine) New (Testament) implies that it is of a different kind and supersedes the old: not merely recent (Greek, "nea"). Compare Hosea 3:4; Hosea 3:5.