Bible Commentaries

Genesis 4:1 — gratitude—and she called him Cain, that is, "a possession," as if valued above everything else; while the arrival of another son reminding Eve of the misery she had entailed on her offspring, led to the name Abel, that is, either weakness, vanity (Psalms 39:5), or grief, lamentation. Cain and Abel were probably twins; and it is thought that, at this early period, children were born in pairs (Psalms 39:5- :) [CALVIN].

Job 17:5 — 5. The Hebrew for "flattery" is "smoothness"; then it came to mean a prey divided by lot, because a smooth stone was used in casting the lots (Deuteronomy 18:8), "a portion" (Genesis 14:24). Therefore translate, "He that delivers up his friend as a prey (which

Psalms 11:1-7 — reservados, y su amor a la justicia y a los justos. 1. a mi alma—es decir, a mi ( 1 Samuel 3:2). escapa—Lit., huíd; es decir, él y sus compañeros. cual ave al (vuestro) monte—Como aves, tienen seguridad sólo en la huída (cf. 1 Samuel 26:20; Lamentaciones 3:52). 2. en oculto—traicioneramente. 3. Lit., Los fundamentos (de la ley y orden) serán destruídos. ¿Qué ha hecho el justo (para mantenerlos)? Todos sus esfuerzos fracasaron. 4. templo … cielo—la conexión parece indicar la residencia celestial de Dios:

Psalms 123:2 — God should look (1) to His directing hand, to appoint them their work; (2) to His supplying hand ( :-), to give them their portion in due season; (3) to His protecting hand, to right them when wronged; (4) to His correcting hand (Isaiah 9:13; 1 Peter 5:6; compare Genesis 16:6); (5) to His rewarding hand.

Psalms 92:1-15 — suave—sobre Higgaión (cf. el Salmo 9:16), acaso un instrumento de dicho nombre, que por su sonido se asemejara al murmullo de la meditación, expresado por el mismo vocablo. Este se acompaña con el arpa. tus obras—eso es, de la providencia 90:16, 17). 5. grandes … obras—corresponden a pensamientos profundos y vastos (40:5; Romanos 11:23). 6. necio no sabe—“El embrutecido no conoce” las obras de Dios; con el mismo calificativo el salmista se describe a sí mismo ( Romanos 73:22), asombrado por la prosperidad

Psalms 97:1-12 — la naturaleza; describe sus efectos sobre enemigos y amigos; y a éstos los exhorta y anima. 1, 2. Este dominio es motivo de gozo, porque, por mucho que nuestras mentes se aterroricen delante del trono del Rey de los reyes ( Éxodo 19:16; Deuteronomio 5:22), sabemos que está basado en principios y juicios justos que son según la verdad. 3-5. Los ejemplos resultantes del terrible juicio de Dios sobre los enemigos ( Deuteronomio 83:14) se ven en la manifestación de su omnipotencia en los elementos de

Song of Solomon 7:1 — 1. thy feet—rather, "thy goings" (Psalms 17:5). Evident allusion to Isaiah 52:7: "How beautiful . . . are the feet of him . . . that publisheth peace" (Shulamite, Isaiah 52:7- :). shoes—Sandals are richly jewelled in the East (Luke 15:22; Ephesians 6:15). She is evidently "on the mountains,"

Isaiah 14:14 — 14. clouds—rather, "the cloud," singular. Perhaps there is a reference to the cloud, the symbol of the divine presence (Isaiah 4:5; Exodus 13:21). So this tallies with 2 Thessalonians 2:4, "above all that is called God"; as here "above . . . the cloud"; and as the Shekinah-cloud was connected with the temple, there follows, "he as God sitteth in the temple of God," answering to

Isaiah 7 overview — OF MESSIAH. In the Assyrian inscriptions the name of Rezin, king of Damascus, is found among the tributaries of Tiglath-pileser, of whose reign the annals of seventeen years have been deciphered. For the historical facts in this chapter, compare 2 Kings 15:37-16. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel, as confederates, advanced against Jerusalem. In the first campaign they "smote Ahaz with a great slaughter" (2 Chronicles 28:5). Their object was probably to unite the three kingdoms against Assyria. Egypt

Daniel 2:1 — 1. second year of . . . Nebuchadnezzar— Daniel 1:5 shows that "three years" had elapsed since Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jerusalem. The solution of this difficulty is: Nebuchadnezzar first ruled as subordinate to his father Nabopolassar, to which time the first chapter refers (Daniel 1:5- :); whereas

Zechariah 5:1 — 1. flying roll—of papyrus, or dressed skins, used for writing on when paper was not known. It was inscribed with the words of the curse (Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Being written implied that its contents were beyond all escape or repeal (Deuteronomy 28:15-5.28.68- :). Its "flying" shows that its curses were ready swiftly to visit the transgressors. It was unrolled, or else its dimensions

1 Corinthians 15:3 — importance. which I . . . received—from Christ Himself by special revelation (compare Acts 8:37- :). died for our sins—that is, to atone FOR them; for taking away our sins (Acts 8:37- :; compare Galatians 1:4): "gave Himself for our sins" (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Titus 2:14). The "for" here does not, as in some passages, imply vicarious substitution, but "in behalf of" (Hebrews 5:3; 1 Peter 2:24). It does not, however, mean merely "on account of," which is expressed by a different Greek

1 Corinthians 9:21 — 21. To them . . . without law—that is, without revealed law: the heathen (compare Romans 2:12; 1 Corinthians 9:15). as without law—not urging on them the ceremonies and "works of the law," but "the hearing of faith" (1 Corinthians 9:15- :). Also discoursing in their own manner, as at Athens, with arguments from their own poets (1 Corinthians 9:15- :). being

Ephesians 4:5 — 5. Similarly "faith" and "baptism" (the sacramental seal of faith) are connected (Mark 16:16; Colossians 2:12). Compare 1 Corinthians 12:13, "Faith" is not here that which we believe, but the act of believing, the mean by which we apprehend the "one Lord."

Ephesians 5:22 — everlasting purpose, is the foundation and archetype of the three greatest of earthly relations, that of husband and wife ( :-), parent and child ( :-), master and servant ( :-). The oldest manuscripts omit "submit yourselves"; supplying it from Ephesians 5:21, "Ye wives (submitting yourselves) unto your own husbands." "Your own" is an argument for submissiveness on the part of the wives; it is not a stranger, but your own husbands whom you are called on to submit unto (compare Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians

Ephesians 6:17 — as Ephesians 6:16- :, "Helmet, the hope of salvation"; not an uncertain hope, but one that brings with it no shame of disappointment (Ephesians 6:16- :). It is subjoined to the shield of faith, as being its inseparable accompaniment (compare Romans 5:1; Romans 5:5). The head of the soldier was among the principal parts to be defended, as on it the deadliest strokes might fall, and it is the head that commands the whole body. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure

Colossians 3:3 — life, shall manifest Himself in glory, then shall their hidden glory be manifest, and correspond in appearance to its original [NEANDER]. The Christian's secret communion with God will now at times make itself seen without his intending it (Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:16); but his full manifestation is at Christ's manifestation (Matthew 13:43; Romans 8:19-23). "It doth not yet appear (Greek, 'is not yet manifested') what we shall be" (1 John 3:2; 1 Peter 1:7). As yet Christians do not always recognize

2 Thessalonians 1:8 — His consuming vengeance against His foes (Hebrews 10:27; Hebrews 12:29; 2 Peter 3:7; 2 Peter 3:10). taking—literally, "giving" them, as their portion, "vengeance." know not God—the Gentiles primarily (Psalms 79:6; Galatians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:5); not of course those involuntarily not knowing God, but those wilfully not knowing Him, as Pharaoh, who might have known God if he would, but who boasted "I know not the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:5- :); and as the heathen persecutors who might have

Titus 2:11 — is illustrated in Acts 27:20. The grace of God hath now been embodied in Jesus, the brightness of the Father's glory," manifested as the "Sun of righteousness," "the Word made flesh." The Gospel dispensation is hence termed "the day" (1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; there is a double "appearing," that of "grace" here, that of "glory," Titus 2:13; compare Romans 13:12). Connect it not as English Version, but, "The grace . . . that bringeth salvation to all men hath appeared," or "been manifested"

1 Peter 4:7 — that before the Lord; as he explains to guard against misapprehension, and defends God from the charge of procrastination: We live in the last dispensation, not like the Jews under the Old Testament. The Lord will come as a thief; He is "ready" (1 Peter 4:5) to judge the world at any moment; it is only God's long-suffering and His will that the Gospel should be preached as a witness to all nations, that induces Him to lengthen out the time which is with Him still as nothing. sober—"self-restrained." The