Bible Commentaries

Genesis 40:5 — 5-8. they dreamed a dream—Joseph, influenced by the spirit of true religion, could feel for others (Ecclesiastes 4:1; Romans 12:15; Philippians 2:4). Observing them one day extremely depressed, he inquired the cause of their melancholy; and being informed it was owing to a dream they had respectively dreamed during the previous night, after piously directing them

Proverbs 7:1-27 — CAPITULO 7 Se continúa el mismo tema, trazando las artes de la mujer extraña, como una advertencia a los incautos. 1-4. Llamadas similares (cap. 3:1-3; 4:10, etc.) niñas (Pupilas) de tus ojos—depósito custodiado (cap. 4:23) de especial valor. Lígalos a tus dedos—como inscripciones grabadas en anillos. 5. La finalidad de la enseñanza (cf. los caps. 2:16; 6:24). 6.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 — 5. know that they shall die—and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4; Psalms 90:12). dead know not anything—that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (Job 14:21; Isaiah 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth. neither . . . reward—no advantage

Jeremiah 3:12 — a play on sounds. In order to excite Judah to godly jealousy (2 Kings 18:11- :), Jehovah addresses the exiled ten tribes of Israel with a loving invitation. cause . . . anger to fall—literally, "I will not let fall My countenance" (compare Genesis 4:5; Genesis 4:6; Job 29:3), that is, I will not continue to frown on you. keep—"anger" is to be supplied (see on Jeremiah 3:5).

Ezekiel 11:23 — 23. The Shekinah glory now moves from the east gate (Ezekiel 10:4; Ezekiel 10:19) to the Mount of Olives, altogether abandoning the temple. The mount was chosen as being the height whence the missiles of the foe were about to descend on the city. So it was from it that Jesus ascended to heaven when about to send His

Hosea 5:4 — 4. They—Turning from a direct address to Ephraim, he uses the third person plural to characterize the people in general. The Hebrew is against the Margin, their doings will not suffer them" the omission of "them" in the Hebrew after the verb being unusual.

Amos 5:2 — 2. virgin of Israel—the Israelite state heretofore unsubdued by foreigners. Compare Isaiah 23:12; Jeremiah 18:13; Jeremiah 31:4; Jeremiah 31:21; Lamentations 2:13; may be interpreted, Thou who wast once the "virgin daughter of Zion." Rather, "virgin" as applied to a state implies its beauty, and the delights on which it prides itself, its luxuries, power, and wealth [CALVIN]. no

Numbers 12:8 — speeches—parables or similitudes. the similitude of the Lord shall he behold—not the face or essence of God, who is invisible (Exodus 33:20; Colossians 1:15; John 1:18); but some unmistakable evidence of His glorious presence (Exodus 33:2; Exodus 34:5). The latter clause should have been conjoined with the preceding one, thus: "not in dark speeches, and in a figure shall he behold the Lord." The slight change in the punctuation removes all appearance of contradiction to Deuteronomy 4:15. Deuteronomy

Micah 5:6 — 6. waste—literally, "eat up": following up the metaphor of "shepherds" (compare Numbers 22:4; Jeremiah 6:3). land of Nimrod—Babylon (Micah 4:10; Genesis 10:10); or, including Assyria also, to which he extended his borders (Genesis 10:10- :). in the entrances—the passes into Assyria (2 Kings 3:21). The Margin and JEROME, misled by a needless

Zechariah 6:5 — 5. four spirits of the heavens—heavenly spirits who "stand before Jehovah" to receive God's commands (Zechariah 4:14; 1 Kings 22:19; Job 2:1; Luke 1:19) in heaven (of which Zion is the counterpart on earth, see on Luke 1:19- :), and proceed with chariot speed (2 Kings 6:17; Psalms 68:17) to execute them on earth in its four various quarters (Psalms 104:4; Hebrews

Luke 15:13 — days—intoxicated with his new—found resources, and eager for the luxury of using them at Will. a far country—beyond all danger of interference from home. wasted, c.—So long as it lasted, the inward monitor ( :-) would be silenced (Isaiah 9:10 Isaiah 57:10; Amos 4:6-10). riotous living— (Amos 4:6-30.4.10- :), "with harlots." Ah! but this reaches farther than the sensualist; for "in the deep symbolical language of Scripture fornication is the standing image of idolatry; they are in fact ever spoken of as one

Romans 12:7 — 7. Or ministry, let us wait on—"be occupied with." our ministering—The word here used imports any kind of service, from the dispensing of the word of life (Acts 6:4) to the administering of the temporal affairs of the Church (Acts 6:4- :). The latter seems intended here, being distinguished from "prophesying," "teaching," and "exhorting." or he that teacheth—Teachers are expressly distinguished from prophets,

Romans 8:38 — For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers—whether good or bad. But as the bad are not called "angels," or "principalities," or "powers," save with some addition to show that such are meant (Matthew 25:41; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:4 —except perhaps 2 Peter 2:4- :), probably the good are meant here, but merely as the same apostle supposes an angel from heaven to preach a false gospel. (So the best interpreters). nor things present,

1 Corinthians 1:7 — 7. ye come behind—are inferior to other Christians elsewhere [GROTIUS]. in no gift—not that all had all gifts, but different persons among them had different gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4, c.). waiting for . . . coming of . . . Christ—The crowning proof of their "coming behind in no gift." Faith, hope, and love, are all exercised herein (compare 2 Timothy 4:8 Titus 2:13). "Leaving to others their MEMENTO MORI (remember death), do thou

1 Corinthians 15:54 — 54. then—not before. Death has as yet a sting even to the believer, in that his body is to be under its power till the resurrection. But then the sting and power of death shall cease for ever. Death is swallowed up in victory—In Hebrew of :-, from which

Philippians 2:7 — likeness of men." The two latter clauses (there being no conjunctions, "and . . . and," in the Greek) expresses in what Christ's "emptying of Himself" consists, namely, in "taking the form of a servant" (see on :-; compare Exodus 21:5; Exodus 21:6; Psalms 40:6, proving that it was at the time when He assumed a body, He took "the form of a servant"), and in order to explain how He took "the form of a servant," there is added, by "being made in the likeness of men." His subjection to the law (Luke 2:21; Galatians

Joshua 23:3 — piously than truly. This had been promised (Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22); and the reality of the divine aid was seen in the rapid overthrow of the Canaanites, which had already led to the division of the whole land among the tribes [Joshua 23:4]. Joshua 23:4- :. BY PROMISES.

1 Timothy 1:18 — sacred deposit (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:2) to be laid before thy hearers. according to—in pursuance of; in consonance with. the prophecies which went before on thee—the intimations given by prophets respecting thee at thy ordination, 1 Timothy 4:14 (as, probably, by Silas, a companion of Paul, and "a prophet," Acts 15:32). Such prophetical intimation, as well as the good report given of Timothy by the brethren (Acts 16:2), may have induced Paul to take him as his companion. Compare similar

1 John 5:17 — 17. "Every unrighteousness (even that of believers, compare 1 John 1:9; 1 John 3:4. Every coming short of right) is sin"; (but) not every sin is the sin unto death. and there is a sin not unto death—in the case of which, therefore, believers may intercede. Death and life stand in correlative opposition (1 John 3:4- :). The sin unto

Revelation 1:13 — now sees glorified. His glory (as Son of man, not merely Son of God) is the result of His humiliation as Son of man. down to the foot—a mark of high rank. The garment and girdle seem to be emblems of His priesthood. Compare Exodus 28:2; Exodus 28:4; Exodus 28:31; Septuagint. Aaron's robe and girdle were "for glory and beauty," and combined the insignia of royalty and priesthood, the characteristics of Christ's antitypical priesthood "after the order of Melchisedec." His being in the midst of the candlesticks