Bible Commentaries

Genesis 50:1 — 1. Joseph fell upon his father's face, &c.—On him, as the principal member of the family, devolved the duty of closing the eyes of his venerable parent (compare Genesis 46:4) and imprinting the farewell kiss.

Job 12:24 — 24. heart—intelligence. wander in a wilderness—figurative; not referring to any actual fact. This cannot be quoted to prove Job lived after Israel's wanderings in the desert. Psalms 107:4; Psalms 107:40 quotes this passage.

Job 20:28 — 28. increase—prosperity. Ill got—ill gone. flow away—like waters that run dry in summer; using Job's own metaphor against himself (Job 6:15-17; 2 Samuel 14:14; Micah 1:4). his wrath—God's.

Job 25:6 — 6. (Job 4:19-21; Job 15:16). worm . . . worm—Two distinct Hebrew words. The first, a worm bred in putridity; alluding to man's corruption. The second a crawling worm; implying that man is weak and grovelling.

Psalms 129:5 — 5, 6. The ill-rooted roof grass, which withers before it grows up and procures for those gathering it no harvest blessing (Ruth 2:4), sets forth the utter uselessness and the rejection of the wicked.

Psalms 31:10 — 10. Though the effects ascribed to grief are not mere figures of speech— spent . . . consumed—must be taken in the modified sense of wasted and decayed. iniquity—or, suffering by it (see on Psalms 31:4).

Psalms 90:4 — 4. Even were our days now a thousand years, as Adam's, our life would be but a moment in God's sight (2 Peter 3:8). a watch—or, third part of a night (compare Exodus 14:24).

Proverbs 15:4 — 4. A wholesome tongue—(Compare Margin), pacifying and soothing language. tree of life— (Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30). perverseness therein—cross, ill-natured language. breach . . . spirit—(compare Isaiah 65:14, Hebrew), grieves, instead of appeasing.

Proverbs 18:3 — 3. So surely are sin and punishment connected (Proverbs 16:4). wicked, for "wickedness," answers to ignominy, or the state of such; and contempt, the feeling of others to them; and to reproach, a manifestation of contempt.

Proverbs 30:32 — 32. As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt. lay . . . hand upon thy mouth—"lay" is well supplied (Judges 18:19; Job 29:9; Job 40:4).

Jeremiah 2:27 — 27. Thou art my father—(Contrast Jeremiah 3:4; Isaiah 64:8). in . . . trouble they will say—namely, to God (Psalms 78:34; Isaiah 26:16). Trouble often brings men to their senses (Isaiah 26:16- :).

Jeremiah 5:2 — 2. ( :-). swear falsely—not a judicial oath; but their profession of the worship of Jehovah is insincere (Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 4:2). The reformation under Josiah was merely superficial in the case of the majority.

Jeremiah 7:24 — 24. hearkened not—They did not give even a partial hearing to Me (Psalms 81:11; Psalms 81:12). imagination—rather, as Margin, "the stubbornness." backward, c.— (Jeremiah 2:27 Jeremiah 32:33; Hosea 4:16).

Ezekiel 1:27 — 27. colour of amber—"the glitter of chasmal" [FAIRBAIRN]. See on Ezekiel 1:4; rather, "polished brass" [HENDERSON]. Messiah is described here as in Daniel 10:5; Daniel 10:6; Revelation 1:14; Revelation 1:15.

Ezekiel 37:4 — 4. Prophesy—Proclaim God's quickening word to them. On account of this innate power of the divine word to effect its end, prophets are said to do that which they prophesy as about to be done ( :-).

Amos 4 overview — CHAPTER 4 :-. DENUNCIATION OF ISRAEL'S NOBLES FOR OPPRESSION; AND OF THE WHOLE NATION FOR IDOLATRY; AND FOR THEIR BEING UNREFORMED EVEN BY GOD'S JUDGMENTS: THEREFORE THEY MUST PREPARE FOR THE LAST AND WORST JUDGMENT OF ALL.

Zephaniah 3:4 — 4. light—in whose life and teaching there is no truth, gravity, or steadiness. treacherous—false to Jehovah, whose prophets they profess to be (Jeremiah 23:32; Ezekiel 22:28). polluted . . . sanctuary—by their profane deeds.

John 2:6 — 6. firkins—about seven and a half gallons in Jewish, or nine in Attic measure; each of these huge water jars, therefore, holding some twenty or more gallons, for washings at such feasts (Mark 7:4).

Ephesians 4 overview — CHAPTER 4 :-. EXHORTATIONS TO CHRISTIAN DUTIES RESTING ON OUR CHRISTIAN PRIVILEGES, AS UNITED IN ONE BODY, THOUGH VARYING IN THE GRACES GIVEN TO THE SEVERAL MEMBERS, THAT WE MAY COME UNTO A PERFECT MAN IN CHRIST.

Joshua 1:3 — 3, 4. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given you—meaning, of course, not universal dominion, but only the territory comprised within the boundaries here specified (see on :-).