Bible Commentaries

Job 3:1 — 1. opened his mouth—The Orientals speak seldom, and then sententiously; hence this formula expressing deliberation and gravity ( :-). He formally began. cursed his day—the strict Hebrew word for "cursing:" not the same as in Job 1:5. Job cursed his birthday, but not his God.

Job 33:20 — 20. life—that is, the appetite, which ordinarily sustains "life" (Job 38:39; Psalms 107:18; Ecclesiastes 12:5). The taking away of desire for food by sickness symbolizes the removal by affliction of lust, for things which foster the spiritual fever of pride. soul—desire.

Job 38:19 — 19-38. The marvels in heaven. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Genesis 1:3-5; Genesis 1:14-18, "light" is created distinct from, and previous to, light-emitting bodies, the luminaries of heaven.

Job 40:14 — 14. confess—rather, "extol"; "I also," who now censure thee. But since thou canst not do these works, thou must, instead of censuring, extol My government. thine own . . . hand . . . save— (Psalms 44:3). So as to eternal salvation by Jesus Christ (Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5).

Job 9:22 — 22. one thing—"It is all one; whether perfect or wicked—He destroyeth." This was the point Job maintained against his friends, that the righteous and wicked alike are afflicted, and that great sufferings here do not prove great guilt (Luke 13:1-5; Ecclesiastes 9:2).

Psalms 106:4 — 4, 5. In view of the desert of sins to be confessed, the writer invokes God's covenant mercy to himself and the Church, in whose welfare he rejoices. The speaker, me, I, is not the Psalmist himself, but the people, the present generation (compare :-). visit—(Compare :-).

Psalms 128 overview — PSALM 128 :-. The temporal blessings of true piety. The eighth chapter of Zecariah is a virtual commentary on this Psalm. Compare Psalms 128:3; Zechariah 8:5; and Psalms 128:2; Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:33; Zechariah 8:10; and Psalms 128:6; Zechariah 8:4.

Psalms 148:14 — 14. exalteth the horn—established power (Psalms 75:5; Psalms 75:6). praise of—or literally, "for" his saints—that is, occasions for them to praise Him. They are further described as "His people," and "near unto Him," sustaining by covenanted care a peculiarly intimate relation.

Psalms 15:1 — 1. abide—or, "sojourn" (compare Psalms 5:4), where it means under God's protection here, as (Psalms 23:6; Psalms 27:4; Psalms 27:6) communion. tabernacle—seat of the ark (2 Samuel 6:17), the symbol of God's presence. holy hill—(Compare 2 Samuel 6:17- :).

Psalms 37:5 — 5. Commit thy way— ( :-). Works—what you have to do and cannot set forth as a burden. trust . . . in him—literally, "on Him." He will do what you cannot (compare Psalms 22:8; Psalms 31:6). He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.

Psalms 38:5 — 5-8. The loathsomeness, corruption, and wasting torture of severe physical disease set forth his mental anguish [Psalms 38:6]. It is possible some bodily disease was connected. The loins are the seat of strength. His exhaustion left him only the power to groan [Psalms 38:6- :].

Psalms 60:1 — 1-3. allude to disasters. cast . . . off—in scorn (Psalms 43:2; Psalms 44:9). scattered—broken our strength (compare 2 Samuel 5:20). Oh, turn thyself—or, "restore to us" (prosperity). The figures of physical, denote great civil, commotions (Psalms 46:2; Psalms 46:3).

Psalms 91:14 — 14-16. God Himself speaks (compare Psalms 46:10; Psalms 75:2; Psalms 75:3). All the terms to express safety and peace indicate the most undoubting confidence (compare Psalms 18:2; Psalms 20:1; Psalms 22:5). set his love—that of the most ardent kind.

Psalms 97:1 — 1, 2. This dominion is a cause of joy, because, even though our minds are oppressed with terror before the throne of the King of kings (Exodus 19:16; Deuteronomy 5:22), we know it is based on righteous principles and judgments which are according to truth.

Ecclesiastes 2:5 — 5. gardens—Hebrew, "paradises," a foreign word; Sanskrit, "a place enclosed with a wall"; Armenian and Arabic, "a pleasure ground with flowers and shrubs near the king's house, or castle." An earthly paradise can never make up for the want of the heavenly (Revelation 2:7).

Isaiah 14:5 — 5. staff—not the scepter ( :-), but the staff with which one strikes others, as he is speaking of more tyrants than one (Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 14:29) [MAURER]. rulers—tyrants, as the parallelism "the wicked" proves (compare see on Isaiah 14:29- :).

Isaiah 21:4 — 4. panted—"is bewildered" [BARNES]. night of my pleasure—The prophet supposes himself one of the banqueters at Belshazzar's feast, on the night that Babylon was about to be taken by surprise; hence his expression, "my pleasure" (Isaiah 14:11; Jeremiah 51:39; Daniel 5:1-31).

Isaiah 27:6 — 6. He—Jehovah. Here the song of the Lord as to His vineyard ( :-) ends; and the prophet confirms the sentiment in the song, under the same image of a vine (compare Psalms 92:13-15; Hosea 14:5; Hosea 14:6). Israel . . . fill . . . world— (Romans 11:12).

Isaiah 40:5 — 5. see it—The Septuagint for "it," has "the salvation of God." So :- (compare Luke 2:30, that is, Messiah); but the Evangelist probably took these words from Luke 2:30- :. for—rather, "All flesh shall see that the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it" [BENGEL].

Isaiah 5:11 — 11. Second Woe—against intemperance. early—when it was regarded especially shameful to drink (Acts 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:7). Banquets for revelry began earlier than usual (Ecclesiastes 10:16; Ecclesiastes 10:17). strong drink—Hebrew, sichar, implying intoxication. continue—drinking all day till evening.