Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. BEL - The same as the Phoenician Baal - i:e., lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. THEY COULD NOT DELIVER - from the enemies' hands. BURDEN - their images laid on the beasts (). The gods who were supposed to dwell in the images, were not able to deliver them from th... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: In contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from bearing its people safely, are themselves borne off, a burden to the laden beast; but Ya... [ Continue Reading ]
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. (EVEN) TO (YOUR) OLD AGE - as your ... you ... you, are not in the Hebrew, the sentiment is more general than the English version, though of course it... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? TO WHOM WILL YE LIKEN ME - (; .)... [ Continue Reading ]
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. THEY LAVISH GOLD OUT OF THE BAG ... AND HIRE A GOLDSMITH; AND HE MAKETH IT A GOD - (Isaiah 40:19; .) They lavish gold out of their purses, and spare... [ Continue Reading ]
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. (ONE) SHALL CRY UNTO HIM, YET CAN HE NOT ANSWER, NOR SAVE - (, with which contrast... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. SHOW YOURSELVES MEN - renounce the childishness of idolatry, as shown in what precedes (; ; ). In order to be manly, we must be godly: for man was made "in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, REMEMBER THE FORMER THINGS OF OLD - namely, the proofs of the sole Godship of Yahweh, from predictions fulfilled, and interpositions of God in behalf of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING - (; Isaiah 41:22; .) AND FROM ANCIENT TIMES (THE THINGS) THAT ARE NOT (YET) - not in the Hebrew. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. A RAVENOUS BIRD FROM THE EAST - Cyrus: so called on account of the rapidity of his marches from the distant reg... [ Continue Reading ]
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: STOUT-HEARTED - stubborn in resisting God (; ). THAT (ARE) FAR FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS - (; .)... [ Continue Reading ]
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. BRING NEAR - antithetical to "far" (; ; ; Isaiah 61:10; Romans 10:6). MY RIGHTEOUSNESS - answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore i... [ Continue Reading ]