Isa 1:5, 9:13, Jer 5:3, 6:29 | JFB | STEP | 5. Why —rather, as Vulgate, "On what part." Image from a body covered all over with marks of blows ( ). There is no part in which you have not been smitten. head . . . sick, &c.—not referring, as it is commonly quoted, to their sins, but to the universality of their punishment. However, sin, the moral disease of the head or intellect, and the heart, is doubtless made its own punishment ( ). "Sick," literally, "is in a state of sickness" [GESENIUS ]; "has passed into sickness" [MAURER ].

Isaiah 1:5

5. Why—rather, as Vulgate, "On what part." Image from a body covered all over with marks of blows (Ps 38:3). There is no part in which you have not been smitten.

head . . . sick, &c.—not referring, as it is commonly quoted, to their sins, but to the universality of their punishment. However, sin, the moral disease of the head or intellect, and the heart, is doubtless made its own punishment (Pr 1:31; Jer 2:19; Ho 8:11). "Sick," literally, "is in a state of sickness" [GESENIUS]; "has passed into sickness" [MAURER].

Isaiah 9:13

13-17. Second strophe.

turneth not—the design of God's chastisements; not fulfilled in their case; a new cause for punishment (Jer 2:20; 5:3).

Jeremiah 5:3

3. eyes upon the truth— (De 32:4; 2Ch 16:9). "Truth" is in contrast with "swear falsely" (Jer 5:2). The false-professing Jews could expect nothing but judgments from the God of truth.

stricken . . . not grieved— (Jer 2:30; Isa 1:5; 9:13).

refused . . . correction— (Jer 7:28; Zep 3:2).

Jeremiah 6:29

29. bellows . . . burned—So intense a heat is made that the very bellows are almost set on fire. ROSENMULLER translates not so well from a Hebrew root, "pant" or "snort," referring to the sound of the bellows blown hard.

lead—employed to separate the baser metal from the silver, as quicksilver is now used. In other words, the utmost pains have been used to purify Israel in the furnace of affliction, but in vain (Jer 5:3; 1Pe 1:7).

consumed of the fire—In the Chetib, or Hebrew text, the "consumed" is supplied out of the previous "burned." Translating as ROSENMULLER, "pant," this will be inadmissible; and the Keri (Hebrew Margin) division of the Hebrew words will have to be read, to get "is consumed of the fire." This is an argument for the translation, "are burned."

founder—the refiner.

wicked . . . not plucked away—answering to the dross which has no good metal to be separated, the mass being all dross.