Verse 6
6. But one The indefiniteness of the quotation compliments his readers, by presupposing that they know all about the books quoted. The division into chapters and verses for easy reference did not exist in the apostle’s day.
One You know who.
In a certain place You know where. This was a customary style of quotation with Philo and the Rabbies. The quotation is from Psalm viii, and is David’s pensive words on contemplating the glory of the heavens above, and the insignificant magnitude of man below. Modern astronomy reads a deeper meaning into the words than David’s science knew. It is, indeed, a wonderful thing that so minute a body as man should be distinguished above the vast globes that swim through immensity. But an immortal, intelligent being is of more value than an infinite number of globes of dead matter. They might just as well be nonexistent, leaving pure space alone, except as they may serve the welfare of an intelligent being.
Man… son of man An expressive parallelism. Jesus assumed to himself the epithet son of man as expressive of his humiliation. We see no direct reference by the psalmist to Christ.
Visitest As a physician does a patient, or as a patron does his favourite.
Be the first to react on this!
