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Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:2

The same confused mass or heap is here called both earth, from its most solid and substantial part; and the deep, from its vast bulk and depth; and waters, from its outward face and covering. See Psalms 104:6; 2 Peter 3:5. Without form and void; without order and beauty, and without furniture and use. Upon the face, the surface or uppermost part of it, upon which the light afterward shone. Thus not the earth only, but also the heaven above it, was without light, as is manifest from the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:3

He commanded, not by such a word or speech as we use, which agreeth not with the spiritual nature of God; but either by an act of his powerful will, called the word of his power, Hebrews 1:3 or, by his substantial Word, his Son, by whom he made the worlds, Hebrews 1:2; Psalms 33:6, who is called: The Word, partly, if not principally, for this reason, John 1:1-3,John 1:10. There was light; which was some bright and lucid body, peradventure like the fiery cloud in the wilderness, giving a small... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:4

He observed with approbation that it was pleasant and amiable, agreeable to God’s purpose and man’s use; and made a distinction or separation between them in place, time, and use, that the one should succeed and shut out the other, and so by their vicissitudes make the day and the night. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:5

It is acknowledged by all, that the evening and the morning are not here to be understood according to our common usage, but are put by a synecdoche each of them for one whole part of the natural day. But because it may be doubted which part each of them signifies, some understand by evening, the foregoing day; and by the morning, the foregoing night; and so the natural day begins with the morning or the light, as it did with the ancient Chaldeans. Others by evening understand the first night... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:6

A firmament; or, an extension, or a space or place extended or stretched out, and spread abroad like a tent or curtain, between the waters, though not exactly in the middle place; as Tyrus is said to sit, or be situated in the midst of the seas, Ezekiel 28:2, though it was but a little space within the sea. But of these things see more in Genesis 1:7. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:7

The firmament here is either, 1. The starry heaven; so called, not from its solidity, but from its fixed, durable, and, in a sort, incorruptible and unchangeable nature. Or, 2. The air; called here, the expansion, or extension, because it is extended far and wide, even from the earth to the third heaven; called also the firmament, because it is fixed in its proper place, from whence it cannot be moved, unless by force. The waters under the firmament are seas, rivers, lakes, fountains, and other... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:9

The waters under the heaven; both the great abyss, or deep of water which is shut up in the bowels of the earth, Genesis 7:11; Psalms 24:2; Psalms 33:7; Psalms 136:6; as also the sea and rivers, all which are here said to be gathered together into one place, because of their communication and mixture one with another. Let the dry land appear; for hitherto it was covered with water, Genesis 1:2; 2 Peter 3:5. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:10

He called them not sea, but seas; because of the differing quantity and nature both of several seas, and of the rivers, and other lesser collections of waters, all which the Hebrews call seas. The separation of the waters was begun on the second day, Genesis 1:6, &c., but not perfected till this third day; therefore God’s approbation of that work is not mentioned there, but here only. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:11

Let the earth bring forth; the sense is: For the present let it afford matter, out of which I will make grass (as man’s rib afforded matter, out of which God made woman); and for the future let it receive virtue or power of producing it out of that matter which I have made, and suited to that end. Grass; that which groweth of itself without seed or manuring, and is the food of beasts. The herb yielding seed, for the propagation of their several kinds, to wit, mature and perfect herbs, which... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 1:12

This clause is so often added, to show that all the disorders, evil and hurtful qualities, that now are in the creatures, are not to be imputed to God, who made all of them good; but to man’s sin, which hath corrupted their nature, and perverted their use. read more

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