Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?] We have seen this proverb already, Jer. xxxi. 29, &c., and have considered its general meaning. But the subject is here proposed in greater detail, with a variety of circumstances, to adapt it to all those cases to which it should apply. It refers simply to these questions: How far can the moral evil of the parent be extended to his offspring? And, Are the faults and evil propensities of the parents, not only transterred to the children, but punished in them? Do parents transfer their evil nature, and are their children punished for their offenses?
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Jerusalem like an unfruitful vine.
If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the tota neglect of God and of true religion! This similitude is applied to Jerusalem. Let us beware of an unfruitful profession. Let us come to Christ, and seek to abide in him, and to have his words abide in us _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew מה4100 לכם אתם859 משׁלים4911 את853 המשׁל4912 הזה2088 על5921 אדמת127 ישׂראל3478 לאמר559 אבות1 יאכלו398 בסר1155 ושׁני8127 הבנים1121 תקהינה׃6949
