Chapter 4

Sprout--the verb [Greek: anatellein] is commonly used of the sprouting forth of the plants (see _Bleek_ on this passage)--it is said: [Greek: ex Iouda anatetalken ho Kurios hêmôn], _Bengel_: _ut germen justitiae_; farther, Mic. v. 1 (2), where the eternal existence of the Messiah, [Pg 16] and His birth in Bethlehem are contrasted with one another; Is. ix. 5, (6), where the words: "Unto _us_ a child is born, unto _us_ a son is given," are contrasted with the various designations of the Messiah, according to His divine majesty. This qualification and limitation which everywhere takes place, have their ground in the circumstance that the Messiah is constantly represented to the covenant-people as their property; and that He, indeed, was, inasmuch as salvation went out from Jews (John iv. 22), and was destined for the Jews, into whose communion the Gentiles were to be received; comp. my Commentary on Revel. vii. 4. "The Sprout of the Lord," "the fruit of the land," is accordingly He whom the Lord shall make to sprout forth from Israel. The Sprout of the Lord, the fruit of the land is to become to the escaped of Israel for _beauty_ and _glory_, for _exaltation_ and _ornament_. The passages to be compared are 2 Sam. i. 19, where Saul and Jonathan are called [Hebrew: cbi iwral]; _farther_, Is. xxviii. 5: "In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of beauty, and for a diadem of ornament unto the residue of His people," where the words [Hebrew: cbi] and [Hebrew: tpart] are likewise used; _finally_, chap.