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Selected Verse: Hebrews 6:7 - New American Standard Bible©

Verse	Translation	Text
Heb 6:7	New American Standard Bible©	For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;
	King James	For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the earth--rather as Greek (no article), "land." which drinketh in--Greek, "which has drunk in"; not merely receiving it on the surface. Answering to those who have enjoyed the privilege of Christian experiences, being in some sense renewed by the Holy Ghost; true alike of those who persevere and those who "fall away." the rain that cometh oft upon it--not merely failing over it, or towards it, but falling and resting upon it so as to cover it (the Greek genitive, not the accusative). The "oft" implies, on God's part, the riches of His abounding grace ("coming" spontaneously, and often); and, on the apostate's part, the wilful perversity whereby he has done continual despite to the oft-repeated motions of the Spirit. Compare "How often," Mat 23:37. The rain of heaven falls both on the elect and the apostates. bringeth forth--as the natural result of "having drunk in the rain." See above. herbs--provender. meet--fit. Such as the master of the soil wishes. The opposite of "rejected," Heb 6:8. by whom--rather as Greek, "for (that is, on account of) whom," namely, the lords of the soil; not the laborers, as English Version, namely, God and His Christ (Co1 3:9). The heart of man is the earth; man is the dresser; herbs are brought forth meet, not for the dresser, by whom, but for God, the owner of the soil, for whom it is dressed. The plural is general, the owners whoever they may be; here God. receiveth--"partaketh of." blessing--fruitfulness. Contrast God's curse causing unfruitfulness (Gen 3:17-18); also spiritually (Jer 17:5-8). from God--Man's use of means is vain unless God bless (Co1 3:6-7).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the earth--rather as Greek (no article), "land."

which drinketh in--Greek, "which has drunk in"; not merely receiving it on the surface. Answering to those who have enjoyed the privilege of Christian experiences, being in some sense renewed by the Holy Ghost; true alike of those who persevere and those who "fall away."

the rain that cometh oft upon it--not merely failing over it, or towards it, but falling and resting upon it so as to cover it (the Greek genitive, not the accusative). The "oft" implies, on God's part, the riches of His abounding grace ("coming" spontaneously, and often); and, on the apostate's part, the wilful perversity whereby he has done continual despite to the oft-repeated motions of the Spirit. Compare "How often," Mat 23:37. The rain of heaven falls both on the elect and the apostates.

bringeth forth--as the natural result of "having drunk in the rain." See above.

herbs--provender.

meet--fit. Such as the master of the soil wishes. The opposite of "rejected," Heb 6:8.

by whom--rather as Greek, "for (that is, on account of) whom," namely, the lords of the soil; not the laborers, as English Version, namely, God and His Christ (Co1 3:9). The heart of man is the earth; man is the dresser; herbs are brought forth meet, not for the dresser, by whom, but for God, the owner of the soil, for whom it is dressed. The plural is general, the owners whoever they may be; here God.

receiveth--"partaketh of."

blessing--fruitfulness. Contrast God's curse causing unfruitfulness (Gen 3:17-18); also spiritually (Jer 17:5-8).

from God--Man's use of means is vain unless God bless (Co1 3:6-7).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For the earth - The design of the apostle by this comparison is apparent. It is to show the consequences of not making a proper use of all the privileges which Christians have, and the effect which would follow should those privileges fail to be improved. He says, it is like the earth. If that absorbs the rain, and produces an abundant harvest, it receives the divine blessing. If not, it is cursed, or is worthless. The design is to show that "if" Christians should become like the barren earth they would be cast away and lost. Which drinketh in the rain - A comparison of the earth as if it were "thirsty" - a comparison that is common in all languages. That cometh oft upon it - The frequent showers that fall. The object is to describe fertile land which is often watered with the rains of heaven. The comparison of "drinking in" the rain is designed to distinguish a mellow soil which receives the rain, from hard or rocky land where it runs off. And bringeth forth herbs - The word "herbs" we now limit in common discourse to the small vegetables which die every year, and which are used as articles of food, or to such in general as have not ligneous or hard woody stems. The word here means anything which is cultivated in the earth as an article of food, and includes all kinds of grains. Meet for them - Useful or appropriate to them. By whom it is dressed - Margin, "for whom." The meaning is, on account of whom it is cultivated. The word "dressed" here means "cultivated:" compare Gen 2:15. Receiveth blessing from God - Receives the divine approbation. It is in accordance with his wishes and plans, and he smiles upon it and blesses it. He does not curse it as he does the desolate and barren soil. The language is figurative, and must be used to denote what is an object of the divine favor. God delights in the harvests which the earth brings forth; in the effects of dews and rains and suns in causing beauty and abundance; and on such fields of beauty and plenty he looks down with pleasure. This does not mean, as I suppose, that he renders it more fertile and abundant, for: (1) it cannot be shown that it is true that God thus rewards the earth for its fertility; and, (2) such an interpretation would not accord well with the scope of the passage. The design is to show that a Christian who makes proper use of the means of growing in grace which God bestows upon him, and who does not apostatize, meets with the divine favor and approbation. His course accords with the divine intention and wishes, and he is a man on whom God will smile - as he seems to do on the fertile earth.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For the earth - The design of the apostle by this comparison is apparent. It is to show the consequences of not making a proper use of all the privileges which Christians have, and the effect which would follow should those privileges fail to be improved. He says, it is like the earth. If that absorbs the rain, and produces an abundant harvest, it receives the divine blessing. If not, it is cursed, or is worthless. The design is to show that "if" Christians should become like the barren earth they would be cast away and lost.

Which drinketh in the rain - A comparison of the earth as if it were "thirsty" - a comparison that is common in all languages.

That cometh oft upon it - The frequent showers that fall. The object is to describe fertile land which is often watered with the rains of heaven. The comparison of "drinking in" the rain is designed to distinguish a mellow soil which receives the rain, from hard or rocky land where it runs off.

And bringeth forth herbs - The word "herbs" we now limit in common discourse to the small vegetables which die every year, and which are used as articles of food, or to such in general as have not ligneous or hard woody stems. The word here means anything which is cultivated in the earth as an article of food, and includes all kinds of grains.

Meet for them - Useful or appropriate to them.

By whom it is dressed - Margin, "for whom." The meaning is, on account of whom it is cultivated. The word "dressed" here means "cultivated:" compare Gen 2:15.

Receiveth blessing from God - Receives the divine approbation. It is in accordance with his wishes and plans, and he smiles upon it and blesses it. He does not curse it as he does the desolate and barren soil. The language is figurative, and must be used to denote what is an object of the divine favor. God delights in the harvests which the earth brings forth; in the effects of dews and rains and suns in causing beauty and abundance; and on such fields of beauty and plenty he looks down with pleasure. This does not mean, as I suppose, that he renders it more fertile and abundant, for:

(1) it cannot be shown that it is true that God thus rewards the earth for its fertility; and,

(2) such an interpretation would not accord well with the scope of the passage.

The design is to show that a Christian who makes proper use of the means of growing in grace which God bestows upon him, and who does not apostatize, meets with the divine favor and approbation. His course accords with the divine intention and wishes, and he is a man on whom God will smile - as he seems to do on the fertile earth.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
The inevitableness of the punishment illustrated by a familiar fact of nature. The earth (γῆ) Or the land. Personified. Comp. αὐτομάτη ἡ γῆ the land of itself, Mar 4:28, see note. Which drinketh in (ἡ πιοῦσα) Appropriates the heavenly gift of rain, the richness of which is indicated by that cometh oft upon it. Herbs (βοτάνην) Grass, fodder. N.T.o. Meet for them by whom it is dressed (εὔθετον ἐκείνοις δι οὕς καὶ γεωργεῖται) For εὔθετον, lit. well placed, thence fit or appropriate, see Luk 9:62; Luk 14:35. Γεωργεῖν to till the ground, N.T.o. Rend. tilled. Dress is properly to trim. The natural result of the ground's receiving and absorbing the rains is fruitfulness, which redounds to the benefit of those who cultivate it. Receiveth blessing from God (μεταλαμβάνει εὐλογίας ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ) Rend. partaketh of blessing. The blessing is increased fruitfulness. Comp. Mat 13:12; Joh 15:2.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

The inevitableness of the punishment illustrated by a familiar fact of nature.

The earth (γῆ)

Or the land. Personified. Comp. αὐτομάτη ἡ γῆ the land of itself, Mar 4:28, see note.

Which drinketh in (ἡ πιοῦσα)

Appropriates the heavenly gift of rain, the richness of which is indicated by that cometh oft upon it.

Herbs (βοτάνην)

Grass, fodder. N.T.o.

Meet for them by whom it is dressed (εὔθετον ἐκείνοις δι οὕς καὶ γεωργεῖται)

For εὔθετον, lit. well placed, thence fit or appropriate, see Luk 9:62; Luk 14:35. Γεωργεῖν to till the ground, N.T.o. Rend. tilled. Dress is properly to trim. The natural result of the ground's receiving and absorbing the rains is fruitfulness, which redounds to the benefit of those who cultivate it.

Receiveth blessing from God (μεταλαμβάνει εὐλογίας ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ)

Rend. partaketh of blessing. The blessing is increased fruitfulness. Comp. Mat 13:12; Joh 15:2.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For the earth which drinketh in the rain - As much as if he had said: In giving up such apostates as utterly incurable, we act as men do in cultivating their fields; for as the ground, which drinketh in the rain by which the providence of God waters it, brings forth fruit to compensate the toil of the tiller, and continues to be cultivated, God granting his blessing to the labors of the husbandman; so,

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

For the earth which drinketh in the rain - As much as if he had said: In giving up such apostates as utterly incurable, we act as men do in cultivating their fields; for as the ground, which drinketh in the rain by which the providence of God waters it, brings forth fruit to compensate the toil of the tiller, and continues to be cultivated, God granting his blessing to the labors of the husbandman; so,

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