Deuteronomy 22:8 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:5-12

Here are several laws in these verses which seem to stoop very low, and to take cognizance of things mean and minute. Men's laws commonly do not so: Deut. minimis non curat lex?The law takes no cognizance of little things; but because God's providence extends itself to the smallest affairs, his precepts do so, that even in them we may be in the fear of the Lord, as we are under his eye and care. And yet the significancy and tendency of these statutes, which seem little, are such that,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

When thou buildest a new house ,.... Which is to be understood of a house to dwell in, not of a granary, barn, or stable, or such like, and every house that is not four cubits square, as Maimonides observes F6 Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 11. sect. 1. : then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof ; in the Talmud F7 T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 136. 1. So Maimonides, ib. sect. 2. it is asked, what is the meaning of, or why is it said, "thy roof?" to except synagogues and schools; the gloss... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 22:8

A battlement for thy roof - Houses in the East are in general built with flat roofs, and on them men walk to enjoy the fresh air, converse together, sleep, etc.; it was therefore necessary to have a sort of battlement or balustrade to prevent persons from falling off. If a man neglected to make a sufficient defense against such accidents, and the death of another was occasioned by it, the owner of the house must be considered in the light of a murderer. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 22:8

Verse 8 This precept also has reference to the preservation of human life. We know that the roofs of the Jewish houses were fiat, so that they might freely walk upon them. If there were no railings round them, a fall would have been fatal; and every house would have often been a house of mourning. God, therefore, commands the edge to be fortified with battlements, or railings, or other inclosure, and accompanies the injunction with a severe denunciation; for He declares that the houses would be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:1-30

Divine care for sexual honor. In these, as in so many of the precepts of this book, we find civil precepts invested with religious sanctions. Nothing is more important for the honorable maintenance of social life, than that both men and women should honor each other's sex as well as their own. Those that do otherwise are an abomination to the Lord their God. There are five or six different cases supposed in the verses referred to at the heading of this Homily: Such sins would have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:6-12

The minutiae of conduct. The Law descends to very slight points of conduct. It keeps in view that character is made up of the result of our actions in the million trivial details of life. "Trifles," said Michael Angelo, when a friend thus characterized the slight finishing touches he was giving to a statue—"trifles make perfection." Matters which in themselves are of little moment acquire importance from the associations they awaken, the ideas they suggest, the consequences they lead up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

Still less was human life to be exposed to danger through neglect of proper precautions. The houses in Palestine, as in other parts of the East, had fiat roofs, and, as these were much frequented by the inhabitants for various purposes (cf. Joshua 2:6 ; 2 Samuel 11:2 ; 2 Samuel 18:24 ; Nehemiah 8:16 ; Matthew 10:27 ; Acts 10:9 ), it was necessary that a battlement or balustrade should surround the roof, in order to prevent persons falling over. Hence the direction here given. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

Risks to human life to be minimized. It is well known that "the roofs of the Israelitish houses were fiat, as they mostly are in the East;" the inhabitants often walked upon them. Hence it is easy to see that a danger might exist of one falling off a house, if there were no battlement, parapet, or guard of some kind around it. And against this Moses is taught of God to warn the people. In the structure of their habitations the safety of the indwellers is to be rigidly consulted; and any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

The perils of inadvertence. Thoughtlessness is the parent of much mischief. To reach a state of security and bliss, there must be life in our every part—in intellect, foresight, prudence. I. MAN IS EXPOSED TO MANY NATURAL EVILS . Although lord and interpreter of nature, nature afflicts him in many ways. She scorches him with heat, freezes him with cold, pierces him with pain. Man has skill and power to bring nature under his dominion, if he will duly exert himself for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8-12

Linsey-woolseys. The different directions here given may be reduced to one idea, that of genuineness . The houses were to be substantial edifices, not endangering the lives of others by defective buildings or deficient battlements. The vineyards were to be sown with pure seed, that the plants might have a fair chance of growing luxuriantly. The ploughing was not to be done by an ox and ass together, for though the oxen are so small in Palestine as to be yokeable with an ass, the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:5-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 22:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 22:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:6-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 22:8-12

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