Verse 8
Remember this ,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God:
and show yourselves men ; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" F17 התאששו "roborat vos", Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word. ; so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or "burn ye" F18 Ardete, "comburite vos", some in Vatablus. or "be ye inflamed", so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "be ye confounded" F19 "Confundamini", V. L. "et erubescite", Calvin. ; or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired F20 "Incendimini sive corripimini zelo", Vitringa. with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors ; of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.
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