There are five words in the Hebrew which signify strength.1 The first notes strength in general: The second,2 strength to endure labour: The third, efficacy: The fourth, vigour: the fifth, which is that of the text, superiority of strength, or prevailing strength. It is one thing to be strong, and another thing to prevail. The Lord is not only strong, but strongest; he hath a strength above all strength, he is strong overcommingly, strong prevailingly. Christ in the Gospel speaks of a strong man (he means the devil) that kept the house; but he was not strong prevailingly, for there came a stronger then he, that spoiled him, and took away all his armour from him, wherein he trusted (Luk. 11.22.) but when the holy Ghost saith, That the Lord is strong, the meaning is, that he is stronger then all: and so generally the positive is expounded by the superlative, If we speak of strength, lo, he is strong, that is, he is most strong. Thus we find the word used, 2 Sam. 22.18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me: 3they were prevailingly strong for me, and therefore unless I had found a supply of help, unless some auxiliaries had come from heaven to take my part, they had h••• too hard for me, I had been overmatched, they were prevailingly strong, or too strong for me. We have the word in the same sense. (Gen. 25.23.) in that resolution which the unerring oracle of heaven gave Rebekah enquiring about the children striving in her womb, the Lord answereth thus, Two Nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people; and then addeth, The one people shall be stronger then the other people; it is this word,4 the one people shall be prevailingly strong, and shall overcome the other; both people shall be strong, mighty and potent, but there is one of them shall have the rule, and shall conquer and subdue the other. If I speak of strength, he is strong. The sum is, If the Question be about strength and power, then the Lord carries the day and the honour, he is most powerful, he is strong above all. Hence observe, That
There are five words in the Hebrew which signifie strength.1 The first notes strength in generall: The second,2 strength to endure labour: The third, efficacy: The fourth, vigour: the fifth, which is that of the text, superiority of strength, or prevailing strength. It is one thing to be strong, and another thing to prevail. The Lord is not only strong, but strongest; he hath a strength above all strength, he is strong overcommingly, strong prevailingly. Christ in the Gospel speaks of a strong man (he means the devil) that kept the house; but he was not strong prevailingly, for there came a stronger then he, that spoil'd him, and took away all his armour from him, wherein he trusted (Luk. 11.22.) but when the holy Ghost saith, That the Lord is strong, the meaning is, that he is stronger then all: and so generally the positive is expounded by the superlative, If we speak of strength, loe, he is strong, that is, he is most strong. Thus we finde the word used, 2 Sam. 22.18. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me, for they were too strong for me: 3they were prevailingly strong for me, and therefore unlesse I had found a supply of help, unlesse some auxiliaries had come from heaven to take my part, they had h••• too hard for me, I had been overmat•ht, they were prevailingly strong, or too strong for me. We have the word in the same sense. (Gen. 25.23.) in that resolution which the unerring oracle of heaven gave Rebekah enquiring about the children striving in her womb, the Lord answereth thus, Two Nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people; and then addeth, The one people shall be stronger then the other people; it is this word,4 the one people shall be prevailingly strong, and shall overcome the other; both people shall be strong, mighty and potent, but there is one of them shall have the rule, and shall conquer and subdue the other. If I speak of strength, he is strong. The summe is, If the Question be about strength and power, then the Lord carries the day and the honour, he is most powerfull, he is strong above all. Hence observe, That
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 2Prevalens, vincens, invicto quodam & obfirmato animo praeditus, dici solet de eo qui viribus superior est. [Greek or Hebrew] Vis generali•er, [Greek or Hebrew] connotat proportionem ad efficentiam, vel contē t onem virium, [Greek or Hebrew] Est durabilitas in agenti & actione. [Greek or Hebrew]Prevalens, vincens, invicto quodam & obfirmato animo praeditus, dici solet de eo qui viribus superior est. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Vis generali•er, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 connotat proportionem ad efficentiam, vel contē t onem virium, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Est durabilitas in agenti & actione. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 3Efficaciam. [Greek or Hebrew] Vigorem significat. Coc.Efficaciam. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Vigorem significat. Coc.
- 4Regnum regno praevalebit, sc. populu• prae populo robustior.
