By flesh he means the natural flesh of the body; this flesh shall be fresh, yea fresher, and not only fresher then it was before he fell sick in his man-hood, but then it was in his child-hood, fresher then a child's. 1The word which we render comparatively, fresher, signifies to wax soft or tender. 'Tis no where read in the whole Bible but here. Grammarians say, it is compounded of an Hebrew word, which signifies to be green or flourishing (Chap: 8.16.) and of a Syriac word which signifies to increase and grow as a plant; we render it as noting the man mending apace (as some sick men upon recovery do) in his strength and health. He shall be fresh-coloured, who before was pale and wan, he shall be full-fleshed, who before was fallen and lean; so that, when he saith, His flesh shall be fresher then a child's, 'Tis an Elegant hyperbolical expression, to show his perfect recovery from that mortal sickness to health. As if he had said; God will restore him so, that there shall be no scar, nor print, no dregs, nor appearance of his former disease seen upon him. We know how tender and soft, how delicate and fair, the flesh of a little child is, how sweet his countenance is, how full of good blood his veins are, how healthy and strong (as to his time) his whole body is. Thus it shall be with this sick man; His flesh shall be fresher then a child's; he shall be as if he were new-borne, or entered a second time upon the stage of this world. Our spiritual estate of renovation by Christ is set forth as a youthful, or child-like state, as to the purity and perfection of it (Eph: 5.27.) Christ shall present us to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. The Church hath her sin-spots and wrinkles now in her militancy; but when Christ shall present the Church at last triumphantly to himself, then as himself was ever without spot or wrinkle, so shall the Church be. Her flesh shall indeed be fresher then a child's, being perfectly recovered out of her spiritual sickness.2 And thus, in proportion, Elihu assures the penitent sick man, that, when his peace is renewed with God, and his spirit set right for God, his very flesh shall be without spot or wrinkle, fresher then a child's. The latter part of the verse bears the same sense.
By flesh he meanes the naturall flesh of the body; this flesh shall be fresh, yea fresher, and not only fresher then it was before he fell sick in his man-hood, but then it was in his child-hood, fresher then a childes. 1The word which we render comparatively, fresher, signifies to wax soft or tender. 'Tis no where read in the whole Bible but here. Grammarians say, it is compounded of an Hebrew word, which signifies to be greene or flourishing (Chap: 8.16.) and of a Syriack word which signifies to increase and grow as a plant; we render it as noting the man mending apace (as some sick men upon recovery doe) in his strength and health. He shall be fresh-coloured, who before was pale and wan, he shall be full-fleshed, who before was fallen and leane; so that, when he saith, His flesh shall be fresher then a childes, 'Tis an Elegant hyperbolical expression, to shew his perfect recovery from that mortal sickness to health. As if he had sayd; God will restore him so, that there shall be no scarr, nor print, no dregs, nor appearance of his former disease seene upon him. We know how tender and soft, how delicate and faire, the flesh of a little child is, how sweete his countenance is, how full of good blood his veines are, how healthy and strong (as to his time) his whole body is. Thus it shall be with this sick man; His flesh shall be fresh•r then a childes; he shall be as if he were new-borne, or entred a second time upon the stage of this world. Our spirituall estate of renovation by Christ is set forth as a youthfull, or child-like state, as to the purity and perfection of it (Eph: 5.27.) Christ shall present us to himselfe a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. The Church hath her sin-spots and wrinckles now in her militancy; but when Christ shall present the Church at last triumphantly to himselfe, then as himselfe was ever without spot or wrinckle, so shall the Church be. Her flesh shall indeed be fresher then a childes, being perfectly recovered out of her spirituall sickness.2 And thus, in proportion, Elihu assures the penitent sick man, that, when his peace is renewed with God, and his spirit set right for God, his very flesh shall be without spot or wrinckle, fresher then a childes. The latter part of the verse beares the same sence.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] mollitur, recreatus fuit, alibi quam hic non legitur. Ex [Greek or Hebrew] quod virentem significat ac vegetū (ut cap: 8. 16.) et [Greek or Hebrew] quod syriacè significat crescere, q. d. revirescet plantarum more et germinum. Merc:〈non-Latin alphabet〉 mollitur, recreatus fuit, alibi quam hic non legitur. Ex 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 quod virentem significat ac vegetū (ut cap: 8. 16.) et 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 quod syriacè significat crescere, q. d. revirescet plantarum more et germinum. Merc:
- 2Notat perfectissimum sanitatis modum, qui nullum transacti morbi vestigium relinquit. Mert:
