Bible Commentaries
Go deeper in Scripture
Browse trusted public-domain commentary alongside DiscipleDeck Bible study. References inside each commentary open Bible previews in place.
3,811 commentary entries
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry on Exodus 1:15-22
The Egyptians' indignation at Israel's increase, notwithstanding the many hardships they put upon them, drove them at length to the most barbarous and inhuman methods of suppressing them, by the murder of their children…
The Birth of Moses. (b. c. 1571.)
THE BIRTH OF MOSES. (B. C. 1571.) Moses was a Levite, both by father and mother. Jacob left Levi under marks of disgrace (Genesis 49:5); and yet, soon after, Moses appears a descendant from him, that he might typify Chr…
The Deliverance of Moses. (b. c. 1571.)
THE DELIVERANCE OF MOSES. (B. C. 1571.) Here is, I. Moses saved from perishing. Come see the place where that great man lay when he was a little child; he lay in a bulrush-basket by the river's side. Had he been left to…
Moses Slays an Egyptian; Rebukes a Contentious Hebrew. (b. c. 1533.)
MOSES SLAYS AN EGYPTIAN; REBUKES A CONTENTIOUS HEBREW. (B. C. 1533.) Moses had now passed the first forty years of his life in the court of Pharaoh, preparing himself for business; and now it was time for him to enter u…
The Marriage of Moses. (b. c. 1533.)
THE MARRIAGE OF MOSES. (B. C. 1533.) Moses here gains a settlement in Midian, just as his father Jacob had gained one in Syria, Genesis 29:2, &c. And both these instances should encourage us to trust Providence, and to…
Cry of the Oppressed Israelites. (b. c. 1491.)
CRY OF THE OPPRESSED ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1491.) Here is, 1. The continuance of the Israelites' bondage in Egypt, Exodus 2:23. Probably the murdering of their infants did not continue; this part of their affliction attend…
The Burning Bush. (b. c. 1491.)
THE BURNING BUSH. (B. C. 1491.) The years of the life of Moses are remarkably divided into three forties: the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jes…
Compassion of God for the Israelites. (b. c. 1491.)
COMPASSION OF GOD FOR THE ISRAELITES. (B. C. 1491.) Now that Moses had put off his shoes (for, no doubt, he observed the orders given him, Exodus 3:5), and covered his face, God enters upon the particular business that…
Instructions Given to Moses. (b. c. 1491.)
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO MOSES. (B. C. 1491.) God, having spoken to Moses, allows him also a liberty of speech, which he here improves; and, I. He objects his own insufficiency for the service he was called to (Exodus 3:11…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 3:16-22
Moses is here more particularly instructed in his work, and informed beforehand of his success. 1. He must deal with the elders of Israel, and raise their expectation of a speedy removal to Canaan, Exodus 3:16-17. He mu…
The Objections of Moses Overruled. (b. c. 1491.)
THE OBJECTIONS OF MOSES OVERRULED. (B. C. 1491.) It was a very great honour that Moses was called to when God commissioned him to bring Israel out of Egypt; yet he is with difficulty persuaded to accept the commission,…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 4:10-17
Moses still continues backward to the service for which God had designed him, even to a fault; for now we can no longer impute it to his humility and modesty, but must own that here was too much of cowardice, slothfulne…
Moses Returns in Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
MOSES RETURNS IN EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Here, I. Moses obtains leave of his father-in-law to return into Egypt, Exodus 4:18. His father-in-law had been kind to him when he was a stranger, and therefore he would not be so…
The Circumcision of the Son of Moses. (b. c. 1491.)
THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE SON OF MOSES. (B. C. 1491.) Moses is here going to Egypt, and we are told, I. How God met him in anger, Exodus 4:24-26. This is a very difficult passage of story; much has been written, and excel…
Sufferings of the Israelites Increased. (b. c. 1491.)
SUFFERINGS OF THE ISRAELITES INCREASED. (B. C. 1491.) Moses and Aaron, having delivered their message to the elders of Israel, with whom they found good acceptance, are now to deal with Pharaoh, to whom they come in per…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 5:3-9
Finding that Pharaoh had no veneration at all for God, Moses and Aaron next try whether he had any compassion for Israel, and become humble suitors to him for leave to go and sacrifice, but in vain. I. Their request is…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 5:10-14
Pharaoh's orders are here put in execution; straw is denied, and yet the work not diminished. 1. The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. Pharaoh having decreed unrighteous decrees, the task-masters were ready to wri…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 5:15-23
It was a great strait that the head-workmen were in, when they must either abuse those that were under them or be abused by those that were over them; yet, it should seem, rather than they would tyrannize, they would be…
The Promise of Deliverance. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE. (B. C. 1491.) Here, I. God silences Moses's complaints with the assurance of success in this negotiation, repeating the promise made him in Exodus 3:20, After that, he will let you go. When M…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 6:10-13
Here, I. God sends Moses the second time to Pharaoh (Exodus 6:11) upon the same errand as before, to command him, at his peril, that he let the children of Israel go. Note, God repeats his precepts before he begins his…
Genealogies of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. (b. c. 1491.)
GENEALOGIES OF REUBEN, SIMEON, AND LEVI. (B. C. 1491.) I. We have here a genealogy, not an endless one, such as the apostle condemns (1 Timothy 1:4), for it ends in those two great patriots Moses and Aaron, and comes in…
Moses Receives a Fresh Commission. (b. c. 1491.)
MOSES RECEIVES A FRESH COMMISSION. (B. C. 1491.) Here, I. God encourages Moses to go to Pharaoh, and at last silences all his discouragements. 1. He clothes him with great power and authority (Exodus 7:1): I have made t…
Magicians of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
MAGICIANS OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) The first time that Moses made his application to Pharaoh, he produced his instructions only; now he is directed to produce his credentials, and does accordingly. 1. It is taken for gra…
The Plagues of Egypt. (b. c. 1491.)
THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. (B. C. 1491.) Here is the first of the ten plagues, the turning of the water into blood, which was, 1. A dreadful plague, and very grievous. The very sight of such vast rolling streams of blood, pu…