" The margin of the Hebrew Bible exhibits a number of various readings of an early date, called n7P (to be read), because, in the view of the Jewish critics, they are to be preferred to the reading of the text, called a-rs (written). Those critics have therefore attached the vowel signs, appropriate
quently differ, so that it almost appears to be indiscriminately absent or redundant. In the course of the Hebrew Scriptures, 66,420 yods are numbered. The Greeks frequently write the iota below, or omit it altogether. — -/upaia, a tittle) An appendage to a portion of a letter, a mark by which one letter is distin guished from another, as 2, Beth (B), from 3> Kaph (K), or "ii Resh (R), from 1> Daleth (D), or one sound from another, as a vowel point or an accent ; in short, anything which in any way belongs to the signification of the Divine will, or assists to declare that signification as revealed in the law. — ou pfi, a double nega tive) ou w always has a subjunctive, and its emphasis ought not to be stretched too far ; cf. ver. 20, 26. — ou w vaptXdr,, shall not pass away) From hence may be inferred the entireness of Scrip ture ; for, unless the Scripture were entire, it could not be entirely fulfilled. — a<*b TO\J v6pov,from the law) Understand and supply, " or from the prophets" The smallest portion of the law is con trasted with the whole world. — eus av, x.r.x., until, etc.) For righteousness shall dwell in new Heavens and a new Earth. See 2 Pet. iii. 13. — irdvra, all particulars) sc. of the law. Observe the contrast between this and piav, one, in the next verse.1 — yivq- TOU, be fulfilled} They have been fulfilled, and they are being fulfilled by Jesus Christ, [not only in Himself, but] even in Christians : they had not been fulfilled before His coming.
19. Avar,, shall break) The antithetical word to this is -ro/jj^, shall do, wThich occurs further on in this verse. The Scribes, who thought themselves " great," were in the habit of breaking them. The same verb, x{>u, occurs in John vii. 23, and x. 35. — rwruv, of these) those, namely, which follow in ver. 22, 28, etc.— ruv s\a.^i<fTuv, of the least) These precepts, " Thou shalt not kill," etc., are not essentially the least, for in them the whole law is con- to the marginal reading, to the consonants of the corresponding word in the text; e.g. in Jer. xlii. 6, the text exhibits ".?«, the margin **p "snas. Here the vowels in the text belong to the word in the margin, which is to be pro nounced tonas ; but in reading the text las, the proper vowels must be sup plied, making las. A small circle or asterisk over the word in the text al ways directs to the marginal reading." — Gesenius, Heb. Gr, Sect. 17. — (I.B.)
1 In the original, " Antitheton, unum, in v. seq." I have endeavoured in this, as in other instances, to give such a rendering as shall convey Bengel's meaning to the general reader. — (I. B.)