Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
2. My doctrine ] Lit. my taking, what I have received and take to men, my message; cp. St Paul 1Co 11:23, . Or alternatively, what I have apprehended or learned; so commonly in the Wisdom literature for instruction or learning, Pro 1:5; Pro 4:2; Pro 9:9 (cp. Isa 29:24), but also for apprehensibleness, persuasiveness, Pro 16:21; Pro 16:23.
My speech ] Sam., LXX, Syr. prefix and.
small rain ] Heb. s e. rm, only here (therefore Lag. emends to r e ssm rain-drops or fine rain, Son 5:2). Translate mist. The word may be connected with se‘ar, hair (Ar. sha‘ir, ‘to be hairy’), as the Scot. haar and Lincolnshire harr = ‘sea-mist’ are connected with ‘hair.’ Musil, however, says that certain Arab tribes who connect the successive winter-rains with different stars or constellations, call the fourth of the series esh-She‘ri or She‘ra, meaning ‘the Sirius-rain.’
tender grass ] Heb. dsh, fresh young grass.
showers ] Heb. r e bbm, lit. lavish or frequent showers; Ar. rababa, ‘much water.’
Thus the Song strikes its keynote the note to which it returns in the end after its indictment of the people of quickening and refreshing power for the tender hopes of Israel after the long drought of their captivity. Others think that the figure includes that of a heating and sweeping rain for the rebellious (so a Chaldee para-phrast), as if it were meant that the Song would be a savour of life unto life to some, but of death unto death to others. This is not borne out by the terms of this v.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. My doctrine] likchi, from lakach, to take, carry away; to attract or gain over the heart by eloquence or persuasive speech. Hence the Septuagint translate the word , an apophthegm, a sententious and weighty saying, for the regulation of the moral conduct such, properly, are the sayings in this inimitable ode.
Shall drop as the rain] It shall come drop by drop as the shower, beginning slowly and distinctly, but increasing more and more till the plenitude of righteousness is poured down, and the whole canon of Divine revelation completed.
My speech shall distil as the dew] imrathi; my familiar, friendly, and affectionate speeches shall descend gently and softly, on the ear and the heart, as the dew, moistening and refreshing all around. In hot regions dew is often a substitute for rain, without it there could be no fertility, especially in those places where rain seldom falls. And in such places only can the metaphor here used be felt in its perfection. Homer uses a similar figure when speaking of the eloquence of Ulysses; he says, Il. iii., ver. 221: –
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“But when he speaks what elocution flows!
Soft as the fleeces of descending snows.”
On the manner in which dew is produced, philosophers are not yet agreed. It was long supposed to descend, and to differ only from rain as less from more; but the experiments of a French chemist seemed to prove that dew ascended in light thin vapours, and that, meeting with a colder region of the air, it became condensed and fell down upon the earth. Other recent experiments, though they have not entirely invalidated the former, have rendered the doctrine of the ascent of dew doubtful. Though we know nothing certain as to the manner of its production, yet we know that the thing exists, and that it is essentially useful. So much we know of the sayings of our God, and the blessed effects produced by them: God hath spoken, and the entering in of his words gives light and life. See Clarke on Ge 2:6.
As the small rain] seirim, from saar, to be rough or tempestuous; sweeping showers, accompanied with a strong gale of wind.
And as the showers] rebibim, from rabah to multiply, to increase greatly; shower after shower, or rather a continual rain, whose drops are multiplied beyond calculation, upon the earth; alluding perhaps to the rainy seasons in the East, or to those early and latter rains so essentially necessary for the vegetation and perfection of the grain.
No doubt these various expressions point out that great variety in the word or revelation of God whereby it is suited to every place, occasion, person, and state; being “profitable for doctrine, reproof, and edification in righteousness.” Hence the apostle says that GOD, at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, and in these last times has spoken unto us by his Son; Heb 1:1-2. By every prophet, evangelist, and apostle, God speaks a particular language; all is his doctrine, his great system of instruction, for the information and salvation of the souls of men. But some portions are like the sweeping showers, in which the tempest of God’s wrath appears against sinners. Others are like the incessant showers of gentle rain, preparing the soil for the germination of the grain, and causing it to take root. And others still are like the dew, mildly and gently insinuating convictions, persuasions, reproofs, and consolations. The preacher of righteousness who wishes to handle this word profitably, must attend closely to those distinctions, that he may rightly divide the word of truth, and give each of his hearers his portion of the bread of life in due season.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Look what effect rain and dew have upon herbs and grass, which they make fresh and fragrant and growing, the same effect I may justly expect and hope that my discourse will have upon your hearts, i.e. to make them soft and pliable and fruitful. Or this may be a prayer, Let my doctrine drop, &c. Oh that it might do so, that my discourse might not be lost upon you, but be profitable to you! the future tense of the indicative mood being put for the imperative mood, as is usual.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2, 3. My doctrine shall drop,c.The language may justly be taken as uttered in the form of awish or prayer, and the comparison of wholesome instruction to thepure, gentle, and insinuating influence of rain or dew, is frequentlymade by the sacred writers (Isa 5:6Isa 55:10; Isa 55:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew,…. Which some, as Aben Ezra, take to be a prayer or wish, that the doctrine spoken by him might fall upon men like rain and dew on the earth, penetrate into their hearts, and influence them, and produce good effects there; but the words rather seem to be a prophecy of what would be: and by his “doctrine” and “speech”, which signify the same thing, is meant, not his law, which was fiery, this cooling, like rain and dew; that was like a storm, this as a gentle rain; that was terrible, this desirable; that was distressing, this refreshing, this no other than the Gospel, the speech of God, the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of grace, and mercy through him, and of life and salvation by him: it has its name from a word, which signifies to “receive” f; for it was received from God by Moses, and by the prophets after him, by Christ himself, as Mediator, and by the apostles from him, and is worthy of the acceptation of all: this is comparable to “rain”, because, like that, it comes from heaven, is the gift of God, tarries not for man, but comes without any desert of man, and often without his desire; falls by divine direction in places and on persons, as the Lord’s will and pleasure is, and that in great plenty, with a fulness of spiritual blessings, and precious promises; and for its effects, it cools the conscience, filled with fiery wrath and indignation, moistens and softens the hard heart, like the dry and parched earth, refreshes and revives the drooping spirit, and makes barren souls fruitful in grace and good works: and it is like “dew”, which also is from heaven, and of God, fell in the night of the world; and as that falls in a temperate air, so this, when the stormy dispensation of the law was over; and though but a small thing in the eyes of the world, is of great influence, the power of God unto salvation, very grateful and delightful, and of great moment and importance; hereby the love and favour of God is diffused, the blessings of grace dispensed, the heavenly manna communicated, and the Spirit and his graces received: and this, like rain and dew, “drops” and “distils” silently, not in a noisy manner as the law; insensibly, falling on persons at an unawares, in great abundance, like the drops of rain and dew; and effectually, working in all that believe: dew was a symbol of doctrine with the Egyptians g: this is further illustrated:
as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: the first of those words for “rain”, according to Jarchi, has the signification of a stormy wind, but that seems to contradict the gentle dropping and distilling of it; rather it signifies “hairs” h, and denotes, as our version, the smallness of the rain, being as small, thin, and light as hairs; and the latter word i has the signification of millions and thousands, there being such vast, numbers as those in a shower of rain: the “tender herb” and “grass” may denote the multitude of persons to whom the Gospel would come, and be made useful; and may describe sensible sinners, tender consciences, such as are weak in themselves, with whom it is the day of small things, are newborn babes, little children; who are just springing up in grace, as among the grass, and as willows by the water courses: now all this is said by Moses, to recommend his doctrine, as well as what follows.
f a “accepit”. g Hor. Hieroglyph. l. 1. c. 26. h a “pilus”, Lev. xiii. 10. i a “multum”, see Psal. cxliv. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain. Some, as I think improperly, here resolve the future tense into the optative mood, (248) for in this splendid eulogium he rather celebrates, in order to commend his doctrine, the fruitfulness (249) which is actually imparted to it by the Holy Spirit, than asks for it to be given to him; and my readers must at once perceive that such a request would have been by no means seasonable. He therefore compares his speech to rain or dew, as if he had said that, if only the people were like the soil in a state of softness and preparation, he would deliver doctrine to them which would irrigate them unto abundant fruitfulness.
Although this expression refers especially, and κατ ᾿ ἐξοχὴν to the Song, still its force and propriety extends to all divine teaching; for God never speaks except to render men fruitful in good works, just as, by instilling succulency and vigor into the earth by means of rain, He makes it fertile for the production of fruit. But, like the rocks and stones, which imbibe no moisture from the most abundant rains, so many are hindered by their own perversity from being fertilized by spiritual irrigation. Wherefore Moses indirectly throws the blame upon the Israelites, if the doctrine of this Song should drop upon them in vain.
(248) So the LXX., V. , Vatablus, Junius, and others. Ainsworth combines the two, and says, “ shall drop, or let it drop, as being a wish, and also a promise, that his doctrine should be profitable and effectual,” etc.
(249) “L’eloquence.” — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) My doctrine.Or, my learning, that which I receivea not very common, but beautiful expression in the Hebrew. Everything that comes down from the Father of lights is handed on by one heavenly messenger to another, until it falls upon the heart of man, in just that form in which he can best receive it. The Son of God says, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. I speak that which I have seen with my Father. Of the Holy Spirit He says, He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you. The apostles speak in words which the Holy Ghost teacheth. The parallels of the verse appear to be these:My learning shall drop as the rain; My speech shall distil as the dew, as the sweeping showers upon the tender herb, as the multitude of drops upon the grass. The small rain of the Authorised Version points to a different and probably untenable derivation of the Hebrew word. The rain is more definite than the dew, and therefore the first word in the second half of the verse should be stronger than the second, and not vice vers. The tender herb just sprouting can bear heavier showers than the grown grass.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain This may be rendered,
Let my doctrine drop as the rain,
And my words fall as the dew.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain That is, As the rain which falls upon the earth is ordained to fertilize and nourish the plants and animals, so the heavenly doctrine, proceeding from God himself, is proper to open the understanding, soften the heart, and produce the most happy fruits. This metaphor is frequently used in Scripture, as well as in prophane authors. See Job 29:22. Isa 45:8; Isa 55:10-11. Pro 25:14 and Homer, Iliad. 3: ver. 222. The corresponding clause is, my speech should distil as the dew, which is considered as the especial cause of fertility, or of the perfection of the fruits of the earth. Nor is this a merely popular opinion. Dew, is not simple and crude water; it is water which has circulated through the tubes of plants, and which is itself impregnated with those most pure and subtile nutritive particles, which have evaporated through the pores of plants. This is Mr. Scheuchzer’s observation. One would wonder that any commentators should so little feel the poetic energy of this passage, as to assert, that it should be rendered, let my doctrine drop as the rain; as if it were a prayer, not a beautiful and emphatical assertion, worthy the fine apostrophe in the 1st verse.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Apply this to the gospel, and observe how suited the figure is. The gospel is from heaven, so is the rain. The gospel is a blessing wheresoever it comes: so is the rain. The gospel acts sweetly and unperceived in the mind of him that receives the truth in the love of it; so doth the dew and the rain. Believers are born from above: so doth the rain come down from above. The people of GOD are numerous, though comparatively a little flock: so are the dew drops of the morning. See those sweet scriptures, Psa 110:3 ; Mic 5:7 ; Joh 1:13 ; Psa 72:6 ; Job 38:28 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
Ver. 2. My doctrine. ] Heb., My taking or winning doctrine: according to that in Pro 11:30 . “He that winneth” (Heb., taketh) “souls” – as fowlers do birds – “is wise.”
Shall drop as the rain.
O .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
doctrine. Hebrew. lekah. First occurrence. = good teaching.
My speech = the words of my mouth.
as the dew. Compare Mic 5:7.
showers. First occurrence. Hebrew. rebibim. Elsewhere: Psa 65:10; Psa 72:6. Jer 3:3; Jer 14:22. Mic 5:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
drop: 2Sa 23:4, Job 29:22, Job 29:23, Psa 72:6, Isa 55:10, Isa 55:11, Hos 6:4, Hos 14:5, 1Co 3:6-8, Heb 6:7
as the showers: Mic 5:7, Zec 10:1
Reciprocal: Gen 27:28 – of the dew Num 11:9 – General Deu 33:13 – the dew Deu 33:28 – his Jdg 6:37 – Behold Psa 49:3 – mouth Pro 4:2 – good Pro 16:24 – Pleasant Isa 26:19 – thy dew Eze 20:46 – and drop Eze 21:2 – and drop Hos 6:3 – as the rain Joe 2:23 – the former Amo 7:16 – and drop Zec 8:12 – the heavens Heb 2:2 – spoken
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 32:2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain As nothing is more grateful to the thirsty earth than gentle showers, so there cannot be any thing more acceptable to those who are desirous of knowing the divine will than the revelation of it. And as the dew and rain gently falling soften and refresh the earth, producing both verdure and fertility; so my doctrine, or the words I am going to speak, if received into peoples minds in faith and love, will cause them to grow in grace and goodness, and produce the fruits of righteousness. Or it may be rendered, Let my doctrine drop, &c. Accordingly the learned Bishop Patrick understands this as a prayer, that his words, which were sent from heaven to them, might sink into their hearts and soften them, as the rain doth the earth, and so make them fruitful in obedience.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
32:2 My {b} doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
(b) He desires that he may speak to God’s glory and that the people, as the green grass, may receive the dew of his doctrine.