¹ sn The response to these messengers determines how God’s blessing is bestowed—if the messengers are not welcomed, their blessing will return to them. Jesus shows just how important their mission is by this remark.

¹ sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.

² tn Heb “rising early in the morning” (so KJV, ASV). The infinitive explains the verb “bless,” giving the circumstances of its action. The individual rises early to give his blessing.

³ sn You bring him rich blessings. The following context indicates that God’s “blessings” include deliverance/protection, vindication, sustained life, and a long, stable reign (see also Pss 3:8; 24:5).

² tn Heb “upon your people [is] your blessing.” In this context God’s “blessing” includes deliverance/protection, vindication, and sustained life (see Pss 21:3, 6; 24:5).

² tn The word אַשְׁרֵי (ʾashre, “blessed”) is often rendered “happy.” But “happy” relates to what happens. “Blessed” is a reference to the heavenly bliss of the one who is right with God.

¹ tn Heb “and may he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you.” The name “Abraham” is an objective genitive here; this refers to the blessing that God gave to Abraham.

² tn The Hitpael is understood here as reflexive/reciprocal, “will bless [i.e., pronounce blessings on] themselves/one another.” It could possibly it could mean “they may find/receive blessing;” see the note at Gen 22:18. Elsewhere the Hitpael of the verb “to bless” is used with a reflexive/reciprocal sense in Deut 29:18; Ps 72:17; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2. For examples of blessing formulae utilizing an individual as an example of blessing see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11. For the meaning of the Niphal in formulations of the Abrahamic covenant see notes at Gen 12:3; 18:18; 28:14. NASB presents the traditional passive rendering “will be blessed” with a note that it may mean “bless themselves.”

³ tn The words “blessed are” are repeated from the beginning of this verse for stylistic reasons and for clarity.

¹ sn Made rich refers to how God richly blessed the Corinthians with an abundance of spiritual gifts (cf. v. 7).

² tn Grk “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed!”

² sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

³ tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ sn Mary is seen here as an example of an object of God’s grace (blessed) for all generations.

³ sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

² sn The assumption is that the rich are blessed, so if they risk exclusion, who is left to be saved?

² sn The blessings described in vv. 25-30 are those promised for obedience in Lev 26:4-13.

¹ sn In Ezek 11:19 and 36:26 the new heart and new spirit are promised as future blessings.

¹ tn Heb “all who see them will recognize them, that they [are] descendants [whom] the Lord has blessed.”

¹ sn Light here symbolizes God’s favor and restored blessing, as the immediately following context makes clear.