Isaiah 13:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Have you ever seen the Apollo Belvedere? It is the statue of a man, chiselled out of marble, one of the noblest figures that art has ever produced. Do you think that this statue would be made any nobler or more beautiful if men should put gold rings on its fingers and gold bracelets on its wrists, and strings of gold beads upon its neck, and should trick it out with ribbons and buttons and fringes! Would not these tawdry ornaments detract from the simple dignity and majesty of that model of manly grace and strength! Well, the accidents of wealth and rank and office and station cannot add much more of ornament or value to a true man than could trinkets like these to the beauty of the Belvedere Apollo. His manhood itself, to all clear insight, is something infinitely grander and diviner than these belongings. (W. Gladden, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.WEB: I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. |
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