again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these apostates, who are filly compared to dogs and swine and likewise their irreclaimable and irrecoverable state and condition, it being impossible they should be otherwise, unless their natures were changed and altered. In the Hebrew language, a "sow" is called from the root which signifies to "return", because that creature, as soon as it is out of the mire and dirt, and is washed from its filthiness, naturally returns to it again: so such apostates return to what they were before, to their former principles and practices: in this manner the Jews explain the proverb, "Tobiah returns to Tobiah, as it is said, Pro 26:11 ; as a dog returneth to his vomit (r).'' (r) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 16. fol. 158. 4. Next: 2 Peter Chapter 3 Sacred Texts | Bible « Previous: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: 2 Peter: 2 Pe... Index Next: John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible: 2 Peter: 2 Pe... »