Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless [you].
Ver. 19. Is the seed yet in the barn?] Jerome rendereth it, in germine, in the sprouting, or spirting, as they call it, and so far enough from the harvest; and yet farther, if yet in the barn, and not put into the ground. Nevertheless, for your diligence in building God's house, I assure you, in the word of truth, that you shall have a very great increase, a plentiful harvest.
From this day will I bless you] And it is the blessing of God that maketh rich, as is to be seen in the examples of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Others, whose godliness was their gain, whose piety was profitable to all things, as having the promises of both lives, 1 Timothy 4:8. Now all that are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham, Galatians 3:9, are heirs of the world with him, Romans 4:13, and so have right to all things in Christ, the heir of all things, 1Co 3:22 Hebrews 1:2; though these things on earth be detained from them for the present by those men of God's hand, Psalms 17:14, as Canaan was from Israel by the cursed Amorites, till their sins were full; yet they shall shortly have power over the nations, and (which is better) Christ will give them the morning star, Revelation 2:28; Revelation 22:16, that is, himself, and with himself a cornucopia of spiritual blessings, Ephesians 1:3. The Lord that made heaven and earth will bless them out of Zion, that is, with better blessings than heaven or earth afforded. We read not here of any other blessings but increase of corn, wine, oil, &c., because this people was wholly almost affixed to earthly things. The prophet could not speak wisdom among those that were perfect, 1 Corinthians 2:6. But better things were implied and assured to the godly, as appeareth by the ensuing oracle.