Whilst it [is] yet in his greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb.
Ver. 12. Whilst it is yet in his greenness, &c.] And so withereth not through age, as being but in its shooting up.
And not cut down] Or, cropped off, either by the hands of men or teeth of beasts.
It withereth] For want of water, without store whereof it cannot live. The hypocrite is a sensualist, Jdg 18:19 Job 21:11 Hosea 4:11; he liveth in such miry places as cannot be healed by the waters of the sanctuary, Ezekiel 47:11. He saith, as the vine and the olive in Jotham's parable, I cannot leave my wine, my fat and sweet sins; take away my liquor, you take away my life. He serveth not the Lord Jesus Christ (whatever he pretendeth), but his own belly, Romans 16:17,18. He followeth Christ for the loaves only.
Before any other herb] That is, of less show, but better rooting. These retain their verdure, and look on, as it were, to see the rush wither: so David did by Doeg, Psalms 52:5,6; Psalms 52:8 .