Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Then ( 'aaz (H227)) - when sacrifices and offerings, such as the Mosaic law prescribed, were proved not to be what God desired for the expiation of sin, or even for the perfect fulfillment of the law of obedience. Then, "when the fullness of the time was come" (Galatians 4:4). The Son was from eternity willing, but at His advent He openly showed His willingness in act. On His marvelous willingness, even unto death, cf. Mark 10:32-34; Luke 9:51.
Said I, Lo, I come. Christ's voluntary coming into our fallen world is the most perfect exhibition of the obedience to God's will which was expressed in the words (Psalms 40:6), "Mine ears hast thou opened." Compare also Psalms 40:8.
In the volume ( bimªgilat (H4039 ), roll; from gaalal (H1556 )) of the book it is written of me. "The volume of the book" is the roll of the Scripture, which contained the Pentateuch. It was written from the earliest time on prepared skins or parchment, which, when not in use, was rolled round a wooden cylinder. The absence of the article in the Hebrew is no objection to the Pentateuch being meant; because the phrase was understood by all Israelites as referring to the one grand statute-book, the Magna Charta of their constitution, the Pentateuch, without the article being needed. The Hebrew for "book" х ceeper (H5612)] implies a complete account of events; from saphar, to count. It marks that the sacred writings form one whole. Like the term "Scripture" х grafee (G1124) or grafai (G1124)], it is peculiarly applied to the inspired writings. The Hebrew for "of me" is literally 'upon,' or 'concerning х `al (H5921)] me.' Luke 24:44; John 5:45, "Moses wrote of me." Hengstenberg translates, 'it is prescribed to me,' as the Hebrew, 2 Kings 22:13; Joshua 1:7; 1 Kings 2:3. Even so, the sense is not materially altered. 'I, Messiah, come to fulfill all that the will of God, expressed in the Pentateuch by predictions, promises, and types, has prescribed to me.' What was written of Messiah before His coming, was virtually written to Him as His rule, since He came to fulfill the law. The Septuagint, Vulgate, Chaldaic, Syriac, and Ethiopic support the English version.