Ezechiel — Chapter 9
These annotations are from the original 1609 Douay Old Testament, the first complete English Catholic Bible translation, produced by English scholars in exile at the English College of Douai. The archaic spelling is preserved.
This content was digitized from the original 1609 Douay (Old Testament) and 1582 Rheims (New Testament) print editions by OCR. The OCR process sometimes confused print page numbers with verse numbers, and may have assigned annotations to the wrong chapter. Chapter and verse labels on this page reflect the OCR output from the original print pagination and may not correspond to canonical Scripture chapter/verse numbers. For canonical reference, consult a standard Douay-Rheims edition. The annotation texts themselves are authentic 1609/1582 Douay-Rheims content.
Verse 4
Signe Thau vpon the foreheads.] Most of the Hebrew Rabbins, as also the Septuagint, likewise Aquila, and Symmachus translate THAV, according to the signification of the Hebrew word, a signe: as if it were commanded only in general to set one signe or other, not anie determinate certaine signe or marke, on the foreheads of the men that mourne and lament vpon the abominations, that are done in Ierusalem. But as wel some other Hebrew Rabbins, with the Chaldee Paraphrasis, as also Theodotion, and in manner al other ancient Latin Interpreters, whom S. Ierom followeth, translate as in the vulgate Edition, signe Thau vpon the foreheads of the men that mourne, &c. That is, marke their foreheads with IHAV, the last Hebrew letter, which in the old Hebrew characters, vsed euen to S. Ieroms time by the Samaritans, hath the similitude and forme of a Crosse. So expressing a particular determinate signe; as when the Angel slew the first-borne of Aegypt, the Israelites houses were distinctly marked with bloud, sprinkled on the posts of their dores: mystically signifying our B. Sauiours most sacred bloud to be shed for Redemption of mankind: so also this letter THAV bearing the forme of a Crosse, formed in the forehead of the mourners, it signified the Crosse, wheron Christ our Lord should dye, and redeeme vs from sinne. Which signe, as it was then prefiguratiue, and prophetical: so now it is representatiue, and commemoratiue of our Redemption made by our B. Sauiour, on the holie Crosse. That we may truly glorie in Christ, and that with our great Apostle S. Paul, in CHRIST CRUCIFIED: With great reason therefore (1. Cor. 2.) hath the whole Church of Christ singularly esteemed, and continually vsed this holie Signe of the Crosse in al Diuine Mysteries, and godlie workes, euen from the Apostles time.