*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The very hairs of your head are all numbered - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God.
He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be. He will therefore take care of you.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered - Nothing is more astonishing than the care and concern of God for his followers. The least circumstances of their life are regulated, not merely by that general providence which extends to all things, but by a particular providence, which fits and directs all things to the design of their salvation, causing them all to co-operate for their present and eternal good. Romans 5:1-5.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. A proverbial expression, showing the perfect knowledge God has, and the exquisite care he takes, in providence, of all his creatures, particularly men, and especially his dear children and faithful ministers; as not a sparrow, so not a single hair of a man's head falls to the ground without the knowledge, and will of God: a way of speaking sometimes used to signify, that not the least hurt or damage should befall a person; see 1-Samuel 14:45 and the phraseology of the text was in use, and very well known by the Jews; for so they represent God speaking (i);
"do not I number all the hairs of every creature?''
As our Lord applies this particularly to his disciples, his sense is, that they had no reason to be afraid of men, or fear anything that should befall them, for their bearing a faithful testimony to him; for, their valuable lives were under the special and peculiar care of divine providence; not only the days, months, and years of their lives were with God, and put down in his book of purposes and decrees, which could neither be shortened nor lengthened; and not only the more principal, and even all the members of their bodies were written in his book of providence, and a singular care taken of them; but even their very excrescences, the more minute parts, and which were of no great account with them, the "hairs" of their head", even "all" of them, were not only known, but numbered", taken account of; yea, the thing was done already, it was not to be done; a very strong way of setting forth the doctrine of divine providence: a doctrine which the Jews were not unacquainted with, who say (k);
"that the events of man, and accidents which come upon him, , "are all by", or "in the hands of God";''
and (l) that
"nothing is by chance, but all things are "with design";''
or, as they elsewhere say (m),
"a man does not hurt his finger below, but they proclaim concerning it above;''
that is, as the gloss explains it, , "it is decreed" concerning it: which comes very near to the phrase here used.
(i) Pesikta, fol. 18. 4. apud Drusium in loc. (k) Piske Tosaphot ad Cetubot, art. 119. (l) Kimchi in Ps. civ. 4. (m) T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 7. 2.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered--See Luke 21:18 (and compare for the language 1-Samuel 14:45; Acts 27:34).
The very hairs of your head are all numbered. An assurance of the most special providence over all Christ's disciples. The next verse shows to whom the blessed assurance applies.
*More commentary available at chapter level.