Verse 13
13. standing afar off—as unworthy to draw near; but that was the way to get near (Psalms 34:18; Isaiah 57:15).
would not lift up—blushing and ashamed to do so (Ezra 9:6).
smote, c.—kept smiting for anguish (Luke 23:48), and self-reproach (Jeremiah 31:19).
be merciful—"be propitiated," a very unusual word in such a sense, only once else used in the New Testament, in the sense of "making reconciliation" by sacrifice (Jeremiah 31:19- :). There may therefore, be some allusion to this here, though not likely.
a sinner—literally, "the sinner"; that is, "If ever there was one, I am he."
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