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Mat_9:36. Ἰδὼν δέ ] in the course of this journey.
τοὺς ὄχλους ] who were following Him
ἐσκυλμένοι ] What is meant is not a herd torn by wolves (Bretschneider), which would neither suit the words nor be a fitting illustration of the crowds that followed Him; but a dense flock of sheep which, from having no shepherd, and consequently no protection, help, pasture, and guidance, are in a distressing, painful condition (vexati, Vulg.); and ἐῤῥιμμένοι , not scattered (Luther, Beza, Kuinoel, Baumgarten-Crusius, Bleek), which is not the meaning of ῥίπτειν , nor even neglecti (Soph. Aj. 1250), like the German weggeworfen (castaway), (Kypke, Fritzsche, de Wette), which would be too feeble, coming after ἐσκυλμ .; but prostrati, thrown down, stretched upon the ground (frequently in the LXX. and Apocrypha), like sheep exhausted, that are unable to walk any farther (Vulg.: jacentes). Comp. Xenoph. Mem. iii. 1. 7; Herodian, iii. 12. 18, vi. 8. 15; Polyb. v. 48. 2. Jesus was moved with compassion for them, because they happened to be in such a plight (essent; notice how He has expressed His pity in this illustration), and then utters what follows about the harvest and the labourers. We have therefore to regard ἐσκυλμ . and ἐῤῥιμμ . as illustrations of spiritual misery, which are naturally suggested by the sight of the exhausted and prostrate multitudes (that had followed Him for a long distance).
The form ῥεριμμένοι (Lachm. with spir. len.) is found only in D. See Lobeck, Paral. p. 13; Kühner, I. p. 508; and for the usual spir. asp., Göttling, Accentl. p. 205. On the form ἐριμμένοι , adopted by Tischendorf after B C à , etc., consult Kühner, I. p. 903.