431. 'Wound' and 'bruise' mean a condition that was no longer sound, 'wound' in particular meaning 'bruise' charity that had been laid waste. This is clear from the fact that wound has reference to 'a man' and bruise to 'a little one'. The same words are used in Isaiah to describe the desolation of faith and the laying waste of charity,
From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but a wound, bruising, and running sores. They are not pressed out, nor bound up, nor softened with oil. Isa 1:6.
Here 'wound' has reference to faith which had been desolated, 'bruise' to charity that had been laid waste, and 'sores' to both.
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