And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe.

“The scroll symbolizes the prophets and the apostles. In it the Old Testament was written on the reverse and the New on the obverse. Moreover, the scroll symbolizes the secret, the spiritual teaching—and in such a dignified manner that it may be read on both sides. In reality it is of such a kind that there is a connection between reading the outside and understanding the inside.”

“and behold, etc. Some things adopt both masculine and feminine gender, such as (Gen. 19:23): “The sun had risen (יָצָא) [msc.] over the earth, etc.”; (Mal. 3:20), “And for you who fear My name, shall the sun of mercy rise (וְזָרְחָה) [fem.]), etc.” [Likewise] (Gen. 32:9), “If Esau comes to the one camp (הָאַחַת) [fem.] and strikes it (וְהִכָּהוּ) [msc.].”

“And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me,.... Not of an angel, but of Christ himself, in a visionary way; for this was not a real hand, but the likeness of one, as in Eze 8:3; and so the Targum here, "and I saw, and behold, the likeness of a hand stretched out on the side to me.'' This symbol was to show that his prophecy, that he was sent to deliver, was from heaven and came from Christ; and that hand that delivered it to him would protect and defend him: and, lo a roll of a book was therein; held in it, and held forth by it, to the prophet. Books were frequently written on parchment or vellum, and rolled about a stick, in form of a cylinder; and hence they were called volumes or rolls, Psa 40:7. This roll was a symbol of the prophecy of this book.”

“Without. This was only done when the work was long. (Calmet) — Scriptus et in tergo, necdum finitus Orestes. (Juvenal 1.) — Septuagint, “past and present things were written in it.” (Haydock) — Woe, or the words of the penitent, of the blessed, and of the damned. (Worthington) — The canticles were of a mournful nature, and the prophet had sorrows to announce. (Calmet) Bible Text & Cross-references: The prophet receives his commission. 1 This *was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke. And he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee. 2 And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me, 3 And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day. 4 And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: 5 If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them. 6 And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house. 7 And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger. 8 But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee. 9 And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: and he spread it before me, *and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe.”

“No form was visible, but a hand. u After the ancient manner of writing on parchment, or other material, which was afterwards rolled up. u Apoc. 6:1. It was usual to write only on one side, unless in very long works, when writing materials were scaroe. The writing on both sides indicates that the matters treated of were many, and of great interest.”