1._And now thus saith Jehovah. _It is hard to say whether this is a different discourse or the same with the former; for the Prophets, whose writings have come down to us, did not separate their discourses into distinct chapters, so as to enable us to know what they spoke each day. For my own part,... [ Continue Reading ]
2_When thou shalt pass through the waters. _This is an anticipation by which he declares that they who rely on God’s immediate assistance have no reason for sinking under adversity. That is stated more fully than in the preceding verse, because while he shews that the Church will not be exempt from... [ Continue Reading ]
3._For I am Jehovah thy God. _He confirms the preceding statement by the experience of the past; for the Lord had formerly assisted his people in such a manner that it was reasonable and proper that believers should safely rely on his grace. We must always remember what we had in the former verse, —... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Because thou wast precious. _Others interpret it “Thou wast honorable, because I raised thee to honor;” but I think that God assigns the reason why he gave up Egypt and Ethiopia to the enemies in their room. It was because he loved them, and because they were dear to him. It ought to be explained... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Fear not. _When Isaiah frequently repeats this exhortation, we ought not to look upon it as superfluous; for we know and feel how prone we are by nature to distrust. Scarcely any words can express the greatness of the alarm by which the Church was at that time shaken. As soon as we begin to call... [ Continue Reading ]
6._I will say to the north. _Under these four parts he includes the whole world, which is very customary in all languages. But Isaiah speaks in somewhat loftier language than Moses, because he wished the people to view the event as if it had actually occurred; and, to such a purpose those lively des... [ Continue Reading ]
7._All called. _Such is my interpretation of this clause, for the Prophet has made use of the singular number instead of the plural. Interpreters have mistaken the import of this mode of expression; for they explain it thus, “Whosoever have been called by my name, I have formed them to my glory.” Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
8._That I may bring out. _The brevity of the words makes the meaning somewhat obscure. Some translate it thus, “I will bring out the blind, and him who hath eyes,” that is, both the blind and them that see, both the deaf and them that hear. Some explain _blind _to mean those who have indeed eyes, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Let all the nations be gathered together. _Here the Prophet, as on former occasions, speaks in the person of God, and bids defiance to all idols. It is highly necessary, and was at that time especially necessary, to distinguish between the true God and false gods. It is easy indeed to ascribe to... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Ye are my witnesses. _After having summoned the Gentiles to a contest, and after having proved that the stories which they circulated concerning their idols were false and unfounded, God now separates himself from the multitude of them, and produces his “witnesses,” that he may not be thought to... [ Continue Reading ]
11._I, I _(167) _am Jehovah. _Here the Lord employs lofty language, as having obtained the victory. Already he had sufficiently explained in what manner he must be known, and had shewn that there is no God except himself; and now, in order to confirm this doctrine, he exclaims, “I alone am Jehovah,... [ Continue Reading ]
12._I have told and have saved. _This verse is a sort of recapitulation ( ἀνακεφαλαίωσις) of the preceding; for Jehovah again relates that he foretold future events, and that he had actually accomplished what he foretold. To _tell _relates to foreknowledge, and to _save _relates to power and goodnes... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Even before the day was. _He now speaks of the eternity of God; but we must attend to the Prophet’s design; for he who has a beginning and is not from himself, cannot rule by his dominion, or govern according to his pleasure, what he has not created. When, therefore, God declares that he is eter... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Thus saith Jehovah. _The Prophet shews that Cyrus will be but a hired soldier, to render his services to the Lord for delivering his people. He does not indeed name Cyrus, but speaks of the army which he has under his command for subduing the Babylonians. ‘We know that this was accomplished by C... [ Continue Reading ]
15._I Jehovah. _This verse contains no statement, and only shews who it is that speaks, how great is his power and majesty, and, in a word, how warmly he loves the elect people, so as to give greater weight to the former promise. In short, it may be viewed as the seal of the preceding statement, mor... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Thus saith Jehovah. _He again repeats and confirms what was otherwise incredible; and, in order that this confirmation may have greater weight, he personates God himself. _Who maketh a way in the sea. _He reminds them of former benefits, that, having experienced his power and kindness, they may... [ Continue Reading ]
17._When he bringeth out. _He shows that no power or forces shall hinder him from delivering his people, whenever he shall think proper. The sea which lay between them could not prevent God from “bringing out” his people; but he divided its waters in the midst, and drowned the pursuing enemies, with... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Remember not former things. _Hitherto the Prophet shewed how great was the power of God in delivering the people. He now declares that all the miracles which God wrought in that first redemption were of little importance as compared with the more remarkable miracle which should soon be wrought;... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Behold, I do a new thing. _This shews more clearly what the Prophet meant in the preceding verse, for he declares that there shall be “a new work,” that is, a work unheard of and uncommon, and which, on account of its greatness and excellence, shall throw into the shade the reputation of all oth... [ Continue Reading ]
20._The beast of the field shall honor me. _He adorns the preceding statement; for, amidst such a desperate condition of affairs, it was proper that magnificent language should be employed in extolling the power of God, that words might supply what seemed to be wanting in the reality. The meaning is... [ Continue Reading ]
21._This people have I created for myself. _The Prophet means that the Lord will necessarily do what he formerly said, because it concerns his glory to preserve the people whom he has chosen for himself; and therefore these words are intended for the consolation of the people. “Do you think that I w... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And thou hast not called on me. _He confirms by an indirect reproof what he said in the preceding verse, that it was not by any merits of his people that he was induced to act so kindly towards them. This deliverance, therefore, ought to be ascribed to no other cause than to the goodness of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Theft hast not brought to me. _A question arises, “Why does the Prophet bring this reproach against the Jews, who, it is evident, were very careful to offer sacrifices according to the injunction of the Law?” Some refer this to the time of the captivity, when they could not have offered sacrific... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Thou hast not bought cane for me. _He means the _cane _or _calamus _of which the precious ointment was composed, as we are informed, (Exodus 30:23;) for the high priests, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, together with its vessels, were anointed with it he says, t... [ Continue Reading ]
25._I, I am he. _(170) He concludes the former statement by this exclamation, as if he had said, that he may boast of his right, that he blots out the iniquities of his people, and restores them to freedom; for they have no merits by which they could obtain it, since they deserve the severest punish... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Bring to my remembrance. _Because the pride of men cannot be easily corrected, the Lord pursues this argument, and dwells much upon it, in order to lead the Jews to throw away all confidence in their works, and to make them more humble, he gives them liberty to say and argue whatever they please... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Thy first father sinned. _This passage is almost universally understood to refer to the “first parent” Adam. (Genesis 3:6.) Some prefer to interpret it as relating to Abraham; as if he had said, “You have not alone sinned, but your father Abraham himself sinned, though he was a man of eminent h... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Therefore I will pollute. _The copulative ו _(vau) _here means _therefore, _and the preterite tense, _I have polluted, _ought to have a future signification, though it may also be rendered in the past tense; but I have preferred the future, in order to apply it to the time of the captivity; for... [ Continue Reading ]