General Introduction to Isaiah 40–66 It is admitted, on all hands, that the second part of Isaiah, comprising the prophecies which commence at the fortieth chapter, and which continue to the end of the book, is to be regarded as the most sublime, and to us the most important part of the Old Testamen... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE - This is the exordium, or the general subject of this and the following chapters. The commencement is abrupt, as often happens in Isaiah and the other prophets. The scene where this vision is laid is in Babylon; the time near the close of the captivity. The topic, o... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK YE COMFORTABLY - Hebrew, על־לב _‛__al_-_lēb_ as in the margin, ‘To the heart.’ The heart is the seat of the affections. It is there that sorrow and joy are felt. We are oppressed there with grief, and we speak familiarly of being pained at the heart and of being of a glad or merry heart. To s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF HIM THAT CRIETH - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘A voice crieth,’ and annex the phrase ‘in the wilderness’ to the latter part of the sentence: A voice crieth, ‘In the wilderness prepare ye the way of Yahweh.’ The Hebrew (קורא קול _qôl_ _qôrē'_) will bear this construction, though the... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED - That is, every valley, or low piece of ground, shall be filled up so as to make a level highway, as was done in order to facilitate the march of armies. This verse is evidently designed to explain what is intended in Isaiah 40:3, by preparing the way for Yahweh. Appli... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD - The phrase here means evidently the majesty, power, or honor of Yahweh. He would display his power, and show himself to be a covenant-keeping God, by delivering his people from their bondage, and reconducting them to their own land. This glory and faithfulness would be sh... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE SAID - Or rather ‘a voice.’ Isaiah represents himself here again as hearing a voice. The word ‘the’ introduced in our translation, mars the sense, inasmuch as it leads to the supposition that it was the voice of the same person or crier referred to in Isaiah 40:3. But it is different. That... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRASS WITHERETH - Soon withers. Its beauty is soon gone. THE FLOWER FADETH - Soon fades; or fades when the wind of Yahweh passes over it. So is also with man. He loses his vigor, and dies at once when Yahweh takes away his strength and beauty. BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD BLOWETH UPON IT - Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRASS WITHERETH ... - This is repeated from the former verse for the sake of emphasis, or strong confirmation. BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD - The phrase ‘word of our God,’ refers either to his promise to be the protector and deliverer of his people in their captivity, or, in general, means that all... [ Continue Reading ]
O ZION, THAT BRINGEST GOOD TIDINGS - This is evidently the continuance of what the ‘voice’ said, or of the annunciation which was to give joy to an afflicted and oppressed people. There has been, however, much diversity of opinion in regard to the meaning of the passage. The margin renders it, ‘Thou... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE LORD GOD WILL COME - (See the note at Isaiah 40:3) Applied to the condition of the Jews in exile, this means that God would come to deliver them. Applied to the times of the Messiah, it means that God would manifest himself in a powerful manner as mighty to save. WITH STRONG HAND - (בחזק... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK - In the previous verse, the fact had been asserted that God would come to subdue his foes, and to reward his people. In this verse, the mild and gentle character of his government over his people is predicted. It would not be that of a conqueror over vanquished subjects; but... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH MEASURED - The object in this and the following verses to Isaiah 40:26, is to show the greatness, power, and majesty of God, by strong contrast with his creatures, and more especially with idols. Perhaps the prophet designed to meet and answer an implied objection: that the work of delivera... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH DIRECTED - This passage is quoted by Paul in Romans 11:34, and referred to by him in 1 Corinthians 2:16. The word rendered ‘directed’ here (תכן _tikēn_) is the same which is used in the previous verse, ‘and meted out heaven.’ The idea here is, ‘Who has fitted, or disposed the mind or spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH WHOM TOOK HE COUNSEL - The sentiment of the former verse is repeated here, in order, probably, to make it more emphatic. IN THE PATH OF JUDGMENT - The way of judging correctly and wisely; or the way of administering justice. It denotes here his boundless wisdom as it is seen in the various arr... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE NATIONS - All the nations of the earth. This is designed to show the greatness of God, in comparison with that which strikes man as great - a mighty nation; and the main object seems to be, to show that God could accomplish his purposes without their aid, and that they could not resist h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LEBANON - The expression here refers to the trees or the cedars of Lebanon. Thus it is rendered by the Chaldee: ‘And the trees of Lebanon.’ For a description of Lebanon, see the note at Isaiah 10:34. It is probable that the word Lebanon here is not used in the limited sense in which it is someti... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE AS NOTHING - This expresses literally what had been expressed by the beautiful and striking imagery above. LESS THAN NOTHING - A strong hyperbolic expression denoting the utter insignificance of the nations as compared with God. Such expressions are common in the Scriptures. AND VANITY - Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM THEN WILL YE LIKEN GOD? - Since he is so great, what can resemble him? What form can be made like him? The main idea here intended to be conveyed by the prophet evidently is, that God is great and glorious, and worthy of the confidence of his people. This idea he illustrates by a reference t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORKMAN - The Hebrew word denotes an artificer of any kind, and is applied to one who engraved on wood or stone Exodus 28:2; to a workman in iron, brass, stone, wood Exodus 35:35; Deuteronomy 27:15; or an artisan, or artificer in general. It here refers manifestly to a man who worked in the meta... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS SO IMPOVERISHED - So poor. So it is generally supposed that the word used here is to be understood, though interpreters have not been entirely agreed in regard to its signification. The Septuagint renders the phrase, ‘The carpenter chooseth a sound piece of wood.’ The Chaldee. ‘He cuts do... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE YE NOT KNOWN? - This is evidently an address to the worshippers of idols, and either designed to be addressed to the Jews themselves in the times of Manasseh, when idolatry abounded, or to all idolaters. The prophet had in the previous verses shown the manner in which the idols were made, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS HE THAT SITTETH - Margin, ‘Him that sitteth,’ that is, have you not known him? The Hebrew literally means ‘the sitter, or he sitting on the circle of the each;’ and it may be connected either with Isaiah 40:21, ‘Have ye not known him sitting on the circle of the earth?’ or with Isaiah 40:18, ‘... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BRINGETH THE PRINCES TO NOTHING - That is, all princes and kings. No matter how great their power, their wealth, and their dignity, they are, by his hand, reduced to nothing before him. The design of this passage is to contrast the majesty of God with that of princes and nobles, and to show how... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THEY SHALL NOT BE PLANTED - The kings and rulers - especially they who oppose God in the execution of his purposes. The idea in this verse is, that their name and family should become extinct in the same way as a tree does from which no shoot starts up. Although they were great and mighty, like... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM THEN WILL YE LIKEN ME? - (See Isaiah 40:18) The prophet having thus set forth the majesty and glory of God, asks now with great emphasis, what could be an adequate and proper representation of such a God. And if God was such a Being, how great was the folly of idolatry, and how vain all thei... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH - Direct your eyes toward heaven, and in the contemplation of the wonders of the starry world, and of God’s power there, learn the evidence of his ability to destroy his foes and to save his friends. Lowth connects this verse with the former, and renders it: ‘Saith the Hol... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SAYEST THOU? - This verse is designed to reprove the people for their want of confidence in God. The idea is, ‘If God is so great; if be arranges the hosts of heaven with such unerring skill, causing all the stars to observe their proper place and their exact times, the interests of his people a... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU NOT KNOWN? - This is the language of the prophet reproving them for complaining of being forsaken and assuring them that God was faithful to his promises. This argument of the prophet, which continues to the close of the chapter, comprises the main scope of the chapter, which is to induce... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GIVETH POWER TO THE FAINT - To his weak and feeble people. This is one of his attributes; and his people, therefore, should put their trust in him, and look to him for aid (compare 2 Corinthians 12:9). The design of this verse is to give consolation to the afflicted and down-trodden people in Bab... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THE YOUTHS SHALL FAINT - The most vigorous young men, those in whom we expect manly strength, and who are best suited to endure hardy toil. They become weary by labor. Their powers are soon exhausted. The design here is, to contrast the most vigorous of the human race with God, and to show that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD - The word rendered ‘wait upon’ here (from קוה _qâvâh_), denotes properly to wait, in the sense of expecting. The phrase, ‘to wait on Yahweh,’ means to wait for his help; that is, to trust in him, to put our hope or confidence in him. It is applicable to those who... [ Continue Reading ]