This chapter Isaiah 6:1 contains a very sublime description of the manifestation of Yahweh to Isaiah, and of a solemn commission to him to declare his purposes to the Jews. It has been supposed by many to be a solemn “inauguration” to the prophetic office, and to have been the “first” of his prophec... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE YEAR - This naturally denotes a period after the death of Uzziah, though in the same year. The mention of the time was evidently made when the prophecy was composed, and it is to be presumed that the death of Uzziah had occurred at the time when the prophet saw this vision. If so, it is clear... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOVE IT - Either above the throne, or above him. The Septuagint renders it, ‘Round about him’ - κύκλῳ αὐτοῦ _kuklō_ _autou_. The Chaldee, ‘The holy ministers stood on high in his presence.’ THE SERAPHIMS - The verb שׂרף _s'âraph_, from which this word is derived, is uniformly translated “to b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE CRIED TO ANOTHER - Hebrew ‘This cried to this.’ That is, they cried to each other in alternate responses. One cried ‘holy;’ the second repeated it; then the third; and then they probably united in the grand chorus, ‘Full is all the earth of his glory.’ This was an ancient mode of singing or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE POSTS OF THE DOOR - Margin, ‘Thresholds.’ There is some difficulty in the Hebrew here, but the meaning of the expression is sufficiently apparent. It means that there was a tremour, or concussion, as if by awe, or by the sound attending the cry. It is evidently a poetic expression. THE HOUS... [ Continue Reading ]
WO IS ME! - That is, I am filled with overwhelming convictions of my own unworthiness, with alarm that I have seen Yahweh. FOR I AM UNDONE - Margin, ‘Cut off.’ Chaldee, ‘I have sinned.’ Septuagint, ‘I am miserable, I am pierced through.’ Syriac, ‘I am struck dumb.’ The Hebrew word may sometimes hav... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN FLEW - Isaiah is represented as standing out of the temple; the seraphim as in it. HAVING A LIVE COAL - The Vulgate renders this, ‘A stone.’ This is, probably, the original meaning of the word; see 1 Kings 19:6. It at first denoted a hot stone which was used to roast meat upon. It may also mea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LAID IT UPON MY MOUTH - Margin, ‘And he caused it to touch my mouth.’ This is the more correct rendering. It was a slight, momentary touch, sufficient merely to be a “sign or token” that he was cleansed. THINE INIQUITY IS TAKEN AWAY - That is, whatever obstacle there existed to your communica... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VOICE OF THE LORD - Hebrew: “The voice of Yahweh.” He had before been addressed by one of the seraphim. WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US? - The change of number here, from the singular to the plural, is very remarkable. Jerome, on this place, says that it indicates the ‘sacrament’ of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID ... - The expressions which follow are those which denote hardness of heart and blindness of mind. They would hear the words of the prophet, but they would not understand him. They were so obstinately bent on iniquity that they would neither believe nor regard him. This shows the spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE THE HEART - The word “heart” here is used in the sense of the “mind” - to denote all their mental powers. It is commonly used in this sense in the Scriptures. FAT - Gross, heavy, dull, stupid. That is, go and proclaim such “truth” to them as shall have this effect - as shall irritate, provoke,... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG - The prophet did not dare to pray that this effect should not follow. He asked merely therefore “how long” this state of things must continue; how long this message was to be delivered, and how long it should be attended with these painful effects. UNTIL THE CITIES ... - They will remain... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD HAVE REMOVED ... - The land shall be given up to desolation. The men - the strength of the nation - shall be taken to a distant land. AND THERE BE A GREAT FORSAKING - A great desolation; the cities and dwellings shall be abandoned by the inhabitants; compare Isaiah 17:2; Jeremiah 4:29;... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YET ... - The main idea in this verse is plain, though there is much difficulty in the explanation of the particular phrases. The leading thought is, that the land should not be “utterly” and finally abandoned. There would be the remains of life - as in an oak or terebinth tree when the tree has... [ Continue Reading ]