It is generally supposed that this chapter is a continuation of the subject of the foregoing (Lowth). The general design is to reprove the hypocritical portion of the nation, and to comfort the pious with the assurance of the favor of God, the accession of the Gentile world, and the destruction of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVEN IS MY THRONE - (See the notes at Isaiah 57:15). Here he is represented as having his seat or throne there. He speaks as a king. heaven is the place where he holds his court; from where he dispenses his commands; and from where he surveys all his works (compare 2 Chronicles 6:18; Matthew 5... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THOSE THINGS HATH MINE HAND MADE - That is the heaven and the earth, and all that is in them. The sense is, ‘I have founded for myself a far more magnificent and appropriate temple than you can make; I have formed the heavens as my dwelling-place, and I need not a dwelling reared by the hand... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT KILLETH AN OX IS AS IF HE SLEW A MAN - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘He that slayeth an ox, killeth a man.’ This is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Jerome renders it, ‘He who sacrifices an ox is as if (quasi) he slew a man.’ The Septuagint, in a very free translation - such as is common... [ Continue Reading ]
I ALSO WILL CHOOSE THEIR DELUSIONS - Margin, ‘Devices.’ The Hebrew word rendered here ‘delusions’ and ‘devices’ (תעלוּלים _ta‛ălûlı̂ym_) properly denotes petulance, sauciness; and then vexation, adverse destiny, from עלל _‛__âlal_, to do, to accomplish, to do evil, to maltreat. It is not used in... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD - This is an address to the pious and persecuted portion of the nation. It is designed for their consolation, and contains the assurance that Yahweh would appear in their behalf, and that they should be under his protecting care though they were cast out by their brethren.... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE OF NOISE FROM THE CITY - That is, from the city of Jerusalem. The prophet sees in a vision a tumult in the city. He hears a voice that issues from the temple. His manner and language are rapid and hurried - such as a man would evince who should suddenly see a vast tumultuous assemblage, and... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE SHE TRAVAILED, SHE BROUGHT FORTH - That is, Zion. The idea here is, that there would be a great and sudden increase of her numbers. Zion is here represented, as it often is, as a female (see Isaiah 1:8), and as the mother of spiritual children (compare Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 49:20). The particul... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH HEARD SUCH A THING? - Of a birth so sudden. Usually in childbirth there are the pains of protracted parturition. The earth brings forth its productions gradually and slowly. Nations rise by degrees, and are long in coming to maturity. But here is such an event as if the earth should in a da... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL I BRING TO THE BIRTH? - The sense of this verse is plain. It is, that God would certainly accomplish what he had here predicted, and for which he had made ample arrangements and preparations. He would not commence the work, and then abandon it. The figure which is used here is obvious; but one... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE YE WITH JERUSALEM - The idea which is presented in this verse is, that it is the duty of all who love Zion to sympathize in her joys. It is one evidence of piety to rejoice in her joy; and they who have no true joy when God pours down his Spirit, and, in a revival of religion, produces chang... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE MAY SUCK - The same figure occurs in Isaiah 60:16; and substantidally in Isaiah 49:23. See the note at those places. THAT YE MAY MILK OUT - The image is an obvious one. It means that they who sympathized with Zion would be nourished by the same truth, and comforted with the same sources of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD - This verse contains a promise of the conversion of the Gentiles, and the fact that what constituted their glory would be brought and consecrated to the church of God. I WILL EXTEND - The word rendered, I will extend ( נטה _nâṭâh_) means properly to stretch out, as the ha... [ Continue Reading ]
AS ONE WHOM HIS MOTHER COMFORTETH - See the notes at Isaiah 49:15, where the same image occurs.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN YE SEE THIS - This great accession to the church from the Gentile world. YOUR BONES SHALL FLOURISH LIKE AN HERB - This is an image which is often employed in the Scriptures. When the vigor of the body fails, or when it is much afflicted, the bones are said to be feeble or weakened, or to be... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEHOLD, THE LORD WILL COME WITH FIRE - The Septuagint reads this ‘As fire’ (ὡς πύρ _hōs_ _pur_). Fire is a common emblem to denote the coming of the Lord to judge and punish his enemies Psalms 50:3 : Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; A fire shall devour before him, And it sha... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY FIRE AND BY HIS SWORD - The sword is an instrument by which punishment is executed (see the notes at Isaiah 34:5; compare Romans 13:4). WILL HE PLEAD WITH ALL FLESH - Or rather, he will judge (נשׁפט _nı̂sh__e__phaṭ_), that is, he will execute his purposes of vengeance on all the human race.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT SANCTIFY THEMSELVES - That is, who attempt to purify themselves by idolatrous rites, by ablutions, and lustrations. The design here is, to describe those who will be exposed to the wrath of God when he shall come to execute vengeance. AND PURIFY THEMSELVES IN THE GARDENS - (See the notes... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW THEIR WORKS - The word ‘know,’ says Lowth, is here evidently left out of the Hebrew text, leaving the sense quite imperfect. It is found in the Syriac; the Chaldee evidently had that word in the copy of the Hebrew which was used; and the Aldine and Complutensian editions of the Septuagint... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SET A SIGN AMONG THEM - (See the notes at Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 18:3). On the meaning of the word ‘sign’ (אות _'ôth_), see the notes at Isaiah 7:11. What is its meaning here is to be determined by the connection. That would seem to me to require some such interpretation as this: That when... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL BRING ALL YOUR BRETHREN - That is, as great success shall attend them as if they should bring back all who had gone there when scattered abroad, and should present them as an offering to Yahweh. The image here is taken from the scene which would be presented, should the distant nation... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THEM FOR PRIESTS - I will give to them an honorable place in my public service; that is, I will make them ministers of religion as if they were priests and Levites. This cannot be taken literally - because the priests and Levites among the Jews were determined by law, and by... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH - (See the notes at Isaiah 65:17). SHALL REMAIN BEFORE ME - They shall not pass away and be succeeded by others. The idea is, that the state of things here described would be permanent and abiding. SO SHALL YOUR SEED AND YOUR NAME REMAIN - (See the notes at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS - As the prophet closes the book and winds up his whole prophecy, he directs the attention to that future period which had occupied so much of his attention in vision, when the whole world should be acquainted with the true religion, and all nations should worship Yahweh. O... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL GO FORTH - The sense of this verse evidently is, that the pious and happy worshippers of God shall see the punishment which he will execute on his and their foes, or shall see them finally destroyed. It refers to the time when the kingdom of God shall be finally and perpetually establ... [ Continue Reading ]