In the chapters which precede this, the deliverance from Babylon has been the main subject of the prophecy. There has been, indeed, decided reference in many places to the Messiah and his times: but the primary idea has been the restoration from Babylon. In this chapter, it has been commonly suppose... [ Continue Reading ]
LISTEN - This is the exordium, or introduction. According to the interpretation which refers it to the Messiah, it is to be regarded as the voice of the Redeemer calling the distant parts of the earth to give a respectful attention to the statement of his qualifications for his work, and to the assu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HATH MADE MY MOUTH - The idea here is, that he had qualified him for a convincing and powerful eloquence - for the utterance of words which would penetrate the heart like a sharp sword. The mouth here, by an obvious figure, stands for discourse. The comparison of words that are pungent, penet... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID UNTO ME - That is, as I suppose, to the Messiah. God said to him that he was his servant; he by whom he would be particularly glorified and honored. THOU ART MY SERVANT, O ISRAEL - There has been great variety, as was intimated in the analysis of the chapter, in the interpretation of this... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I SAID - I the Messiah. In the previous verses he speaks of his appointment to the office of Messiah, and of his dignity. The design here is to prepare the way for the announcement of the fact that he would make known his gospel to the pagan, and would be for a light to the Gentiles. For this p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, SAITH THE LORD THAT FORMED ME - This verse contains the reason why he cherished the hope that his work would not be unaccepted. The reason is, that Yahweh had said to him that he should be glorious in his eyes, and that he would be his strength. He stood so high in his favor, and he had suc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID - That is, Yahweh said in his promise to the Messiah. IT IS A LIGHT THING - Margin, ‘Art thou lighter than that thou,’ etc. Lowth renders it, ‘It is a small thing.’ Hengstenberg, ‘It is too little that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob.’ The sense is, that God... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD - This verse contains a promise of the future honor that should await the Redeemer, and of the success which should crown his work. The sense is, that Yahweh had promised to him who was despised and rejected, that kings and princes should yet rise up and honor him. THE REDEEMER... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD - Still an address to the Messiah, and designed to give the assurance that he should extend the true religion, and repair the evils of sin on the earth. The Messiah is represented as having asked for the divine favor to attend his efforts, and this is the answer, and the assuranc... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST SAY TO THE PRISONERS, GO FORTH - This language occurs also in Isaiah 42:7. For an explanation of it, see the notes on that place. TO THEM THAT ARE IN DARKNESS - Synonymous with being prisoners, as prisoners are usually confined in dark cells. SHOW YOURSELVES - Hebrew, ‘Reveal,’ or... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL NOT HUNGER NOR THIRST - All their needs shall be abundantly provided for, as a shepherd will provide for his flock. In the book of Revelation, this entire passage is applied Isaiah 7:16 to the happiness of the redeemed in heaven, and the use which is made of it there is not foreign to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE ALL MY MOUNTAINS A WAY - I will make all the mountains for a highway; or an even, level way. That is, he would remove all obstructions from their path. The image is taken from the return from Babylon to the land of Palestine, in which God so often promises to make the hills a plain,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THESE SHALL COME FROM FAR - That is, one part shall come from a distant land, and another from the north and west. This is a statement of the fulfillment of the promise made to him Isaiah 49:6, that he should be for a light to the Gentiles, and that kings and princes should rise up and honor... [ Continue Reading ]
SING, O HEAVENS - In view of the glorious truths stated in the previous verses, that kings should rise up, and princes worship; that the Messiah would be for a light to the Gentiles, and that the true religion would be extended to each of the four quarters of the globe. The idea in this verse is, th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ZION SAID - On the word ‘Zion,’ see the note at Isaiah 1:8. The language here is that of complaint, and expresses the deep feeling of the people of God amidst many calamities, afflictions, and trials. It may be applicable to the exile Jews in Babylon during their long captivity, as if God had fo... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN A WOMAN FORGET HER SUCKING CHILD? - The design of this verse is apparent. It is to show that the love which God has for his people is stronger than that which is produced by the most tender ties created by any natural relation. The love of a mother for her infant child is the strongest attachmen... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE GRAVEN THEE UPON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS - This is another argument in answer to the complaint of Zion in Isaiah 49:14. There have been various interpretations of this passage. Grotius supposes that it refers to a custom of placing some mark or sign on the hand, or on one of the fingers... [ Continue Reading ]
THY CHILDREN - The children of Zion - the true people of God. But there is here considerable variety in the interpretation. The Hebrew of the present text is בניך _bânâyı̂k_ (“thy sons”). But Jerome reads it, _Structores tui_ - ‘Thy builders;’ as if it were בונין. The Septuagint renders it, ‘Thou... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP THINE EYES ROUND ABOUT - That is, see the multitudes that shall be converted to thee; see thy ruined city rise again in its former beauty; see the Gentiles come and yield themselves to the worship of the true God; see kings and princes approach and do thee homage. ALL THESE GATHER THEMSELVE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY WASTE AND THY DESOLATE PLACES - Thy land over which ruin has been spread, and ever which the exile nation mourns. AND THE LAND OF THY DESTRUCTION - That is, thy land laid in ruins. The construction is not uncommon where a noun is used to express the sense of an adjective. Thus in Psalms 2:6... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN WHICH THOU SHALT HAVE - The increase of the population shall be so great. AFTER THOU HAST LOST THE OTHER - Hebrew, ‘The sons of thy widowhood.’ That is, after thou hast lost those that have been killed in the wars, and those that have died in captivity in a distant land, there shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU SAY IN THINE HEART - Thou shalt wonder at the multitude, and shalt ask with astonishment from where they all come. This verse is designed to describe the great increase of the true people of God under the image of a mother who had been deprived of her children, who should suddenly se... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL LIFT UP MINE HAND TO THE GENTILES - To lift up the hand is a sign of beckoning to, or inviting; and the idea here is, that God would call the Gentiles to partake of the blessings of the true religion, and to embrace the Messiah (see the notes at Isaiah 11:11). AND SET UP MY STANDARD T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KINGS SHALL BE THY NURSING FATHERS - Margin, ‘Nourishers.’ That is, they would patronize the church of God; they would protect it by their laws, and foster it by their influence and become the personal advocates of the cause of Zion. The idea is properly that of guarding, educating, and proridin... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THE PREY BE TAKEN FROM THE MIGHTY? - This seems to be the language of Zion. It is not exactly the language of incredulity; it is the language of amazement and wonder. God had made great promises. He had promised a restoration of the captive Jews to their own land, and of their complete deliver... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THUS SAITH THE LORD - The meaning of this verse is, that however difficult or impracticable this might seem to be, yet it should be done. The captives taken by the terrible and the mighty should be rescued, and should be restored to their own land. EVEN THE CAPTIVES OF THE MIGHTY SHALL BE TAKEN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL FEED THEM THAT OPPRESS THEE WITH THEIR OWN FLESH - The language used here is that which appropriately describes the distresses resuiting from discord and internal strifes. Similar language occurs in Isaiah 9:20 (see the note on that verse). Their rage shall be excited against each other;... [ Continue Reading ]