This chapter, together with Isaiah 52:1, is one connected portion, and injury has been done by separating it. It is a part of Isaiah of exquisite beauty, and is a most suitable introduction to the important portion which follows Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:1 respecting the Messiah. This is designed chie... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME - That is, to the God of their fathers, who now addresses them. They are regarded as in exile and bondage, and as desponding in regard to their prospects. In this situation, God, or perhaps more properly the Messiah (compare the notes at Isaiah 1), is introduced as addressing them wi... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UNTO ABRAHAM - What was figuratively expressed in the former verse is here expressed literally. They were directed to remember that God had taken Abraham and Sarah from a distant land, and that from so humble a beginning he had increased them to a great nation. The argument is, that he was able... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD SHALL COMFORT ZION - On the word ‘Zion,’ see the notes at Isaiah 1:8. The meaning here is, that he would again restore it from its ruins. The argument is drawn from the statement in the previous verses. If God had raised up so great a nation from so humble all origin, he had power to re... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME, MY PEOPLE - Lowth reads this; Attend unto me, O ye people, And give ear unto me, O ye nations. The reason why he proposes this change is, that he supposes the address here is made to the Gentiles and not to the Jews, and in favor of the change he observes, that two manuscripts rea... [ Continue Reading ]
MY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NEAR - The word ‘righteousness’ is used in a great variety of significations. Here it means, probably, the faithful completion of his promises to his people (Lowth). MY SALVATION IS GONE FORTH - The promise of salvation is gone forth, and already the execution of that purpose is... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP YOUR EYES TO THE HEAVENS - The design of directing their attention to the heavens and the earth is, probably, to impress them more deeply with a conviction of the certainty of his salvation in this manner, namely, the heavens and the earth appear firm and fixed; there is in them no apparent... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME, YE THAT KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS - My people who are acquainted with my law, and who are to be saved. This is addressed to the pious parlor the Jewish nation. FEAR YE NOT THE REPROACH OF MEN - If we have the promise of God, and the assurance of his favor, we shall have no occasion to dre... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MOTH - (see Isaiah 50:9). The idea is, that they shall be consumed as the moth eats up a garment; or rather, that the moth itself shall consume them as it does a garment: that is, that they were so weak when compared with Yahweh that even the moth, one of the smallest, and most contemptible... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, AWAKE - This verse commences a new subject (see the analysis of the chapter). It is the solemn and impassioned entreaty of those who were in exile that God would interpose in their behalf, as he did in behalf of his people when they were suffering in cruel bondage in Egypt. The word ‘awake’ h... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU NOT IT - Art thou not still the same? The ground of the appeal is, that the same arm that dried up the sea, and made a path for the Jewish people, was still able to interpose and rescue them. WHICH HATH DRIED THE SEA - The Red Sea when the children of Israel passed over Exodus 14:21. This... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD - This is probably the language of Yahweh assuring them, in answer to their prayer, that his ransomed people should again return to Zion. AND EVERLASTING JOY SHALL BE UPON THEIR HEAD - This entire verse occurs also in Isaiah 35:10. See it explained in the note on... [ Continue Reading ]
I EVEN I AM HE THAT COMFORTETH YOU - The word ‘I’ is repeated here to give emphasis to the passage, and to impress deeply upon them the fact that their consolation came alone from God. The argument is, that since God was their protector and friend, they had no occasion to fear anything that man coul... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FORGETTEST THE LORD THY MAKER - These verses are designed to rebuke that state of the mind - alas! too common, even among the people of God - where they are intimidated by the number and strength of their foes, and forget their dependence on God, and his promises of aid. In such circumstances Go... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CAPTIVE EXILE - Lowth renders this, evidently very improperly, ‘He marcheth on with speed who cometh to set the captive free;’ and supposes that it refers to Cyrus, if understood of the temporal redemption from the captivity at Babylon; in the spiritual sense, to the Messiah. But the meaning evi... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I AM THE LORD THY GOD - In order to show them that he was able to save them, God again refers to the fact that he had divided the sea, and delivered their fathers from bondage and oppression. THAT DIVIDED THE SEA - The Red Sea. The Chaldee renders this, ‘That rebuked the sea.’ The Septuagint, Ὁ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I HAVE PUT MY WORDS IN THY MOUTH - That is, he had committed his truth to the Jewish people; to Zion. He had entrusted them with his statutes and his laws; he had given them the promise of the Messiah, and through him the assurance that the true religion would be spread to other nations. He woul... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, AWAKE - (See the notes at Isaiah 51:9). This verse commences an address to Jerusalem under a new figure or image. The figure employed is that of a man who has been overcome by the cup of the wrath of Yahweh, that had produced the same effect as inebriation. Jerusalem had reeled and fallen pro... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NONE TO GUIDE HER - The image here is taken from the condition of one who is under the influence of an intoxicating draught, and who needs some one to sustain and guide him. The idea is, than among all the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the time of the calamity, there was none who could restor... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE TWO THINGS ARE COME UNTO THEE - Margin, ‘Happened.’ That is, two sources of calamity have come upon thee; to wit, famine and the sword, producing desolation and destruction; or desolation by famine, and destruction by the sword (see Lowth on Hebrew Poetry, Lect. xix.) The idea here is, that fa... [ Continue Reading ]
THY SONS - Jerusalem is here represented as a mother. Her sons, that is, her inhabitants, had become weak and prostrate everywhere, and were unable to afford consolation. THEY LIE AT THE HEAD OF ALL THE STREETS - The ‘head’ of the streets is the same which in Lamentations 2:19; Lamentations 4:1, is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DRUNKEN, BUT NOT WITH WINE - Overcome and prostrate, but not under the influence of intoxicating drink. They were prostrate by the wrath of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE TAKEN OUT OF THY HAND THE CUP OF TREMBLING - (See the notes at Isaiah 51:17). This verse contains a promise that they would be delivered from the effect of the wrath of God, under which they had been suffering so long. THOU SHALT NO MORE DRINK IT AGAIN - Thou shalt no more be subject to simil... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL PUT IT INTO THE HAND OF THEM THAT AFFLICT THEE - The nations that have made war upon thee, and that have reduced thee to bondage, particularly the Babylonians. The calamities which the Jews had suffered, God would transfer to their foes. WHICH HAVE SAID TO THY SOUL, BOW DOWN, THAT WE MAY... [ Continue Reading ]