This chapter, probably closely connected in sense with the preceding, and growing out of the great truths there revealed respecting the work of the Messiah, contains a promise of the enlargement, the moral renovation, and the future glory of the kingdom of God, especially under the Messiah. Like the... [ Continue Reading ]
SING, O BARREN - That is, shout for joy, lift up the voice of exultation and praise. The ‘barren’ here denotes the church of God under the Old Testament, confined within the narrow limits of the Jewish nation, and still more so in respect to the very small number of true believers, and which seemed... [ Continue Reading ]
ENLARGE THE PLACE OF THY TENT - The same idea occurs in Isaiah 49:19 (see the notes at that chapter). The curtains of thy habitations. The word ‘curtain’ does not quite express the sense here. It is commonly with us used to denote the cloth hanging round. a bed or at a window, which may be spread or... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU SHALT BREAK FORTH - (See the notes at Isaiah 49:19). AND MAKE THE DESOLATE CITIES - (See the notes at Isaiah 44:26).... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR NOT ... - (See Isaiah 41:10, note, Isaiah 41:14, note). NEITHER SHALT THOU BE CONFOUNDED - All these words mean substantially the same thing; and the design of the prophet is to affirm, in the strongest possible manner, that the church of God should be abundantly prospered and enlarged. The im... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY MAKER IS THINE HUSBAND - Both these words, ‘maker’ and ‘husband,’ in the Hebrew are in the plural number. But the form is evidently the _pluralis excellentiae_ - a form denoting majesty and honor (see 1 Samuel 19:13, 1 Samuel 19:16; Psalms 149:2; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 30:3; Ecclesiastes 12... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD HATH CALLED THEE - This is designed to confirm and illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse. God there says that he would be a husband to his people. Here he says, that although he had for a time apparently forsaken them, as a husband who had forsaken his wife, and although they w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A SMALL MOMENT - The Chaldee and Syriac render this, ‘In a little anger.’ Lowth has adopted this, but without sufficient authority. The Hebrew means, ‘For a little moment;’ a very short time. The reference here is probably to the captivity at Babylon, when they were apparently forsaken by Yahweh... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A LITTLE WRATH - The Syriac renders this, ‘In great wrath.’ The Vulgate, ‘In a moment of indignation.’ The Septuagint, ‘In a little wrath.’ (Noyes renders it in accordance with the view of Rosenmuller, ‘In overflowing wrath.’ This variety of interpretation has arisen from the various meanings aff... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS AS THE WATERS OF NOAH UNTO ME - As it was in the time of the flood of waters, so shall it be now. ‘I then solemnly promised that the waters should not again drown the earth, and I have kept that promise. I now promise with equal solemnity that I will bestow perpetual favor on my true peo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MOUNTAINS SHALL DEPART - (See the notes at Isaiah 51:6). THE COVENANT OF MY PEACE - That is, the covenant by which I promise peace and prosperity to thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
O THOU AFFLICTED - In the previous verses, Yahweh had merely promised protection, and had in general terms assured them of his favor. Here he shows that they should not only be defended, but that his church would rise with great beauty, and be ornamented like a most splendid palace or temple. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL MAKE THY WINDOWS - The word rendered here ‘windows’ is rendered by Jerome propugnacula - ‘fortresses,’ bulwarks, ramparts; and by the Septuagint, Επαλξεις _Epalcheis_ - ‘Bulwarks,’ or rather, pinnacles on the walls. The Hebrew word שׁמשׁות _shı̂mâshôt_) is evidently derived from שׁמשׁ _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THY CHILDREN - All that dwell in this splendid city; all that are the true friends of the Redeemer. It shall be a part of their future glory that they shall be all under divine instruction and guidance. See Jeremiah 31:34 - ‘And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man... [ Continue Reading ]
IN RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALT THOU BE ESTABLISHED - This is language which is appropriately addressed to a city or commonwealth. The idea is, that it would not be built up by fraud, and rapine, and conquest, as many cities had been, but by the prevalence of justice. THOU SHALT BE FAR FROM OPPRESSIONS - Th... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEY SHALL SURELY GATHER TOGETHER - The idea in this verse is, that the enemies of the people of God would indeed form alliances and compacts against them, but it would not be under the divine direction, and they would not be able to prevail against the church. The word rendered here ‘gather... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE CREATED THE SMITH - The sense of this verse is, ‘Everything that can effect your welfare is under my control. The smith who manufactures the instruments of war or of torture is under me. His life, his strength, his skill, are all in my hands, and he can do nothing which I shall not de... [ Continue Reading ]
NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED - No instrument of war, no sword, or spear; no instrument of persecution or torture that is made by the smith, Isaiah 54:16. SHALL PROSPER - On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Isaiah 52:13. The sense here is, that it shall not have final and ultimate prosperity.... [ Continue Reading ]