Isaiah 2:9

And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. THE MEAN MAN - in rank; not morally base: opposed "to the great man." The former is in Hebrew 'aadaam (H120); the latter, 'iysh (H376). BOWETH DOWN - namely, to idols. All ranks were idolaters. THEREFORE FORGIVE THEM NOT - a threat expressed by an imperative. Isaiah so identifies himself with God's will that he prays for that which he knows God purposes. So Revelation 18:6....

9._And the mean man boweth down _Some commentators read these words in immediate connection with what goes before, as if the Prophet were proceeding still farther to show the extent of their criminality. If we adopt this meaning, then _by the mean man and the mighty man _we must understand all the Israelites; as if the Prophet said that no man is pure and free from this stain. Others not improperly are of opinion that he repeats in other words what he had said about punishment, and that in this way he expresses the destruction which awaits a people forsaken by God. This will agree best with the scope of the passage, that all, both small and great, will speedily be overtaken by the ruin which lays low a whole nation; because amidst so great wickedness there was no reason to expect deliverance from the vengeance of God. Besides, in those two expressions, _bow down _and _humble_, there is a...

1-9 The calling of the Gentiles, the spread of the gospel, and that far more extensive preaching of it yet to come, are foretold. Let Christians strengthen one another, and support one another. It is God who teaches his people, by his word and Spirit. Christ promotes peace, as well as holiness. If all men were real Christians, there could be no war; but nothing answering to these expressions has yet taken place on the earth. Whatever others do, let us walk in the light of this peace. Let us remember that when true religion flourishes, men delight in going up to the house of the Lord, and in urging others to accompany them. Those are in danger who please themselves with strangers to God; for we soon learn to follow the ways of persons whose company we keep. It is not having silver and gold, horses and chariots, that displeases God, but depending upon them, as if we could not be safe, and...

Verse Isaiah 2:9. _BOWETH DOWN _- "Shall be bowed down"] This has reference to the preceding verse. They bowed themselves down to their idols, therefore shall they be bowed down and brought low under the avenging hand of God. _THEREFORE FORGIVE THEM NOT._] "And thou wilt not forgive them." - L....

AND THE MEAN MAN - That is, the man in humble life, the poor, the low in rank - for this is all that the Hebrew word here - אדם _'âdâm_ - implies. The distinction between the two words here used - אדם _'âdâm_ as denoting a man of humble rank, and אישׁ _'ı̂ysh_ as denoting one of elevated rank - is one that constantly occurs in the Scriptures. Our word “mean” conveys an idea of moral baseness and degradation, which is not implied in the Hebrew. BOWETH DOWN - That is, before idols. Some commentators, however, have understood this of bowing down in “affliction,” but the other is probably the true interpretation. AND THE GREAT MAN - The men in elevated rank in life. The expressions together mean the same as “all ranks of people.” It was a common or universal t

SECTION II. DENUNCIATION OF GOD'S JUDGMENTS UPON HIS PEOPLE (CH. 2-5.). EXPOSITION ISAIAH 2:1 TITLE OF THE CHAPTER. It is generally allowed that the heading belongs, not to this chapter only, but to a section of the work, beginning here and ending at the close, either of Isaiah 4:1. or of Isaiah 5:1. It is probable that the section was originally published separately....

AND THE MEAN MAN BOWETH DOWN, AND THE GREAT MAN HUMBLETH HIMSELF,.... Both high and low, rich and poor, bow down unto, humble themselves before, and worship idols made by the hands of men: the words for the "mean man" and "the great man" are אדם and איש, "Adam" and "Ish"; and which are also interpreted by Jarchi of little or mean men, and of princes and mighty ones: THEREFORE FORGIVE THEM NOT; their sins of soothsaying, covetousness, and idolatry; and such that worship the beast and his image shall not be forgiven, but drink of the wine of divine wrath, and be tormented with fire for ever and ever, Revelation 14:9. These are either the words of the prophet to the Lord representing the church, and imprecating evils on antichristian worshippers; or of the angel to the Christian powers, exhorting them not to spare Babylon,...

Isaiah 2:1. _The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it._ What grand hopes are kindled in our bosoms by words like these. The church has always been as a city set on a hill that cannot be hid, but still she has not been known in all parts of the world, and she has never been known with that universal eminence which attaches to the things of this world the things of pomp and show. But the day shall come when she shall be the highest of the high. Her mountain shall be established «on the tops of the mountains,» when she shall be best known of all the known, and shall become what she was always meant to be the metropolis of the whole world, the center to wh

CHAPTER 2 Zion's Future Glory and the Day of Jehovah 1. _The glories in the latter days (Isaiah 2:1)_ 2. _Exhortation to walk in the light (Isaiah 2:5)_ 3. _The corruption of the people (Isaiah 2:6)_ 4. _The day of Jehovah (Isaiah 2:10) _ The vision of verses 1-4 is altogether future. When Israel is converted and in possession of the land, when once more a house of Jehovah will stand in Israel's land, then this great prediction will be fulfilled. Compare withMicah 4:1-5 5. The Day of the Lord (Jehovah) is the day of His visible manifestation to deal with the earth in judgment. Compare with...

THE DAY OF YAHWEH. A poem dating from Isaiah's earliest period, dealing first with the sin, then with the judgment, of Israel. The text has been badly preserved. Probably the refrain which we find in various forms in Isaiah 2:10; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 2:21, stood at the beginning of the poem, before Isaiah 2:6 (Isaiah 2:5 being an editorial link). Another refrain occurs in Isaiah 2:11; Isaiah 2:17, and a variant o