Isaiah 66:8

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. SHALL THE EARTH BE MADE TO BRING FORTH IN ONE DAY? - RATHER, TO SUIT THE PARALLELISM, 'IS A COUNTRY (PUT FOR THE PEOPLE IN IT) BROUGHT FORTH ( _ hªyuwchal (H2342_) is therefore masculine, because a country, Hebrew, 'erets ( H776), though feminine, is put for the men in it) in one day?' (Lowth.) In the English version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day (Mark 4:28). (Or) shall a nation be born at once? In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once. For - rather, 'is a na

8._Who hath heard such a thing? _He extols the greatness of the thing of which he has spoken; for he means that there shall be a wonderful and “unheard of” restoration of the Church; so that believers shall not judge of it from the order of nature, but from the grace of God; for when men reflect upon it: they think that it is like a dream, as the Psalmist says. (Psalms 126:1.) He does not mean that the Church shall be restored perfectly and in a moment; for the advancement of this restoration is great and long-continued, and is even slow in the estimation of the flesh; but he shews that even the beginning of it exceeds all the capacity of the human understanding. And yet he does not speak hyperbolically; for we often see that the Church brings forth, which previously did not appear to be pregnant. Nay more, when she is thought to be barren, she is rendered fruitful by the preaching o

5-14 The prophet turns to those that trembled at God's word, to comfort and encourage them. The Lord will appear, to the joy of the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and persecutors. When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth from Zion, multitudes were converted in a little time. The word of God, especially his promises, and ordinances, are the consolations of the church. The true happiness of all Christians is increased by every convert brought to Christ. The gospel brings with it, wherever it is received in its power, such a river of peace, as will carry us to the ocean of boundless and endless bliss. Divine comforts reach the inward man; the joy of the Lord will be the strength of the believer. Both God's mercy and justice shall be manifested, and for ever magnified....

Verse Isaiah 66:8. _WHO HATH SEEN__ _- "And who hath seen"] Twenty MSS., (four ancient,) of _Kennicott's_, and twenty-nine of _De Rossi's_, and two ancient of my own, and the two oldest editions, with two others, have _umi_, adding the conjunction _vau_; and so read all the ancient versions. _AND who hath seen_?...

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 day be covered with a luxurious vegetation, or as if a nation should spring at once into being. The increase in the church would be as great and wonderful as if these changes were to occur in a moment. SHALL THE EARTH BE MADE TO BRING FORTH IN ONE DAY? - That is, to produce its grass, and flowers, and fruit, and trees. The idea is, that it usually requires much longer time for it to mature its productions. The germ does not start forth at once; the flower, the fruit, the yellow harvest, and the lofty tree are not produced in a moment. Months and years are required before the earth would be cover...

SECTION XII.—FINAL THREATENINGS AND PROMISES (Isaiah 66:1.). EXPOSITION ISAIAH 66:1 THE UNGODLY EXILES REBUKED. Israel, being about to return from the Captivity, had the design of rebuilding the temple and re-establishing the temple worship. God rebukes this design in persons devoid of any spirit of holiness, and warns them that mere formal outward worship is an abomination to him (Isaiah 66:1). In Isaiah 66:4 he threatens them wi

WHO HATH HEARD SUCH A THING? WHO HATH SEEN SUCH THINGS?.... Such numerous conversions, as after related; suggesting that they were wonderful and surprising, unheard of, what had never been seen in the world before, and which were amazing and astonishing to the church herself; see Isaiah 49:21, SHALL THE EARTH BE MADE TO BRING FORTH IN ONE DAY? as if it was said the thing about to be related was as wonderful as if all the women in the world should bring forth their children in one day, or bring forth as many at once as would fill the whole earth; or as surprising as if the earth should all at once send out its herbs, plants, and trees, as it did on the third day of the creation, Genesis 1:11 which now gradually spring up, some in one month, and some in another, and some are months in their

CHAPTER 66 The Finale: The Two Classes and the Prophecy of Isaiah in a Retrospect 1. _The apostates and their wicked worship (Isaiah 66:1) _ 2. _The remnant suffering and encouraged (Isaiah 66:5) _ 3. _The sudden manifestation of the Lord (Isaiah 66:6) _ 4. _The nation's rebirth (Isaiah 66:7) _ 5. _Jerusalem's supremacy and glory (Isaiah 66:10) _ 6. _The warning of judgment (Isaiah 66:15) _ 7. The regathering after judgment ...

ISAIAH 66. Here divisions are hard to define. The theme the coming punishment of the apostates and the coming glory of the pious is pursued now on one side, now on the other. ISAIAH 66:1. AN ATTACK ON THE PROJECTORS OF A RIVAL TEMPLE. Those Jews who refused to accept the reformed religion apparently proposed to set up a rival temple. Yahweh scornfully demands of them in what manner of building they would house Him, whose habitation is the universe. These things a temple and a resting-place He has already made for Himself, on Zion; for despite His loftiness He ever considers the humble and obedient worshipper. As for these rebels who combine forbidden with legitimate rites, such as human sacrifice, the sacrifice of a dog without effusion of blood, the sacrificial use of swine's blood, and honouring of images, just as they choose their own perverse ways so will He choose to make t

WHO. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and who". A NATION: i.e. the righteous nation of Isaiah 26:2. Referred to in Isaiah 66:7; Matthew 21:43. AT ONCE. at. stroke. CHILDREN. sons....