21 Then shalt thou say H559 in thine heart, H3824 Who hath begotten H3205 me these, seeing I have lost my children, H7921 and am desolate, H1565 a captive, H1540 and removing to and fro? H5493 and who hath brought up H1431 these? Behold, I was left H7604 alone; these, where H375 had they been?
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 A voice H6963 was heard H8085 in Ramah, H7414 lamentation, H5092 and bitter H8563 weeping; H1065 Rahel H7354 weeping H1058 for her children H1121 refused H3985 to be comforted H5162 for her children, H1121 because they were not. Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Refrain H4513 thy voice H6963 from weeping, H1065 and thine eyes H5869 from tears: H1832 for thy work H6468 shall be H3426 rewarded, H7939 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and they shall come again H7725 from the land H776 of the enemy. H341 And there is H3426 hope H8615 in thine end, H319 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that thy children H1121 shall come again H7725 to their own border. H1366
But G1161 Jerusalem G2419 which is above G507 is G2076 free, G1658 which G3748 is G2076 the mother G3384 of us G2257 all. G3956 For G1063 it is written, G1125 Rejoice, G2165 thou barren G4723 that bearest G5088 not; G3756 break forth G4486 and G2532 cry, G994 thou that travailest G5605 not: G3756 for G3754 the desolate G2048 hath many more G4183 children G5043 than G3123 G2228 she which hath G2192 an husband. G435 Now G1161 we, G2249 brethren, G80 as G2596 Isaac G2464 was, G2596 are G2070 the children G5043 of promise. G1860 But G235 as G5618 then G5119 he that was born G1080 after G2596 the flesh G4561 persecuted G1377 him that was born after G2596 the Spirit, G4151 even G2532 so G3779 it is now. G3568
And G2532 so G3779 all G3956 Israel G2474 shall be saved: G4982 as G2531 it is written, G1125 There shall come G2240 out of G1537 Sion G4622 the Deliverer, G4506 and G2532 shall turn away G654 ungodliness G763 from G575 Jacob: G2384 For G2532 this G3778 is my G3844 G1700 covenant G1242 unto them, G846 when G3752 I shall take away G851 their G846 sins. G266 As concerning G2596 G3303 the gospel, G2098 they are enemies G2190 for your sakes: G1223 G5209 but G1161 as touching G2596 the election, G1589 they are beloved G27 for G1223 the fathers' G3962 sakes. G1223 For G1063 the gifts G5486 and G2532 calling G2821 of God G2316 are without repentance. G278 For G1063 as G5618 G2532 ye G5210 in times past G4218 have not believed G544 God, G2316 yet G1161 have G1653 now G3568 obtained mercy G1653 through G5130 their unbelief: G543 Even so G3779 have G544 these G3778 also G2532 now G3568 not believed, G544 that G2443 through your G5212 mercy G1656 they G846 also G2532 may obtain mercy. G1653
I say G3004 then, G3767 G3361 Have they stumbled G4417 that G2443 they should fall? G4098 God forbid: G3361 G1096 but G235 rather through their G846 fall G3900 salvation G4991 is come unto the Gentiles, G1484 for to G1519 provoke G3863 them G846 to jealousy. G3863 Now G1161 if G1487 the fall G3900 of them G846 be the riches G4149 of the world, G2889 and G2532 the diminishing G2275 of them G846 the riches G4149 of the Gentiles; G1484 how G4214 much more G3123 their G846 fulness? G4138 For G1063 I speak G3004 to you G5213 Gentiles, G1484 inasmuch as G1909 G3745 G3303 I G1473 am G1510 the apostle G652 of the Gentiles, G1484 I magnify G1392 mine G3450 office: G1248 If by any means G1513 G4458 I may provoke to emulation G3863 them which are my G3450 flesh, G4561 and G2532 might save G4982 some G5100 of G1537 them. G846 For G1063 if G1487 the casting away G580 of them G846 be the reconciling G2643 of the world, G2889 what G5101 shall the receiving G4356 of them be, but G1508 life G2222 from G1537 the dead? G3498 For G1161 if G1487 the firstfruit G536 be holy, G40 the lump G5445 is also G2532 holy: and G2532 if G1487 the root G4491 be holy, G40 so G2532 are the branches. G2798 And G1161 if some G1536 of the branches G2798 be broken off, G1575 and G1161 thou, G4771 being G5607 a wild olive tree, G65 wert graffed in G1461 among G1722 them, G846 and G2532 with G4791 them G1096 partakest G4791 of the root G4491 and G2532 fatness G4096 of the olive tree; G1636
Immediately G1161 G2112 after G3326 the tribulation G2347 of those G1565 days G2250 shall the sun G2246 be darkened, G4654 and G2532 the moon G4582 shall G1325 not G3756 give G1325 her G846 light, G5338 and G2532 the stars G792 shall fall G4098 from G575 heaven, G3772 and G2532 the powers G1411 of the heavens G3772 shall be shaken: G4531 And G2532 then G5119 shall appear G5316 the sign G4592 of the Son G5207 of man G444 in G1722 heaven: G3772 and G2532 then G5119 shall G2875 all G3956 the tribes G5443 of the earth G1093 mourn, G2875 and G2532 they shall see G3700 the Son G5207 of man G444 coming G2064 in G1909 the clouds G3507 of heaven G3772 with G3326 power G1411 and G2532 great G4183 glory. G1391
How doth the city H5892 sit H3427 solitary, H910 that was full H7227 of people! H5971 how is she become as a widow! H490 she that was great H7227 among the nations, H1471 and princess H8282 among the provinces, H4082 how is she become tributary! H4522 She weepeth H1058 sore H1058 in the night, H3915 and her tears H1832 are on her cheeks: H3895 among all her lovers H157 she hath none to comfort H5162 her: all her friends H7453 have dealt treacherously H898 with her, they are become her enemies. H341 Judah H3063 is gone into captivity H1540 because of affliction, H6040 and because of great H7230 servitude: H5656 she dwelleth H3427 among the heathen, H1471 she findeth H4672 no rest: H4494 all her persecutors H7291 overtook H5381 her between the straits. H4712
For thou shalt break forth H6555 on the right hand H3225 and on the left; H8040 and thy seed H2233 shall inherit H3423 the Gentiles, H1471 and make the desolate H8074 cities H5892 to be inhabited. H3427 Fear H3372 not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: H954 neither be thou confounded; H3637 for thou shalt not be put to shame: H2659 for thou shalt forget H7911 the shame H1322 of thy youth, H5934 and shalt not remember H2142 the reproach H2781 of thy widowhood H491 any more. For thy Maker H6213 is thine husband; H1166 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is his name; H8034 and thy Redeemer H1350 the Holy One H6918 of Israel; H3478 The God H430 of the whole earth H776 shall he be called. H7121 For the LORD H3068 hath called H7121 thee as a woman H802 forsaken H5800 and grieved H6087 in spirit, H7307 and a wife H802 of youth, H5271 when thou wast refused, H3988 saith H559 thy God. H430 For a small H6996 moment H7281 have I forsaken H5800 thee; but with great H1419 mercies H7356 will I gather H6908 thee. In a little H8241 wrath H7110 I hid H5641 my face H6440 from thee for a moment; H7281 but with everlasting H5769 kindness H2617 will I have mercy H7355 on thee, saith H559 the LORD H3068 thy Redeemer. H1350
Awake, H5782 awake, H5782 stand up, H6965 O Jerusalem, H3389 which hast drunk H8354 at the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 the cup H3563 of his fury; H2534 thou hast drunken H8354 the dregs H6907 of the cup H3563 of trembling, H8653 and wrung them out. H4680 There is none to guide H5095 her among all the sons H1121 whom she hath brought forth; H3205 neither is there any that taketh H2388 her by the hand H3027 of all the sons H1121 that she hath brought up. H1431 These two H8147 things are come H7122 unto thee; who shall be sorry H5110 for thee? desolation, H7701 and destruction, H7667 and the famine, H7458 and the sword: H2719 by whom shall I comfort H5162 thee? Thy sons H1121 have fainted, H5968 they lie H7901 at the head H7218 of all the streets, H2351 as a wild bull H8377 in a net: H4364 they are full H4392 of the fury H2534 of the LORD, H3068 the rebuke H1606 of thy God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 49
Commentary on Isaiah 49 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 49
Isa 49:1-26. Similar to Chapter 42:1-7 (Isa 49:1-9).
Messiah, as the ideal Israel (Isa 49:3), states the object of His mission, His want of success for a time, yet His certainty of ultimate success.
1. O isles—Messiah is here regarded as having been rejected by the Jews (Isa 49:4, 5), and as now turning to the Gentiles, to whom the Father hath given Him "for a light and salvation." "Isles" mean all regions beyond sea.
from the womb—(Isa 44:2; Lu 1:31; Joh 10:36).
from … bowels … mention of my name—His name "Jesus" (that is, God-Saviour) was designated by God before His birth (Mt 1:21).
2. my mouth … sword—(Isa 11:4; Re 19:15). The double office of the Word of God, saving and damnatory, is implied (Isa 50:4; Joh 12:48; Heb 4:12).
shaft—(Ps 45:5). "Polished," that is, free from all rust, implies His unsullied purity.
in … quiver … hid me—Like a sword in its scabbard, or a shaft in the quiver, Messiah, before His appearing, was hid with God, ready to be drawn forth at the moment God saw fit [Hengstenberg]; also always protected by God, as the arrow by the quiver (Isa 51:16).
3. Israel—applied to Messiah, according to the true import of the name, the Prince who had power with God in wrestling in behalf of man, and who prevails (Ge 32:28; Ho 12:3, 4). He is also the ideal Israel, the representative man of the nation (compare Mt 2:15 with Ho 11:1).
in whom … glorified—(Joh 14:13; 17:1-5).
4. I—Messiah.
in vain—comparatively in the case of the greater number of His own countrymen. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (Isa 53:1-3; Lu 19:14; Joh 1:11; 7:5). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended (Ac 1:15).
yet … my judgment … with the Lord—Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward (Margin for "work," compare Isa 40:10; 62:11) My labors and sufferings. He was never "discouraged" (Isa 42:4; 50:7, 10). He calmly, in spite of seeming ill success for the time, left the result with God, confident of final triumph (Isa 53:10-12; 1Pe 2:23). So the ministers of Christ (1Co 4:1-5; 1Pe 4:19).
5. The reason why He was confident that His work would be accepted and rewarded, namely, because He is "glorious in the eyes of Jehovah," &c.
to bring Jacob again to him—(Mt 15:24; Ac 3:26).
Though Israel be not gathered—metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (Mt 23:37). Instead of the text "not," the Keri has the similar Hebrew word, "to Him," which the parallelism favors: "And that Israel may be gathered to Him."
yet—rather, parenthetically. "For I am glorious, &c., and My God is My strength." Then (Isa 49:6) resuming the words from the beginning of Isa 49:5, "He saith" (I repeat), &c. Horsley explains, "Notwithstanding the incredulity of the Jews, Messiah shall be glorified in the conversion of the Gentiles," reading as English Version: but if the Keri be read, "Israel shall at one time or other be gathered, notwithstanding their incredulity during Messiah's sojourn on earth."
6. It is a light thing—"It is too little that Thou shouldest," [Hengstenberg], that is, It is not enough honor to Thee to raise up Jacob and Israel, but I design for Thee more, namely, that Thou shouldest be the means of enlightening the Gentiles (Isa 42:6, 7; 60:3).
the preserved—namely, those remaining after the judgments of God on the nation—the elect remnant of Israel reserved for mercy. Lowth, with a slight but needless change of the Hebrew, translates for "tribes" and "preserved," the "scions"—the "branches."
7. whom man despiseth—Hebrew, "the despised of soul," that is, by every soul, by all men (Isa 52:14, 15; 53:3; 50:6-9; Ps 22:6). Lowth translates, "whose person is despised."
abhorreth—literally, "who is an abomination to the nation" (Lu 23:18-23). The Jews contemptuously call Him always Tolvi, "the crucified." I prefer, on account of Goi, the Hebrew term for nation being usually applied to the Gentiles, and that for people to the Jews (Ho 1:9; so the Greek terms respectively also Laos and Ethne, Ro 9:25), to take "nation" here collectively for the Gentile world, which also spurned Him (Ps 2:1-3; Ac 4:25-27).
servant of rulers—(Mt 17:27). He who would not exert His power against the rulers (Mt 26:52, 53).
shall see—namely the fulfilment of God's promises (Isa 49:3, 6), "when He (shall be) a light to the Gentiles."
arise—to reverence Thee (Ps 72:10, 11; Php 2:10).
princes also—rather, for the parallelism, supply the ellipsis, thus, "Princes shall see and shall worship."
faithful—namely, to His promises.
choose thee—as God's elect (Isa 42:1).
8. Messiah is represented as having asked for the grace of God in behalf of sinners; this verse contains God the Father's favorable answer.
an acceptable time—"In a time of grace" [Hengstenberg]. A limited time (Isa 61:2; 2Co 6:2). The time judged by God to be the best fitted for effecting the purposes of His grace by Messiah.
heard thee—(Ps 2:8; Heb 5:7).
day of salvation—when "the fulness of time" (Ga 4:4) shall have come. The day of salvation is "to-day" (Heb 4:7).
helped—given Thee the help needed to enable Thee, as man, to accomplish man's salvation.
preserve—from the assaults and efforts of Satan, to divert Thee from Thy voluntary death to save man.
covenant of the people—(See on Isa 42:6). "The people," in the singular, is always applied exclusively to Israel.
establish the earth—rather, "to restore the land," namely, Canaan to Israel. Spiritually, the restoration of the Church (the spiritual Israel) to the heavenly land forfeited by man's sin is also included.
cause to inherit … desolate heritages—image from the desolate state of Judea during the Babylonish captivity. Spiritually, the Gentile world, a moral waste, shall become a garden of the Lord. Literally, Judea lying desolate for ages shall be possessed again by Israel (compare Isa 61:7, "in their land"). Jesus, the antitype of, and bearing the same name as Joshua (Heb 4:8), shall, like him, divide the land among its true heirs (Isa 54:3; 61:4).
9. (Isa 42:7; Zec 9:12).
prisoners—the Jews bound in legal bondage.
them … in darkness—the Gentiles having no light as to the one true God [Vitringa].
Show yourselves—not only see but be seen (Mt 5:16; Mr 5:19). Come forth from the darkness of your prison into the light of the Sun of righteousness.
in the ways, &c.—In a desert there are no "ways," nor "high places," with "pastures"; thus the sense is: "They shall have their pastures, not in deserts, but in cultivated and inhabited places." Laying aside the figure, the churches of Christ at the first shall be gathered, not in obscure and unknown regions, but in the most populous parts of the Roman empire, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, &c. [Vitringa]. Another sense probably is the right one. Israel, on its way back to the Holy Land, shall not have to turn aside to devious paths in search of necessaries, but shall find them in all places wherever their route lies; so Rosenmuller. God will supply them as if He should make the grass grow in the trodden ways and on the barren high places.
10. Messiah will abundantly satisfy all the wants, both of literal Israel on their way to Palestine, and of the spiritual on their way to heaven, as their Shepherd (Isa 65:13; Mt 5:6), also in heaven (Re 7:16, 17).
11. my—All things are God's.
mountains a way—I will remove all obstructions out of the way (Isa 40:4).
exalted—that is, cast up (Isa 57:14; 62:10); for instance, over valleys. Vitringa explains "mountains" as great kingdoms, Egypt, Syria, &c., subjected to Rome, to facilitate the spreading of the Gospel; "highways," the Christian doctrine wherein those who join the Church walk, and which, at the time of Constantine, was to be raised into prominence before all, and publicly protected (Isa 35:8, 9).
12. Sinim—The Arabians and other Asiatics called China Sin, or Tchin; the Chinese had no special name for themselves, but either adopted that of the reigning dynasty or some high-sounding titles. This view of "Sinim" suits the context which requires a people to be meant "from far," and distinct from those "from the north and from the west" [Gesenius].
13. So Re 12:12. God will have mercy on the afflicted, because of His compassion; on His afflicted, because of His covenant.
14. Zion—the literal Israel's complaint, as if God had forsaken her in the Babylonian captivity; also in their dispersion previous to their future restoration; thereby God's mercy shall be called forth (Isa 63:15-19; Ps 77:9, 10; 102:17).
15. (Isa 44:21; Ps 103:13; Mt 7:11).
16. Alluding to the Jews' custom (perhaps drawn from Ex 13:9) of puncturing on their hands a representation of their city and temple, in token of zeal for them [Lowth], (So 8:6).
17. Thy children—Israel (Isa 49:20, 21; Isa 43:6). Jerome reads, for "Thy children," "Thy builders"; they that destroyed thee shall hasten to build thee.
haste—to rebuild thy desolate capital.
shall go forth—Thy destroyers shall leave Judea to Israel in undisturbed possession.
18. As Zion is often compared to a bride (Isa 54:5), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels," Isa 62:3; Mal 3:17). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant, as the context refers to their restoration; and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations (Mic 5:7; Ro 11:12, 15).
as a bride—namely, binds on her ornaments.
19. land of thy destruction—thy land once the scene of destruction.
too narrow—(Isa 54:1, 2; Zec 10:10).
20. children … after … other—rather, "the children of thy widowhood," that is, the children of whom thou hast been bereft during their dispersion in other lands (see on Isa 47:8) [Maurer].
again—rather, "yet."
give place—rather, "stand close to me," namely, in order that we may be the more able to dwell in in the narrow place [Horsley]. Compare as to Israel's spiritual children, and the extension of the gospel sphere, Ro 15:19, 24; 2Co 10:14-16. But Isa 49:22 (compare Isa 66:20) shows that her literal children are primarily meant. Gesenius translates, "Make room."
21. Who, &c.—Zion's joyful wonder at the unexpected restoration of the ten tribes. Secondarily, the accession of spiritual Israelites to the mother church of Jerusalem from the Gentiles is meant. This created surprise at first (Ac 10:45; 14:27; 15:3, 4).
lost … am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro—rather, "bereaved of … have been barren, an exile and outcast" [Horsley]. She had been "put away" by Jehovah, her husband (Isa 50:1); hence her wonder at the children begotten to her.
22. lift … hand—that is, beckon to (see on Isa 13:2).
standard—(Isa 11:12).
bring … sons in … arms—The Gentiles shall aid in restoring Israel to its own land (Isa 60:4; 66:20). Children able to support themselves are carried on the shoulders in the East; but infants, in the arms, or astride on one haunch (Isa 60:12). "Thy sons" must be distinct from "the Gentiles," who carry them; and therefore cannot primarily refer to converts among the Gentiles.
23. lick … dust—that is, kiss thy feet in token of humble submission.
for they … not … ashamed … wait for me—The restoration of Israel shall be in answer to their prayerful waiting on the Lord (Isa 30:18, 19; Ps 102:16, 17; Zec 12:10; 14:3).
24. the prey—Israel, long a prey to mighty Gentile nations, whose oppression of her shall reach its highest point under Antichrist (Da 11:36, 37, 41, 45).
lawful captive—the Jews justly consigned for their sins (Isa 50:1) as captives to the foe. Secondarily, Satan and Death are "the mighty" conquerors of man, upon whom his sin give them their "lawful" claim. Christ answers that claim for the sinners, and so the captive is set free (Job 19:25; 14:14; Mt 12:29; Ho 6:2, where Isa 49:4 shows the primary reference is to Israel's restoration, to which the resurrection corresponds; Isa 26:19; Eph 4:8; Heb 2:14, 15). Others not so well translate, "the captives taken from among the just Israelites."
25. (Isa 53:12; Ps 68:18; Col 2:15).
contend with him, &c.—(Isa 54:17).
26. feed … own flesh—a phrase for internal strifes (Isa 9:20).
own blood—a just retribution for their having shed the blood of God's servants (Re 16:6).
sweet wine—that is, must, or new wine, the pure juice which flows from the heap of grapes before they are pressed; the ancients could preserve it for a long time, so as to retain its flavor. It was so mild that it required a large quantity to intoxicate; thus the idea here is that very much blood would be shed (Re 14:10, 20).
all flesh shall, &c.—the effect on the world of God's judgments (Isa 66:15, 16, 18, 19; Re 15:3, 4).