23 But I will put H7760 it into the hand H3027 of them that afflict H3013 thee; which have said H559 to thy soul, H5315 Bow down, H7812 that we may go over: H5674 and thou hast laid H7760 thy body H1460 as the ground, H776 and as the street, H2351 to them that went over. H5674
And it came to pass, when they brought out H3318 those kings H4428 unto Joshua, H3091 that Joshua H3091 called H7121 for all the men H376 of Israel, H3478 and said H559 unto the captains H7101 of the men H582 of war H4421 which went H1980 with him, Come near, H7126 put H7760 your feet H7272 upon the necks H6677 of these kings. H4428 And they came near, H7126 and put H7760 their feet H7272 upon the necks H6677 of them.
The righteous H6662 is delivered out H2502 of trouble, H6869 and the wicked H7563 cometh H935 in his stead.
The wicked H7563 shall be a ransom H3724 for the righteous, H6662 and the transgressor H898 for the upright. H3477
But thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Even the captives H7628 of the mighty H1368 shall be taken away, H3947 and the prey H4455 of the terrible H6184 shall be delivered: H4422 for I will contend H7378 with him that contendeth H3401 with thee, and I will save H3467 thy children. H1121 And I will feed H398 them that oppress H3238 thee with their own flesh; H1320 and they shall be drunken H7937 with their own blood, H1818 as with sweet wine: H6071 and all flesh H1320 shall know H3045 that I the LORD H3068 am thy Saviour H3467 and thy Redeemer, H1350 the mighty One H46 of Jacob. H3290
For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 unto me; Take H3947 the wine H3196 cup H3563 of this fury H2534 at my hand, H3027 and cause all the nations, H1471 to whom I send H7971 thee, to drink H8248 it. And they shall drink, H8354 and be moved, H1607 and be mad, H1984 because H6440 of the sword H2719 that I will send H7971 among them. Then took H3947 I the cup H3563 at the LORD'S H3068 hand, H3027 and made all the nations H1471 to drink, H8248 unto whom the LORD H3068 had sent H7971 me: To wit, Jerusalem, H3389 and the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and the kings H4428 thereof, and the princes H8269 thereof, to make H5414 them a desolation, H2723 an astonishment, H8047 an hissing, H8322 and a curse; H7045 as it is this day; H3117 Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt, H4714 and his servants, H5650 and his princes, H8269 and all his people; H5971 And all the mingled H6153 people, and all the kings H4428 of the land H776 of Uz, H5780 and all the kings H4428 of the land H776 of the Philistines, H6430 and Ashkelon, H831 and Azzah, H5804 and Ekron, H6138 and the remnant H7611 of Ashdod, H795 Edom, H123 and Moab, H4124 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 And all the kings H4428 of Tyrus, H6865 and all the kings H4428 of Zidon, H6721 and the kings H4428 of the isles H339 which are beyond H5676 the sea, H3220 Dedan, H1719 and Tema, H8485 and Buz, H938 and all that are in the utmost H7112 corners, H6285 And all the kings H4428 of Arabia, H6152 and all the kings H4428 of the mingled people H6153 that dwell H7931 in the desert, H4057 And all the kings H4428 of Zimri, H2174 and all the kings H4428 of Elam, H5867 and all the kings H4428 of the Medes, H4074 And all the kings H4428 of the north, H6828 far H7350 and near, H7138 one H376 with another, H251 and all the kingdoms H4467 of the world, H776 which are upon the face H6440 of the earth: H127 and the king H4428 of Sheshach H8347 shall drink H8354 after H310 them. Therefore thou shalt say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Drink H8354 ye, and be drunken, H7937 and spue, H7006 and fall, H5307 and rise H6965 no more, because H6440 of the sword H2719 which I will send H7971 among you. And it shall be, if they refuse H3985 to take H3947 the cup H3563 at thine hand H3027 to drink, H8354 then shalt thou say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Ye shall certainly H8354 drink. H8354 For, lo, I begin H2490 to bring evil H7489 on the city H5892 which is called H7121 by my name, H8034 and should ye be utterly H5352 unpunished? H5352 Ye shall not be unpunished: H5352 for I will call H7121 for a sword H2719 upon all the inhabitants H3427 of the earth, H776 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
But G2532 the court G833 which G3588 is without G1855 G2081 the temple G3485 leave G1544 out, G1854 and G2532 measure G3354 it G846 not; G3361 for G3754 it is given G1325 unto the Gentiles: G1484 and G2532 the holy G40 city G4172 shall they tread under foot G3961 forty G5062 and two G1417 months. G3376
And G2532 he causeth G4160 all, G3956 both small G3398 and G2532 great, G3173 G2532 rich G4145 and G2532 poor, G4434 G2532 free G1658 and G2532 bond, G1401 to G2443 G846 receive G1325 a mark G5480 in G1909 their G846 right hand, G1188 G5495 or G2228 in G1909 their G846 foreheads: G3359 And G2532 that no G3363 man G5100 might G1410 buy G59 or G2228 sell, G4453 save he G1508 that had G2192 the mark, G5480 or G2228 the name G3686 of the beast, G2342 or G2228 the number G706 of his G846 name. G3686
And G2532 I saw G1492 the woman G1135 drunken G3184 with G1537 the blood G129 of the saints, G40 and G2532 with G1537 the blood G129 of the martyrs G3144 of Jesus: G2424 and G2532 when I saw G1492 her, G846 I wondered G2296 with great G3173 admiration. G2295 And G2532 the angel G32 said G2036 unto me, G3427 Wherefore G1302 didst thou marvel? G2296 I G1473 will tell G2046 thee G4671 the mystery G3466 of the woman, G1135 and G2532 of the beast G2342 that carrieth G941 her, G846 which G3588 hath G2192 the seven G2033 heads G2776 and G2532 ten G1176 horns. G2768 The beast G2342 that G3739 thou sawest G1492 was, G2258 and G2532 is G2076 not; G3756 and G2532 shall G3195 ascend G305 out of G1537 the bottomless pit, G12 and G2532 go G5217 into G1519 perdition: G684 and G2532 they that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth G1093 shall wonder, G2296 whose G3739 names G3686 were G1125 not G3756 written G1125 in G1909 the book G975 of life G2222 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world, G2889 when they behold G991 the beast G2342 that was, G3748 G2258 and G2532 is G2076 not, G3756 and yet G2539 is. G2076
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 51
Commentary on Isaiah 51 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 51
Isa 51:1-23. Encouragement to the Faithful Remnant of Israel to Trust in God for Deliverance, Both from Their Long Babylonian Exile, and from Their Present Dispersion.
1. me—the God of your fathers.
ye … follow after righteousness—the godly portion of the nation; Isa 51:7 shows this (Pr 15:9; 1Ti 6:11). "Ye follow righteousness," seek it therefore from Me, who "bring it near," and that a righteousness "not about to be abolished" (Isa 51:6, 7); look to Abraham, your father (Isa 51:2), as a sample of how righteousness before Me is to be obtained; I, the same God who blessed him, will bless you at last (Isa 51:3); therefore trust in Me, and fear not man's opposition (Isa 51:7, 8, 12, 13). The mistake of the Jews, heretofore, has been, not in that they "followed after righteousness," but in that they followed it "by the works of the law," instead of "by faith," as Abraham did (Ro 9:31, 32; 10:3, 4; 4:2-5).
hole of … pit—The idea is not, as it is often quoted, the inculcation of humility, by reminding men of the fallen state from which they have been taken, but that as Abraham, the quarry, as it were (compare Isa 48:1), whence their nation was hewn, had been called out of a strange land to the inheritance of Canaan, and blessed by God, the same God is able to deliver and restore them also (compare Mt 3:9).
2. alone—translate, "I called him when he was but one" (Eze 33:24). The argument is: the same God who had so blessed "one" individual, as to become a mighty nation (Ge 12:1; 22:7), can also increase and bless the small remnant of Israel, both that left in the Babylonish captivity, and that left in the present and latter days (Zec 14:2); "the residue" (Isa 13:8, 9).
3. For—See for the argument, see on Isa 51:2.
the garden of the Lord—restoration of the primeval paradise (Ge 2:8; Eze 28:13; Re 2:7).
melody—Hebrew, "psalm." God's praises shall again be heard.
4. my people—the Jews. This reading is better than that of Gesenius: "O peoples … nations," namely, the Gentiles. The Jews are called on to hear and rejoice in the extension of the true religion to the nations; for, at the first preaching of the Gospel, as in the final age to come, it was from Jerusalem that the gospel law was, and is, to go forth (Isa 2:3).
law … judgment—the gospel dispensation and institutions (Isa 42:1, "judgment").
make … to rest—establish firmly; found.
light, &c.—(Isa 42:6).
5. righteousness … near—that is, faithful fulfilment of the promised deliverance, answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause (Isa 46:13; 56:1; Ro 10:8, 9). Ye follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it (Isa 51:1).
arms—put for Himself; I by My might.
judge—(Isa 2:3, 4; Ps 98:9).
isles, &c.—(Isa 60:9).
arm—(Ro 1:16), "the power of God unto (the Gentiles as well as the Jews) salvation."
6. (Isa 40:6, 8; Ps 102:26; Heb 1:11, 12).
vanish away—literally, "shall be torn asunder," as a garment [Maurer]; which accords with the context.
in like manner—But Gesenius, "Like a gnat"; like the smallest and vilest insect. Jerome translates, as English Version, and infers that "in like manner" as man, the heavens (that is, the sky) and earth are not to be annihilated, but changed for the better (Isa 65:17).
righteousness—My faithfully fulfilled promise (see on Isa 51:5).
7. know righteousness—(See on Isa 51:1).
8. (See on Isa 50:9; Job 4:18-20). Not that the moth eats men up, but they shall be destroyed by as insignificant instrumentality as the moth that eats a garment.
9. Impassioned prayer of the exiled Jews.
ancient days—(Ps 44:1).
Rahab—poetical name for Egypt (see on Isa 30:7).
dragon—Hebrew, tannin. The crocodile, an emblem of Egypt, as represented on coins struck after the conquest of Egypt by Augustus; or rather here, "its king," Pharaoh (see on Isa 27:1; Ps 74:13, 14; Eze 32:2, Margin; Eze 29:3).
10. it—the arm.
Art not Thou the same Almighty power that … ? dried the sea—the Red Sea (Isa 43:16; Ex 14:21).
11. (Isa 35:10).
Therefore—assurance of faith; or else the answer of Jehovah corresponding to their prayer. As surely as God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, He shall redeem them from Babylon, both the literal in the age following, and mystical in the last ages (Re 18:20, 21). There shall be a second exodus (Isa 11:11-16; 27:12, 13).
singing—image from the custom of singing on a journey when a caravan is passing along the extended plains in the East.
everlasting joy—(Jude 24).
sorrow … flee away—(Re 21:4).
12. comforteth—(Isa 51:3; Isa 40:1).
thou—Zion.
son of man—frail and dying as his parent Adam.
be made as grass—wither as grass (Isa 40:6, 7).
13. (Isa 40:12, 26, 28), the same argument of comfort drawn from the omnipotence of the Creator.
as if … ready, &c.—literally, "when he directs," namely, his arrow, to destroy (Ps 21:12; 7:13; 11:2) [Maurer].
14. captive exile—literally, one bowed down as a captive (Isa 10:4) [Maurer]. The scene is primarily Babylon, and the time near the close of the captivity. Secondarily, and antitypically, the mystical Babylon, the last enemy of Israel and the Church, in which they have long suffered, but from which they are to be gloriously delivered.
pit—such as were many of the ancient dungeons (compare Jer 38:6, 11, 13; Ge 37:20).
nor … bread … fail—(Isa 33:16; Jer 37:21).
15. divided … sea—the Red Sea. The same Hebrew word as "make to rest" (Isa 51:4). Rather, "that terrify the sea," that is, restrain it by My rebuke, "when its waves roar" [Gesenius]. The Hebrew favors Maurer, "that terrify the sea so that the waves roar." The sense favors Gesenius (Jer 5:22; 31:35), or English Version (Isa 51:9, 10, which favors the special reference to the exodus from Egypt).
16. Addressed to Israel, embodied in "the servant of Jehovah" (Isa 42:1), Messiah, its ideal and representative Head, through whom the elect remnant is to be restored.
put my words in thy mouth—true of Israel, the depository of true religion, but fully realized only in Israel's Head and antitype, Messiah (Isa 49:2; 50:4, 5; 59:21; De 18:18; Joh 3:34).
covered … in … shadow of … hand—protected thee (see on Isa 49:2).
plant—rather, "fix" as a tabernacle; so it ought to be rendered (Da 11:45). The "new creation," now going on in the spiritual world by the Gospel (Eph 2:10), and hereafter to be extended to the visible world, is meant (Isa 65:17; 66:22; compare Isa 13:13; 2Pe 3:10-13).
Zion—Its restoration is a leading part in the new creation to come (Isa 65:17, 19).
17. Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, &c.—(Isa 52:1).
drunk—Jehovah's wrath is compared to an intoxicating draught because it confounds the sufferer under it, and makes him fall (Job 21:20; Ps 60:3; 75:8; Jer 25:15, 16; 49:12; Zec 12:2; Re 14:10); ("poured out without mixture"; rather, "the pure wine juice mixed with intoxicating drugs").
of trembling—which produced trembling or intoxication.
wrung … out—drained the last drop out; the dregs were the sediments from various substances, as honey, dates, and drugs, put into the wine to increase the strength and sweetness.
18. Following up the image in Isa 51:17, intoxicated and confused by the cup of God's anger, she has none to guide her in her helpless state; she has not yet awakened out of the sleep caused by that draught. This cannot apply to the Babylonish captivity; for in it they had Ezekiel and Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, as "guides," and soon awoke out of that sleep; but it applies to the Jews now, and will be still more applicable in their coming oppression by Antichrist.
19. two—classes of evils, for he enumerates four, namely, desolation and destruction to the land and state; famine and the sword to the people.
who shall be sorry for thee—so as to give thee effectual relief: as the parallel clause, "By whom shall I comfort thee?" shows (La 2:11-13).
20. head of all … streets—(La 2:19; 4:1).
wild bull—rather, "oryx" [Jerome], or gazelle [Gesenius], or wild goat [Bochart]; commonly in the East taken in a net, of a wide sweep, into which the beasts were hunted together. The streets of cities in the East often have gates, which are closed at night; a person wishing to escape would be stopped by them and caught, as a wild animal in a net.
21. drunken … not with wine—(Isa 29:9; compare Isa 51:17, 20, here; La 3:15).
22. pleadeth … cause—(Ps 35:1; Jer 50:34; Mic 7:9).
no more drink it—(Isa 54:7-9). This cannot apply to Israel after the return from Babylon, but only to them after their final restoration.
23. (Isa 49:26; Jer 25:15-29; Zec 12:2).
Bow down that … go over—Conquerors often literally trod on the necks of conquered kings, as Sapor of Persia did to the Roman emperor Valerian (Jos 10:24; Ps 18:40; 66:11, 12).