5 My righteousness H6664 is near; H7138 my salvation H3468 is gone forth, H3318 and mine arms H2220 shall judge H8199 the people; H5971 the isles H339 shall wait H6960 upon me, and on mine arm H2220 shall they trust. H3176
I bring near H7126 my righteousness; H6666 it shall not be far off, H7368 and my salvation H8668 shall not tarry: H309 and I will place H5414 salvation H8668 in Zion H6726 for Israel H3478 my glory. H8597
Surely the isles H339 shall wait H6960 for me, and the ships H591 of Tarshish H8659 first, H7223 to bring H935 thy sons H1121 from far, H7350 their silver H3701 and their gold H2091 with them, unto the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and to the Holy One H6918 of Israel, H3478 because he hath glorified H6286 thee.
The LORD H3068 will be terrible H3372 unto them: for he will famish H7329 all the gods H430 of the earth; H776 and men shall worship H7812 him, every one H376 from his place, H4725 even all the isles H339 of the heathen. H1471
For G1063 we G2248 must G1163 all G3956 appear G5319 before G1715 the judgment seat G968 of Christ; G5547 that G2443 every one G1538 may receive G2865 the things done in G1223 his body, G4983 according G4314 to that G3739 he hath done, G4238 whether G1535 it be good G18 or G1535 bad. G2556
And G1161 that the Gentiles G1484 might glorify G1392 God G2316 for G5228 his mercy; G1656 as G2531 it is written, G1125 For G1223 this G5124 cause G1223 I will confess G1843 to thee G4671 among G1722 the Gentiles, G1484 and G2532 sing G5567 unto thy G4675 name. G3686 And G2532 again G3825 he saith, G3004 Rejoice, ye G2165 Gentiles, G1484 with G3326 his G846 people. G2992 And G2532 again, G3825 Praise G134 the Lord, G2962 all G3956 ye G134 Gentiles; G1484 and G2532 laud G1867 him, G846 all ye G3956 people. G2992 And G2532 again, G3825 Esaias G2268 saith, G3004 There shall be G2071 a root G4491 of Jesse, G2421 and G2532 he that shall rise G450 to reign over G757 the Gentiles; G1484 in G1909 him G846 shall G1679 the Gentiles G1484 trust. G1679
So then G686 faith G4102 cometh by G1537 hearing, G189 and G1161 hearing G189 by G1223 the word G4487 of God. G2316 But G235 I say, G3004 Have G191 they not G3378 heard? G191 Yes verily, G3304 their G846 sound G5353 went G1831 into G1519 all G3956 the earth, G1093 and G2532 their G846 words G4487 unto G1519 the ends G4009 of the world. G3625
But G1161 the righteousness G1343 which is of G1537 faith G4102 speaketh G3004 on this wise, G3779 Say G2036 not G3361 in G1722 thine G4675 heart, G2588 Who G5101 shall ascend G305 into G1519 heaven? G3772 (that is, G5123 to bring G2609 Christ G5547 down G2609 from above:) Or, G2228 Who G5101 shall descend G2597 into G1519 the deep? G12 (that is, G5123 to bring up G321 Christ G5547 again G321 from G1537 the dead.) G3498 But G235 what G5101 saith it? G3004 The word G4487 is G2076 nigh G1451 thee, G4675 even in G1722 thy G4675 mouth, G4750 and G2532 in G1722 thy G4675 heart: G2588 that is, G5123 the word G4487 of faith, G4102 which G3739 we preach; G2784 That G3754 if G1437 thou shalt confess G3670 with G1722 thy G4675 mouth G4750 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 shalt believe G4100 in G1722 thine G4675 heart G2588 that G3754 God G2316 hath raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead, G3498 thou shalt be saved. G4982 For G1063 with the heart G2588 man believeth G4100 unto G1519 righteousness; G1343 and G1161 with the mouth G4750 confession is made G3670 unto G1519 salvation. G4991
For G1063 I am G1870 not G3756 ashamed G1870 of the gospel G2098 of Christ: G5547 for G1063 it is G2076 the power G1411 of God G2316 unto G1519 salvation G4991 to every one G3956 that believeth; G4100 to the Jew G2453 first, G4412 and G5037 also G2532 to the Greek. G1672 For G1063 therein G1722 G846 is G601 the righteousness G1343 of God G2316 revealed G601 from G1537 faith G4102 to G1519 faith: G4102 as G2531 it is written, G1125 G1161 The just G1342 shall live G2198 by G1537 faith. G4102
Because G1360 he hath appointed G2476 a day, G2250 in G1722 the which G3739 he will G3195 judge G2919 the world G3625 in G1722 righteousness G1343 by G1722 that man G435 whom G3739 he hath ordained; G3724 whereof he hath given G3930 assurance G4102 unto all G3956 men, in that he hath raised G450 him G846 from G1537 the dead. G3498
For G1063 G3761 the Father G3962 judgeth G2919 no man, G3762 but G235 hath committed G1325 all G3956 judgment G2920 unto the Son: G5207 That G2443 all G3956 men should honour G5091 the Son, G5207 even as G2531 they honour G5091 the Father. G3962 He that honoureth G5091 not G3361 the Son G5207 honoureth G5091 not G3756 the Father G3962 which G3588 hath sent G3992 him. G846
And G2532 that repentance G3341 and G2532 remission G859 of sins G266 should be preached G2784 in G1909 his G846 name G3686 among G1519 all G3956 nations, G1484 beginning G756 at G575 Jerusalem. G2419
And G2532 saying, G3004 Repent ye: G3340 for G1063 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 is at hand. G1448
Afterward he brought me again H7725 unto the door H6607 of the house; H1004 and, behold, waters H4325 issued out H3318 from under the threshold H4670 of the house H1004 eastward: H6921 for the forefront H6440 of the house H1004 stood toward the east, H6921 and the waters H4325 came down H3381 from under from the right H3233 side H3802 of the house, H1004 at the south H5045 side of the altar. H4196 Then brought he me out H3318 of the way H1870 of the gate H8179 northward, H6828 and led me about H5437 the way H1870 without unto the utter H2351 gate H8179 by the way H1870 that looketh H6437 eastward; H6921 and, behold, there ran out H6379 waters H4325 on the right H3233 side. H3802 And when the man H376 that had the line H6957 in his hand H3027 went forth H3318 eastward, H6921 he measured H4058 a thousand H505 cubits, H520 and he brought me through H5674 the waters; H4325 the waters H4325 were to the ankles. H657 Again he measured H4058 a thousand, H505 and brought me through H5674 the waters; H4325 the waters H4325 were to the knees. H1290 Again he measured H4058 a thousand, H505 and brought me through; H5674 the waters H4325 were to the loins. H4975 Afterward he measured H4058 a thousand; H505 and it was a river H5158 that I could H3201 not pass over: H5674 for the waters H4325 were risen, H1342 waters H4325 to swim in, H7813 a river H5158 that could not be passed over. H5674
Listen, H8085 O isles, H339 unto me; and hearken, H7181 ye people, H3816 from far; H7350 The LORD H3068 hath called H7121 me from the womb; H990 from the bowels H4578 of my mother H517 hath he made mention H2142 of my name. H8034
Behold, the Lord H136 GOD H3069 will come H935 with strong H2389 hand, and his arm H2220 shall rule H4910 for him: behold, his reward H7939 is with him, and his work H6468 before H6440 him.
And it shall come to pass in the last H319 days, H3117 that the mountain H2022 of the LORD'S H3068 house H1004 shall be established H3559 in the top H7218 of the mountains, H2022 and shall be exalted H5375 above the hills; H1389 and all nations H1471 shall flow H5102 unto it. And many H7227 people H5971 shall go H1980 and say, H559 Come H3212 ye, and let us go up H5927 to the mountain H2022 of the LORD, H3068 to the house H1004 of the God H430 of Jacob; H3290 and he will teach H3384 us of his ways, H1870 and we will walk H3212 in his paths: H734 for out of Zion H6726 shall go forth H3318 the law, H8451 and the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 from Jerusalem. H3389
He shall judge H1777 among the heathen, H1471 he shall fill H4390 the places with the dead bodies; H1472 he shall wound H4272 the heads H7218 over many H7227 countries. H776
Surely his salvation H3468 is nigh H7138 them that fear H3373 him; that glory H3519 may dwell H7931 in our land. H776
O let the nations H3816 be glad H8055 and sing for joy: H7442 for thou shalt judge H8199 the people H5971 righteously, H4334 and govern H5148 the nations H3816 upon earth. H776 Selah. H5542
He shall call H7121 to the heavens H8064 from above, H5920 and to the earth, H776 that he may judge H1777 his people. H5971 Gather H622 my saints H2623 together unto me; those that have made H3772 a covenant H1285 with me by sacrifice. H2077 And the heavens H8064 shall declare H5046 his righteousness: H6664 for God H430 is judge H8199 himself. Selah. H5542
The adversaries H7378 of the LORD H3068 shall be broken to pieces; H2865 out of heaven H8064 shall he thunder H7481 upon them: the LORD H3068 shall judge H1777 the ends H657 of the earth; H776 and he shall give H5414 strength H5797 unto his king, H4428 and exalt H7311 the horn H7161 of his anointed. H4899
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).