7 Let the wicked H7563 forsake H5800 his way, H1870 and the unrighteous H205 man H376 his thoughts: H4284 and let him return H7725 unto the LORD, H3068 and he will have mercy H7355 upon him; and to our God, H430 for he will abundantly H7235 pardon. H5545
Draw nigh G1448 to God, G2316 and G2532 he will draw nigh G1448 to you. G5213 Cleanse G2511 your hands, G5495 ye sinners; G268 and G2532 purify G48 your hearts, G2588 ye double minded. G1374 Be afflicted, G5003 and G2532 mourn, G3996 and G2532 weep: G2799 let your G5216 laughter G1071 be turned G3344 to G1519 mourning, G3997 and G2532 your joy G5479 to G1519 heaviness. G2726 Humble yourselves G5013 in the sight G1799 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 he shall lift G5312 you G5209 up. G5312
But if the wicked H7563 will turn H7725 from all his sins H2403 that he hath committed, H6213 and keep H8104 all my statutes, H2708 and do H6213 that which is lawful H4941 and right, H6666 he shall surely H2421 live, H2421 he shall not die. H4191 All his transgressions H6588 that he hath committed, H6213 they shall not be mentioned H2142 unto him: in his righteousness H6666 that he hath done H6213 he shall live. H2421 Have I any pleasure H2654 at all H2654 that the wicked H7563 should die? H4194 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD: H3069 and not that he should return H7725 from his ways, H1870 and live? H2421
Again, when the wicked H7563 man turneth away H7725 from his wickedness H7564 that he hath committed, H6213 and doeth H6213 that which is lawful H4941 and right, H6666 he shall save H2421 his soul H5315 alive. H2421 Because he considereth, H7200 and turneth away H7725 from all his transgressions H6588 that he hath committed, H6213 he shall surely H2421 live, H2421 he shall not die. H4191 Yet saith H559 the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 The way H1870 of the Lord H136 is not equal. H8505 O house H1004 of Israel, H3478 are not my ways H1870 equal? H8505 are not your ways H1870 unequal? H8505 Therefore I will judge H8199 you, O house H1004 of Israel, H3478 every one H376 according to his ways, H1870 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 Repent, H7725 and turn H7725 yourselves from all your transgressions; H6588 so iniquity H5771 shall not be your ruin. H4383 Cast away H7993 from you all your transgressions, H6588 whereby ye have transgressed; H6586 and make H6213 you a new H2319 heart H3820 and a new H2319 spirit: H7307 for why will ye die, H4191 O house H1004 of Israel? H3478 For I have no pleasure H2654 in the death H4194 of him that dieth, H4191 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD: H3069 wherefore turn H7725 yourselves, and live H2421 ye.
Again, when I say H559 unto the wicked, H7563 Thou shalt surely H4191 die; H4191 if he turn H7725 from his sin, H2403 and do H6213 that which is lawful H4941 and right; H6666 If the wicked H7563 restore H7725 the pledge, H2258 give again H7999 that he had robbed, H1500 walk H1980 in the statutes H2708 of life, H2416 without committing H6213 iniquity; H5766 he shall surely H2421 live, H2421 he shall not die. H4191 None of his sins H2403 that he hath committed H2398 shall be mentioned H2142 unto him: he hath done H6213 that which is lawful H4941 and right; H6666 he shall surely H2421 live. H2421
This is a faithful G4103 saying, G3056 and G2532 worthy G514 of all G3956 acceptation, G594 that G3754 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 came G2064 into G1519 the world G2889 to save G4982 sinners; G268 of whom G3739 I G1473 am G1510 chief. G4413 Howbeit G235 for this G5124 cause G1223 I obtained mercy, G1653 that G2443 in G1722 me G1698 first G4413 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 might shew forth G1731 all G3956 longsuffering, G3115 for G4314 a pattern G5296 to them which should hereafter G3195 believe G4100 on G1909 him G846 to G1519 life G2222 everlasting. G166
To G1519 the praise G1868 of the glory G1391 of his G846 grace, G5485 wherein G1722 G3739 he hath made G5487 us G2248 accepted G5487 in G1722 the beloved. G25 In G1722 whom G3739 we have G2192 redemption G629 through G1223 his G846 blood, G129 the forgiveness G859 of sins, G3900 according G2596 to the riches G4149 of his G846 grace; G5485 Wherein G3739 he hath abounded G4052 toward G1519 us G2248 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 prudence; G5428
G2228 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 the unrighteous G94 shall G2816 not G3756 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 of God? G2316 Be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 neither G3777 fornicators, G4205 nor G3777 idolaters, G1496 nor G3777 adulterers, G3432 nor G3777 effeminate, G3120 nor G3777 abusers of themselves with mankind, G733 Nor G3777 thieves, G2812 nor G3777 covetous, G4123 nor G3777 drunkards, G3183 nor G3756 revilers, G3060 nor G3756 extortioners, G727 shall inherit G3756 G2816 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316 And G2532 such G5023 were G2258 some of you: G5100 but G235 ye are washed, G628 but G235 ye are sanctified, G37 but G235 ye are justified G1344 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 by G1722 the Spirit G4151 of our G2257 God. G2316
Thou G4671 hast G2076 neither G3756 part G3310 nor G3761 lot G2819 in G1722 this G5129 matter: G3056 for G1063 thy G4675 heart G2588 is G2076 not G3756 right G2117 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316 Repent G3340 therefore G3767 of G575 this G5026 thy G4675 wickedness, G2549 and G2532 pray G1189 God, G2316 if G1487 perhaps G686 the thought G1963 of thine G4675 heart G2588 may be forgiven G863 thee. G4671
Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye make clean G2511 the outside G1855 of the cup G4221 and G2532 of the platter, G3953 but G1161 within G2081 they are full G1073 of G1537 extortion G724 and G2532 excess. G192 Thou blind G5185 Pharisee, G5330 cleanse G2511 first G4412 that which is within G1787 the cup G4221 and G2532 platter, G3953 that G2443 the outside G1622 of them G846 may be G1096 clean G2513 also. G2532
But G1161 those things which G3588 proceed G1607 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 come forth G1831 from G1537 the heart; G2588 and they G2548 defile G2840 the man. G444 For G1063 out of G1537 the heart G2588 proceed G1831 evil G4190 thoughts, G1261 murders, G5408 adulteries, G3430 fornications, G4202 thefts, G2829 false witness, G5577 blasphemies: G988
And G1161 the Lord G2962 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Now G3568 do G2511 ye G5210 Pharisees G5330 make clean G2511 the outside G1855 of the cup G4221 and G2532 the platter; G4094 but G1161 your G5216 inward part G2081 is full G1073 of ravening G724 and G2532 wickedness. G4189 Ye fools, G878 did G4160 not G3756 he that made G4160 that which G3588 is without G1855 make G4160 that which G3588 is within G2081 also? G2532
Wash H7364 you, make you clean; H2135 put away H5493 the evil H7455 of your doings H4611 from before H5048 mine eyes; H5869 cease H2308 to do evil; H7489 Learn H3925 to do well; H3190 seek H1875 judgment, H4941 relieve H833 the oppressed, H2541 judge H8199 the fatherless, H3490 plead H7378 for the widow. H490 Come now, H3212 and let us reason together, H3198 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 though your sins H2399 be as scarlet, H8144 they shall be as white H3835 as snow; H7950 though they be red H119 like crimson, H8438 they shall be as wool. H6785
Go H1980 and proclaim H7121 these words H1697 toward the north, H6828 and say, H559 Return, H7725 thou backsliding H4878 Israel, H3478 saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and I will not cause mine anger H6440 to fall H5307 upon you: for I am merciful, H2623 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 and I will not keep H5201 anger for ever. H5769 Only acknowledge H3045 thine iniquity, H5771 that thou hast transgressed H6586 against the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and hast scattered H6340 thy ways H1870 to the strangers H2114 under every green H7488 tree, H6086 and ye have not obeyed H8085 my voice, H6963 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Moreover thou shalt say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Shall they fall, H5307 and not arise? H6965 shall he turn away, H7725 and not return? H7725 Why then is this people H5971 of Jerusalem H3389 slidden back H7725 by a perpetual H5329 backsliding? H4878 they hold H2388 fast deceit, H8649 they refuse H3985 to return. H7725 I hearkened H7181 and heard, H8085 but they spake not aright: H1696 no man H376 repented H5162 him of H5921 his wickedness, H7451 saying, H559 What have I done? H6213 every one turned H7725 to his course, H4794 as the horse H5483 rusheth H7857 into the battle. H4421
When I say H559 unto the wicked, H7563 Thou shalt surely H4191 die; H4191 and thou givest him not warning, H2094 nor speakest H1696 to warn H2094 the wicked H7563 from his wicked H7563 way, H1870 to save his life; H2421 the same wicked H7563 man shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but his blood H1818 will I require H1245 at thine hand. H3027 Yet if thou warn H2094 the wicked, H7563 and he turn H7725 not from his wickedness, H7562 nor from his wicked H7563 way, H1870 he shall die H4191 in his iniquity; H5771 but thou hast delivered H5337 thy soul. H5315
O Israel, H3478 return H7725 unto the LORD H3068 thy God; H430 for thou hast fallen H3782 by thine iniquity. H5771 Take H3947 with you words, H1697 and turn H7725 to the LORD: H3068 say H559 unto him, Take away H5375 all iniquity, H5771 and receive H3947 us graciously: H2896 so will we render H7999 the calves H6499 of our lips. H8193
The LORD H3068 is longsuffering, H750 H639 and of great H7227 mercy, H2617 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression, H6588 and by no means H5352 clearing H5352 the guilty, visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children H1121 unto the third H8029 and fourth H7256 generation. Pardon, H5545 I beseech thee, the iniquity H5771 of this people H5971 according unto the greatness H1433 of thy mercy, H2617 and as thou hast forgiven H5375 this people, H5971 from Egypt H4714 even until now. H2008
And the LORD H3068 passed by H5674 before him, H6440 and proclaimed, H7121 The LORD, H3068 The LORD H3068 God, H410 merciful H7349 and gracious, H2587 longsuffering, H750 H639 and abundant H7227 in goodness H2617 and truth, H571 Keeping H5341 mercy H2617 for thousands, H505 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression H6588 and sin, H2403 and that will by no means H5352 clear H5352 the guilty; visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children, H1121 and upon the children's H1121 children, unto the third H8029 and to the fourth H7256 generation.
And G2532 not G3756 as G5613 it was by G1223 one G1520 that sinned, G264 so is the gift: G1434 for G1063 G3303 the judgment G2917 was by G1537 one G1520 to G1519 condemnation, G2631 but G1161 the free gift G5486 is of G1537 many G4183 offences G3900 unto G1519 justification. G1345 For G1063 if G1487 by one man's G1520 offence G3900 death G2288 reigned G936 by G1223 one; G1520 much G4183 more G3123 they which receive G2983 abundance G4050 of grace G5485 and G2532 of the gift G1431 of righteousness G1343 shall reign G936 in G1722 life G2222 by G1223 one, G1520 Jesus G2424 Christ.) G5547 Therefore G686 G3767 as G5613 by G1223 the offence G3900 of one G1520 judgment came upon G1519 all G3956 men G444 to G1519 condemnation; G2631 even G2532 so G3779 by G1223 the righteousness G1345 of one G1520 the free gift came upon G1519 all G3956 men G444 unto G1519 justification G1347 of life. G2222 For G1063 as G5618 by G1223 one G1520 man's G444 disobedience G3876 many G4183 were made G2525 sinners, G268 so G3779 G2532 by G1223 the obedience G5218 of one G1520 shall G2525 many G4183 be made G2525 righteous. G1342 Moreover G1161 the law G3551 entered, G3922 that G2443 the offence G3900 might abound. G4121 But G1161 where G3757 sin G266 abounded, G4121 grace G5485 did much more abound: G5248 That G2443 as G5618 sin G266 hath reigned G936 unto G1722 death, G2288 even G2532 so G3779 might G936 grace G5485 reign G936 through G1223 righteousness G1343 unto G1519 eternal G166 life G2222 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 our G2257 Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 55
Commentary on Isaiah 55 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 55
Isa 55:1-13. The Call of the Gentile World to Faith the Result of God's Grace to the Jews First.
1. every one—After the special privileges of Israel (Isa 54:1-17) there follow, as the consequence, the universal invitation to the Gentiles (Lu 24:47; Ro 11:12, 15).
Ho—calls the most earnest attention.
thirsteth—has a keen sense of need (Mt 5:6).
waters … wine and milk—a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life at all, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant (Isa 25:6; So 5:1; Joh 7:37). "Waters," plural, to denote abundance (Isa 43:20; 44:3).
no money—Yet, in Isa 55:2, it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money, namely, a devotion of your own making, ye lavish it on that "which is not bread," that is, on idols, whether literal or spiritual.
buy … without money—another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves (1Co 6:20; 1Pe 1:18, 19). In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Christ who has bought it for us and by making it our own (Mt 13:44, 46; Lu 12:33; Re 3:18).
2. not bread—(Hab 2:13). "Bread of deceit" (Pr 20:17). Contrast this with the "bread of life" (Joh 6:32, 35; also Lu 14:16-20).
satisfieth not—(Ec 1:8; 4:8).
hearken … and eat—When two imperatives are joined, the second expresses the consequence of obeying the command in the first (Ge 42:18). By hearkening ye shall eat. So in Isa 55:1, "buy and eat." By buying, and so making it your own, ye shall eat, that is, experimentally enjoy it (Joh 6:53). Compare the invitation (Pr 9:5, 6; Mt 22:4).
fatness—(Ps 36:8; 63:5).
3. me … live—by coming to me ye shall live: for "I am the life" (Joh 14:6).
everlasting covenant—(Jer 32:40; 2Sa 23:5).
with you … David—God's covenant is with the antitypical David, Messiah (Eze 34:23), and so with us by our identification with Him.
sure—answering to "everlasting," irrevocable, unfailing, to be relied on (Ps 89:2-4, 28, 29, 34-36; Jer 33:20, 21; 2Sa 7:15, 16; 2Co 1:18-20).
mercies of David—the mercies of grace (Isa 63:7; Joh 1:16) which I covenanted to give to David, and especially to Messiah, his antitype. Quoted in Ac 13:34.
4. him—the mystical David (Eze 37:24, 25; Jer 30:9; Ho 3:5). Given by God (Isa 49:6).
witness—He bore witness even unto death for God, to His law, claims, and plan of redeeming love (Joh 18:37; Re 1:5). Revelation is a "testimony"; because it is propounded to be received on the authority of the Giver, and not merely because it can be proved by arguments.
commander—"preceptor" [Horsley]; "lawgiver" [Barnes].
to the people—rather, "peoples."
5. thou—Jehovah addresses Messiah.
call … run—God must call, before man can, or will, run (So 1:4; Joh 6:44). Not merely come, but run eagerly.
thou knowest not—now as thy people (so in Mt 7:23).
nation … nations—gradation; from Israel, one nation, the Gospel spread to many nations, and will do so more fully on Israel's conversion.
knew not thee—(Isa 52:15; Eph 2:11, 12).
because of … thy God … glorified thee—(Isa 60:5, 9; Zec 8:23); where similar language is directed to Israel, because of the identification of Israel with Messiah, who is the ideal Israel (Mt 2:15; compare with Ho 11:1; see Ac 3:13).
6. The condition and limit in the obtaining of the spiritual benefits (Isa 55:1-3): (1) Seek the Lord. (2) Seek Him while He is to be found (Isa 65:1; Ps 32:6; Mt 25:1-13; Joh 7:34; 8:21; 2Co 6:2; Heb 2:3; 3:13, 15).
call—casting yourselves wholly on His mercy (Ro 10:13). Stronger than "seek"; so "near" is more positive than "while He may be found" (Ro 10:8, 9).
near—propitious (Ps 34:18; 145:18).
7. unrighteous—Hebrew, "man of iniquity"; true of all men. The "wicked" sins more openly in "his way"; the "unrighteous" refers to the more subtle workings of sin in the "thoughts." All are guilty in the latter respect, thought many fancy themselves safe, because not openly "wicked in ways" (Ps 94:11). The parallelism is that of gradation. The progress of the penitent is to be from negative reformation, "forsaking his way," and a farther step, "his thoughts," to positive repentance, "returning to the Lord" (the only true repentance, Zec 12:10), and making God his God, along with the other children of God (the crowning point; appropriation of God to ourselves: "to our God"). "Return" implies that man originally walked with God, but has apostatized. Isaiah saith, "our God," the God of the believing Israelites; those themselves redeemed desire others to come to their God (Ps 34:8; Re 22:17).
abundantly pardon—Literally, "multiply to pardon," still more than "have mercy"; God's graciousness is felt more and more the longer one knows Him (Ps 130:7).
8. For—referring to Isa 55:7. You need not doubt His willingness "abundantly to pardon" (compare Isa 55:12); for, though "the wicked" man's "ways," and "the unrighteous man's thoughts," are so aggravated as to seem unpardonable, God's "thoughts" and "ways" in pardoning are not regulated by the proportion of the former, as man's would be towards his fellow man who offended him; compare the "for" (Ps 25:11; Ro 5:19).
9. (Ps 57:10; 89:2; 103:11). "For" is repeated from Isa 55:8. But Maurer, after the negation, translates, "but."
10. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (Isa 5:6; De 32:2; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 72:6).
snow—which covers plants from frost in winter; and, when melted in spring, waters the earth.
returneth not—void; as in Isa 55:11; it returns not in the same shape, or without "accomplishing" the desired end.
bud—germinate.
11. (Mt 24:35). Rain may to us seem lost when it falls on a desert, but it fulfils some purpose of God. So the gospel word falling on the hard heart; it sometimes works a change at last; and even if so, it leaves men without excuse. The full accomplishment of this verse, and Isa 55:12, 13, is, however, to be at the Jews' final restoration and conversion of the world (Isa 11:9-12; 60:1-5, 21).
12. go out—from the various countries in which ye (the Jews) are scattered, to your own land (Eze 11:17).
led—by Messiah, your "Leader" (Isa 55:4; Isa 52:12; Mic 2:12, 13).
mountains … trees, &c.—images justly used to express the seeming sympathy of nature with the joy of God's people. For, when sin is removed, the natural world shall be delivered from "vanity," and be renewed, so as to be in unison with the regenerated moral world (Isa 44:23; Ps 98:8; Ro 8:19-22).
13. thorn—emblem of the wicked (2Sa 23:6; Mic 7:4).
fir tree—the godly (Isa 60:13; Ps 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Ro 6:19.
brier—emblem of uncultivation (Isa 5:6).
myrtle—Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Ps 92:13, 14).
for a name … everlasting sign—a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jer 13:11; 33:9).