15 Whereas H8478 thou hast been forsaken H5800 and hated, H8130 so that no man went through H5674 thee, I will make H7760 thee an eternal H5769 excellency, H1347 a joy H4885 of many H1755 generations. H1755
For your shame H1322 ye shall have double; H4932 and for confusion H3639 they shall rejoice H7442 in their portion: H2506 therefore in their land H776 they shall possess H3423 the double: H4932 everlasting H5769 joy H8057 shall be unto them.
So that he forsook H5203 the tabernacle H4908 of Shiloh, H7887 the tent H168 which he placed H7931 among men; H120 And delivered H5414 his strength H5797 into captivity, H7628 and his glory H8597 into the enemy's H6862 hand. H3027
Your country H776 is desolate, H8077 your cities H5892 are burned H8313 with fire: H784 your land, H127 strangers H2114 devour H398 it in your presence, and it is desolate, H8077 as overthrown H4114 by strangers. H2114 And the daughter H1323 of Zion H6726 is left H3498 as a cottage H5521 in a vineyard, H3754 as a lodge H4412 in a garden of cucumbers, H4750 as a besieged H5341 city. H5892 Except H3884 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 had left H3498 unto us a very small H4592 remnant, H8300 we should have been H1961 as Sodom, H5467 and we should have been like H1819 unto Gomorrah. H6017
And the LORD H3068 have removed H7368 men H120 far away, H7368 and there be a great H7227 forsaking H5805 in the midst H7130 of the land. H776
And the ransomed H6299 of the LORD H3068 shall return, H7725 and come H935 to Zion H6726 with songs H7440 and everlasting H5769 joy H8057 upon their heads: H7218 they shall obtain H5381 joy H8057 and gladness, H8342 and sorrow H3015 and sighing H585 shall flee away. H5127
But Zion H6726 said, H559 The LORD H3068 hath forsaken H5800 me, and my Lord H136 hath forgotten H7911 me. Can a woman H802 forget H7911 her sucking child, H5764 that she should not have compassion H7355 on the son H1121 of her womb? H990 yea, they may forget, H7911 yet will I not forget H7911 thee. Behold, I have graven H2710 thee upon the palms of my hands; H3709 thy walls H2346 are continually H8548 before me. Thy children H1121 shall make haste; H4116 thy destroyers H2040 and they that made thee waste H2717 shall go forth H3318 of thee. Lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 round about, H5439 and behold: H7200 all these gather themselves together, H6908 and come H935 to thee. As I live, H2416 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 thou shalt surely clothe H3847 thee with them all, as with an ornament, H5716 and bind H7194 them on thee, as a bride H3618 doeth. For thy waste H2723 and thy desolate places, H8074 and the land H776 of thy destruction, H2035 shall even now be too narrow H3334 by reason of the inhabitants, H3427 and they that swallowed thee up H1104 shall be far away. H7368 The children H1121 which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost H7923 the other, shall say H559 again in thine ears, H241 The place H4725 is too strait H6862 for me: give H5066 place H4725 to me that I may dwell. H3427 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 H136 GOD, H3069 Behold, I will lift up H5375 mine hand H3027 to the Gentiles, H1471 and set up H7311 my standard H5251 to the people: H5971 and they shall bring H935 thy sons H1121 in their arms, H2684 and thy daughters H1323 shall be carried H5375 upon their shoulders. H3802 And kings H4428 shall be thy nursing fathers, H539 and their queens H8282 thy nursing mothers: H3243 they shall bow down H7812 to thee with their face H639 toward the earth, H776 and lick up H3897 the dust H6083 of thy feet; H7272 and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD: H3068 for they shall not be ashamed H954 that wait H6960 for me.
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 For this is as the waters H4325 of Noah H5146 unto me: for as I have sworn H7650 that the waters H4325 of Noah H5146 should no more go over H5674 the earth; H776 so have I sworn H7650 that I would not be wroth H7107 with thee, nor rebuke H1605 thee. For the mountains H2022 shall depart, H4185 and the hills H1389 be removed; H4131 but my kindness H2617 shall not depart H4185 from thee, neither shall the covenant H1285 of my peace H7965 be removed, H4131 saith H559 the LORD H3068 that hath mercy H7355 on thee. O thou afflicted, H6041 tossed with tempest, H5590 and not comforted, H5162 behold, I will lay H7257 thy stones H68 with fair colours, H6320 and lay thy foundations H3245 with sapphires. H5601 And I will make H7760 thy windows H8121 of agates, H3539 and thy gates H8179 of carbuncles, H68 H688 and all thy borders H1366 of pleasant H2656 stones. H68 And all thy children H1121 shall be taught H3928 of the LORD; H3068 and great H7227 shall be the peace H7965 of thy children. H1121 In righteousness H6666 shalt thou be established: H3559 thou shalt be far H7368 from oppression; H6233 for thou shalt not fear: H3372 and from terror; H4288 for it shall not come near H7126 thee.
The voice H6963 of joy, H8342 and the voice H6963 of gladness, H8057 the voice H6963 of the bridegroom, H2860 and the voice H6963 of the bride, H3618 the voice H6963 of them that shall say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 for the LORD H3068 is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 and of them that shall bring H935 the sacrifice of praise H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 For I will cause to return H7725 the captivity H7622 of the land, H776 as at the first, H7223 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
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
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 the seventh G1442 angel G32 sounded; G4537 and G2532 there were G1096 great G3173 voices G5456 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 The kingdoms G932 of this world G2889 are become G1096 the kingdoms of our G2257 Lord, G2962 and G2532 of his G846 Christ; G5547 and G2532 he shall reign G936 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 And G2532 the four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 elders, G4245 which G3588 sat G2521 before G1799 God G2316 on G1909 their G846 seats, G2362 fell G4098 upon G1909 their G846 faces, G4383 and G2532 worshipped G4352 God, G2316 Saying, G3004 We give G2168 thee G4671 thanks, G2168 O Lord G2962 God G2316 Almighty, G3841 which G3588 art, G5607 and G2532 wast, G2258 and G2532 art to come; G2064 G3801 because G3754 thou hast taken to thee G2983 thy G4675 great G3173 power, G1411 and G2532 hast reigned. G936
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 60
Commentary on Isaiah 60 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 60
Isa 60:1-22. Israel's Glory after Her Affliction.
An ode of congratulation to Zion on her restoration at the Lord's second advent to her true position as the mother church from which the Gospel is to be diffused to the whole Gentile world; the first promulgation of the Gospel among the Gentiles, beginning at Jerusalem [Lu 24:47], is an earnest of this. The language is too glorious to apply to anything that as yet has happened.
1. Arise—from the dust in which thou hast been sitting as a mourning female captive (Isa 3:26; 52:1, 2).
shine—or, "be enlightened; for thy light cometh"; impart to others the spiritual light now given thee (Isa 60:3). The Margin and Gesenius translate, "Be enlightened"; be resplendent with posterity; imperative for the future indicative, "Thou shalt be enlightened" (Isa 58:8, 10; Eph 5:8, 14).
glory of the Lord—not merely the Shekinah, or cloud of glory, such as rested above the ark in the old dispensation, but the glory of the Lord in person (Jer 3:16, 17).
is risen—as the sun (Mal 4:2; Lu 1:78, Margin).
2. darkness … earth—the rest of the earth: in contrast with "light … upon thee" (Isa 60:1). The earth will be afterwards enlightened through Israel (Isa 9:2).
be seen—conspicuously: so the Hebrew.
3. (Isa 2:3; 11:10; 43:6; 49:22; 66:12).
kings—(Isa 49:7, 23; 52:15).
thy rising—rather, "thy sun-rising," that is, "to the brightness that riseth upon thee."
4. Lift up … eyes—Jerusalem is addressed as a female with eyes cast down from grief.
all they … they—The Gentile peoples come together to bring back the dispersed Hebrews, restore their city, and worship Jehovah with offerings.
nursed at thy side—rather "carried at thy side." It is the custom in the East to carry the children astride on the hip, with the arms around the body (Isa 66:12).
5. see—(Isa 60:4), namely, the bringing back of thy sons.
flow together—rather, "overflow with joy" [Lowth]; or, from a different Hebrew root, "be bright with joy" [Gesenius] (Job 3:4).
fear—rather, beat with the agitation of solemn joy at the marvellous sight [Horsley] (Jer 33:9).
be enlarged—swell with delight. Grief, on the contrary, contracts the heart.
abundance of … sea—the wealth of the lands beyond the sea, as in Solomon's time, the type of the coming reign of the Prince of peace.
converted—rather, "be turned," instead of being turned to purposes of sin and idolatry.
forces—rather, "riches."
6. camels—laden with merchandise; the camel is "the ship of the desert" (compare Isa 30:6).
cover thee—so many of them shall there be.
dromedaries—They have one hunch on the back, whereas the camel has two: distinguished for swiftness (Jer 2:23).
Midian—east of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, and stretching northward along Mount Seir. Associated with the Ishmaelites in traffic (Ge 37:25, 28).
Ephah—part of Midian, east of the Dead Sea. It abounded in camels (Jud 6:5).
Sheba—in Arabia-Felix, famed for frankincense and gold (Ps 72:15; Jer 6:20), which they traded in (Isa 45:14; Job 6:19; Eze 27:22).
7. Kedar—(Isa 21:16; So 1:5), in the south of Arabia-Deserta, or north of Arabia-Petræa; they traded in flocks (Eze 27:21).
Nebaioth—son of Ishmael, as was Kedar. Father of the Nabatheans in Arabia-Petræa.
minister—by coming up as an acceptable sacrifice.
come up with acceptance—that is, acceptably. The rams offering themselves voluntarily (Ps 68:30; Ro 12:1; 1Pe 2:5), without waiting for any other priest, answer to believers strong in faith and lamb-like meekness; and in the white fleece-like robe of sanctity [Vitringa].
house of my glory—the temple (Eze 41:1-26; Hag 2:7, 9; Mal 3:1).
8. The prophet, seeing in vision new hosts approaching quickly like a cloud of doves, asks who they are.
9. (see on Isa 42:4).
Tarshish first—The ships of Tartessus (see on Isa 2:16; Isa 23:1, that is, vessels that trade to the most distant regions) will be among the foremost to bring back the scattered Israelites (Isa 66:20).
their silver—The nations among whom the Jews have been scattered shall help them with their money in returning (Isa 60:5-7, 11, 16), as was the case at the return from Babylon (Ezr 1:4; compare Ps 68:30, 31).
unto the name … to the Holy One—rather, because of the name—because of the Holy One (compare Isa 55:5) [Lowth].
10. kings … minister unto thee—(See on Isa 60:7; Isa 49:23).
in my wrath I smote thee—(Isa 54:7, 8; 57:17).
11. (Re 21:25). The gates are ever open to receive new offerings and converts (Isa 26:2; Ac 14:27; Re 3:8). In time of peace the gates of a city are open: so, under the Prince of peace, there shall be no need of barring gates against invaders.
forces—riches.
be brought—as willing captives to the truth; or, if not willingly, be bought by judgments to submit to Israel (Isa 60:12, 14). Gesenius explains it, "may come escorted by a retinue."
12. For—the reason which will lead Gentile kings and people to submit themselves; fear of the God in Israel (Zec 14:17).
13. glory—that is, the trees which adorned Lebanon; emblem of men eminent in natural gifts, devoting all that is in them to the God of Israel (Ho 14:5, 6).
fir … pine … box—rather, "the cypress … ilex … cedar."
place of my sanctuary—Jerusalem (Jer 3:17).
place of my feet—no longer the ark (Jer 3:16), "the footstool" of Jehovah (Ps 99:5; 132:7; 1Ch 28:2); but "the place of His throne, the place of the soles of His feet, where He will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever," in the new temple (Eze 43:7).
14. The sons—Their fathers who "afflicted" Israel having been cut off by divine judgments (Isa 14:1, 2; 49:23).
The Zion of the Holy One—The royal court of the Holy One. Maurer translates, "Zion, the sanctuary (holy place) of Israel" (Isa 57:15; Ps 46:4).
15. forsaken—(Ps 78:60, 61).
no man went through thee—Thy land was so desolate that no traveller, or caravan, passed through thee; true only of Israel, not true of the Church (La 1:4).
excellency—glory, that is, for ever honored.
16. suck—Thou shalt draw to thyself and enjoy all that is valuable of the possessions of the Gentiles, &c. (Isa 49:23; 61:6; 66:11, 12).
know—by the favors bestowed on thee, and through thee on the Gentiles.
17. Poetically, with figurative allusion to the furniture of the temple; all things in that happy age to come shall be changed for the better.
exactors—namely, of tribute.
righteousness—All rulers in restored Jerusalem shall not only be peaceable and righteous, but shall be, as it were, "peace" and "righteousness" itself in their administration.
18. (Isa 2:4). Not only shall thy walls keep thee safe from foes, but "Salvation" shall serve as thy walls, converting thy foes into friends, and so ensuring thee perfect safety (Isa 26:1, 2).
gates—once the scene of "destruction" when victorious foes burst through them (Ne 1:3); henceforth to be not only the scene of praises, but "Praise" itself; the "gates," as the place of public concourse, were the scene of thanksgivings (2Ch 31:2; Ps 9:14; 24:7; 100:4). "Judah," the favored tribe, means "praise."
19. The sun and moon, the brightest objects by day and night, shall be eclipsed by the surpassing glory of God manifesting Himself to thee (Isa 30:26; Zec 2:5; Re 21:23; 22:5).
20. There shall be no national and spiritual obscuration again as formerly (Joe 2:10; Am 8:9).
mourning … ended—(Isa 25:8; Re 21:4).
21. all righteous—(Isa 4:3; 52:1; Re 21:27).
inherit … land—(Isa 49:8; 54:3; 65:9; Ps 37:11, 22; Mt 5:5).
branch of my planting—(Isa 61:3; Ps 92:13; Mt 15:13).
work of my hands—the converted Israelites (Isa 29:23; 45:11).
that I may be glorified—the final end of all God's gracious dealings (Isa 49:3; 61:3).
22. little one—Even one, and that the smallest in number and rank, shall be multiplied a thousandfold in both respects (Mic 5:2; Mt 13:31, 32).
his time—not our time; we might wish to hasten it, but it will come in due time, as in the case of Jesus' first coming (Ga 4:4); so in that of the restoration of Israel and the conversion of the world (Isa 66:8; Hab 2:3; Ac 1:7; Heb 10:37).