8 In measure, H5432 when it shooteth forth, H7971 thou wilt debate H7378 with it: he stayeth H1898 his rough H7186 wind H7307 in the day H3117 of the east wind. H6921
Hear H8085 ye, O mountains, H2022 the LORD'S H3068 controversy, H7379 and ye strong H386 foundations H4146 of the earth: H776 for the LORD H3068 hath a controversy H7379 with his people, H5971 and he will plead H3198 with Israel. H3478 O my people, H5971 what have I done H6213 unto thee? and wherein have I wearied H3811 thee? testify H6030 against me. For I brought thee up H5927 out of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and redeemed H6299 thee out of the house H1004 of servants; H5650 and I sent H7971 before H6440 thee Moses, H4872 Aaron, H175 and Miriam. H4813 O my people, H5971 remember H2142 now what Balak H1111 king H4428 of Moab H4124 consulted, H3289 and what Balaam H1109 the son H1121 of Beor H1160 answered H6030 him from Shittim H7851 unto Gilgal; H1537 that ye may know H3045 the righteousness H6666 of the LORD. H3068
And my people H5971 are bent H8511 to backsliding H4878 from me: though they called H7121 them to the most High, H5920 none at all H3162 would exalt H7311 him. How shall I give thee up, H5414 Ephraim? H669 how shall I deliver H4042 thee, Israel? H3478 how shall I make H5414 thee as Admah? H126 how shall I set H7760 thee as Zeboim? H6636 mine heart H3820 is turned H2015 within me, my repentings H5150 are kindled H3648 together. H3162 I will not execute H6213 the fierceness H2740 of mine anger, H639 I will not return H7725 to destroy H7843 Ephraim: H669 for I am God, H410 and not man; H376 the Holy One H6918 in the midst H7130 of thee: and I will not enter H935 into the city. H5892
Come, H3212 and let us return H7725 unto the LORD: H3068 for he hath torn, H2963 and he will heal H7495 us; he hath smitten, H5221 and he will bind us up. H2280 After two days H3117 will he revive H2421 us: in the third H7992 day H3117 he will raise us up, H6965 and we shall live H2421 in his sight. H6440
Hast thou not procured H6213 this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken H5800 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 when H6256 he led H3212 thee by the way? H1870 And now what hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Egypt, H4714 to drink H8354 the waters H4325 of Sihor? H7883 or what hast thou to do in the way H1870 of Assyria, H804 to drink H8354 the waters H4325 of the river? H5104 Thine own wickedness H7451 shall correct H3256 thee, and thy backslidings H4878 shall reprove H3198 thee: know H3045 therefore and see H7200 that it is an evil H7451 thing and bitter, H4751 that thou hast forsaken H5800 the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and that my fear H6345 is not in thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts. H6635 For of old time H5769 I have broken H7665 thy yoke, H5923 and burst H5423 thy bands; H4147 and thou saidst, H559 I will not transgress; H5674 H5647 when upon every high H1364 hill H1389 and under every green H7488 tree H6086 thou wanderest, H6808 playing the harlot. H2181 Yet I had planted H5193 thee a noble vine, H8321 wholly a right H571 seed: H2233 how then art thou turned H2015 into the degenerate plant H5494 of a strange H5237 vine H1612 unto me? For though thou wash H3526 thee with nitre, H5427 and take thee much H7235 soap, H1287 yet thine iniquity H5771 is marked H3799 before H6440 me, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 How canst thou say, H559 I am not polluted, H2930 I have not gone H1980 after H310 Baalim? H1168 see H7200 thy way H1870 in the valley, H1516 know H3045 what thou hast done: H6213 thou art a swift H7031 dromedary H1072 traversing H8308 her ways; H1870 A wild ass H6501 used H3928 to the wilderness, H4057 that snuffeth up H7602 the wind H7307 at her pleasure; H185 H5315 in her occasion H8385 who can turn her away? H7725 all they that seek H1245 her will not weary H3286 themselves; in her month H2320 they shall find H4672 her. Withhold H4513 thy foot H7272 from being unshod, H3182 and thy throat H1627 from thirst: H6773 but thou saidst, H559 There is no hope: H2976 no; for I have loved H157 strangers, H2114 and after H310 them will I go. H3212 As the thief H1590 is ashamed H1322 when he is found, H4672 so is the house H1004 of Israel H3478 ashamed; H3001 they, their kings, H4428 their princes, H8269 and their priests, H3548 and their prophets, H5030 Saying H559 to a stock, H6086 Thou art my father; H1 and to a stone, H68 Thou hast brought me forth: H3205 for they have turned H6437 their back H6203 unto me, and not their face: H6440 but in the time H6256 of their trouble H7451 they will say, H559 Arise, H6965 and save H3467 us. But where are thy gods H430 that thou hast made H6213 thee? let them arise, H6965 if they can save H3467 thee in the time H6256 of thy trouble: H7451 for according to the number H4557 of thy cities H5892 are thy gods, H430 O Judah. H3063 Wherefore will ye plead H7378 with me? ye all have transgressed H6586 against me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 In vain H7723 have I smitten H5221 your children; H1121 they received H3947 no correction: H4148 your own sword H2719 hath devoured H398 your prophets, H5030 like a destroying H7843 lion. H738 O generation, H1755 see H7200 ye the word H1697 of the LORD. H3068 Have I been a wilderness H4057 unto Israel? H3478 a land H776 of darkness? H3991 wherefore say H559 my people, H5971 We are lords; H7300 we will come H935 no more unto thee? Can a maid H1330 forget H7911 her ornaments, H5716 or a bride H3618 her attire? H7196 yet my people H5971 have forgotten H7911 me days H3117 without number. H4557 Why trimmest H3190 thou thy way H1870 to seek H1245 love? H160 therefore hast thou also taught H3925 the wicked ones H7451 thy ways. H1870 Also in thy skirts H3671 is found H4672 the blood H1818 of the souls H5315 of the poor H34 innocents: H5355 I have not found H4672 it by secret search, H4290 but upon all these. Yet thou sayest, H559 Because I am innocent, H5352 surely his anger H639 shall turn H7725 from me. Behold, I will plead H8199 with thee, because thou sayest, H559 I have not sinned. H2398 Why gaddest thou about H235 so much H3966 to change H8138 thy way? H1870 thou also shalt be ashamed H954 of Egypt, H4714 as thou wast ashamed H954 of Assyria. H804 Yea, thou shalt go forth H3318 from him, and thine hands H3027 upon thine head: H7218 for the LORD H3068 hath rejected H3988 thy confidences, H4009 and thou shalt not prosper H6743 in them.
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 cried H2199 unto the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 We have sinned H2398 against thee, both because we have forsaken H5800 our God, H430 and also served H5647 Baalim. H1168 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, H4714 and from the Amorites, H567 from the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and from the Philistines? H6430 The Zidonians H6722 also, and the Amalekites, H6002 and the Maonites, H4584 did oppress H3905 you; and ye cried H6817 to me, and I delivered H3467 you out of their hand. H3027 Yet ye have forsaken H5800 me, and served H5647 other H312 gods: H430 wherefore I will deliver H3467 you no more. H3254 Go H3212 and cry H2199 unto the gods H430 which ye have chosen; H977 let them H1992 deliver H3467 you in the time H6256 of your tribulation. H6869 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 We have sinned: H2398 do H6213 thou unto us whatsoever seemeth H5869 good H2896 unto thee; deliver H5337 us only, we pray thee, this day. H3117 And they put away H5493 the strange H5236 gods H430 from among H7130 them, and served H5647 the LORD: H3068 and his soul H5315 was grieved H7114 for the misery H5999 of Israel. H3478
O H1945 Assyrian, H804 the rod H7626 of mine anger, H639 and the staff H4294 in their hand H3027 is mine indignation. H2195 I will send H7971 him against an hypocritical H2611 nation, H1471 and against the people H5971 of my wrath H5678 will I give him a charge, H6680 to take H7997 the spoil, H7998 and to take H962 the prey, H957 and to tread them down H7760 H4823 like the mire H2563 of the streets. H2351
And now, O inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and men H376 of Judah, H3063 judge, H8199 I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. H3754 What could have been done H6213 more to my vineyard, H3754 that I have not done H6213 in it? wherefore, H4069 when I looked H6960 that it should bring forth H6213 grapes, H6025 brought it forth H6213 wild grapes? H891
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 If ye be willing H14 and obedient, H8085 ye shall eat H398 the good H2898 of the land: H776 But if ye refuse H3985 and rebel, H4784 ye shall be devoured H398 with the sword: H2719 for the mouth H6310 of the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 it.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 27
Commentary on Isaiah 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
Isa 27:1-13. Continuation of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, and Twenty-sixth Chapters.
At the time when Israel shall be delivered, and the ungodly nations punished, God shall punish also the great enemy of the Church.
1. sore—rather, "hard," "well-tempered."
leviathan—literally, in Arabic, "the twisted animal," applicable to every great tenant of the waters, sea-serpents, crocodiles, &c. In Eze 29:3; 32:2; Da 7:1, &c. Re 12:3, &c., potentates hostile to Israel are similarly described; antitypically and ultimately Satan is intended (Re 20:10).
piercing—rigid [Lowth]. Flying [Maurer and Septuagint]. Long, extended, namely, as the crocodile which cannot readily bend back its body [Houbigant].
crooked—winding.
dragon—Hebrew, tenin; the crocodile.
sea—the Euphrates, or the expansion of it near Babylon.
2. In that day when leviathan shall be destroyed, the vineyard (Ps 80:8), the Church of God, purged of its blemishes, shall be lovely in God's eyes; to bring out this sense the better, Lowth, by changing a Hebrew letter, reads "pleasant," "lovely," for "red wine."
sing—a responsive song [Lowth].
unto her—rather, "concerning her" (see on Isa 5:1); namely, the Jewish state [Maurer].
3. lest any hurt it—attack it [Maurer]. "Lest aught be wanting in her" [Horsley].
4. Fury is not in me—that is, I entertain no longer anger towards my vine.
who would set … in battle—that is, would that I had the briers, &c. (the wicked foe; Isa 9:18; 10:17; 2Sa 23:6), before me! "I would go through," or rather, "against them."
5. Or—Else; the only alternative, if Israel's enemies wish to escape being "burnt together."
strength—rather, "the refuge which I afford" [Maurer]. "Take hold," refers to the horns of the altar which fugitives often laid hold of as an asylum (1Ki 1:50; 2:28). Jesus is God's "strength," or "refuge" which sinners must repair to and take hold of, if they are to have "peace" with God (Isa 45:24; Ro 5:1; Eph 2:14; compare Job 22:21).
6. He—Jehovah. Here the song of the Lord as to His vineyard (Isa 27:2-5) ends; and the prophet confirms the sentiment in the song, under the same image of a vine (compare Ps 92:13-15; Ho 14:5, 6).
Israel … fill … world—(Ro 11:12).
7. him … those—Israel—Israel's enemies. Has God punished His people as severely as He has those enemies whom He employed to chastise Israel? No! Far from it. Israel, after trials, He will restore; Israel's enemies He will utterly destroy at last.
the slaughter of them that are slain by him—rather, "Is Israel slain according to the slaughter of the enemy slain?" the slaughter wherewith the enemy is slain [Maurer].
8. In measure—not beyond measure; in moderation (Job 23:6; Ps 6:1; Jer 10:24; 30:11; 46:28).
when it shooteth—image from the vine; rather, passing from the image to the thing itself, "when sending her away (namely, Israel to exile; Isa 50:1, God only putting the adulteress away when He might justly have put her to death), Thou didst punish her" [Gesenius].
stayeth—rather, as Margin, "when He removeth it by His rough wind in the day," &c.
east wind—especially violent in the East (Job 27:21; Jer 18:17).
9. By this—exile of Israel (the "sending away," Isa 27:8).
purged—expiated [Horsley].
all the fruit—This is the whole benefit designed to be brought about by the chastisement; namely, the removal of his (Israel's) sin (namely, object of idolatry; De 9:21; Ho 10:8).
when he—Jehovah; at the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, His instrument. The Jews ever since have abhorred idolatry (compare Isa 17:8).
not stand up—shall rise no more [Horsley].
10. city—Jerusalem; the beating asunder of whose altars and images was mentioned in Isa 27:9 (compare Isa 24:10-12).
calf feed—(Isa 17:2); it shall be a vast wild pasture.
branches—resuming the image of the vine (Isa 27:2,6).
11. boughs … broken off—so the Jews are called (Ro 11:17, 19, 20).
set … on fire—burn them as fuel; "women" are specified, as probably it was their office to collect fuel and kindle the fire for cooking.
no understanding—as to the ways of God (De 32:28, 29; Jer 5:21; Ho 4:6).
12. Restoration of the Jews from their dispersion, described under the image of fruits shaken from trees and collected.
beat off—as fruit beaten off a tree with a stick (De 24:20), and then gathered.
river—Euphrates.
stream of Egypt—on the confines of Palestine and Egypt (Nu 34:5; Jos 15:4, 47), now Wady-el-Arish, Jehovah's vineyard, Israel, extended according to His purpose from the Nile to the Euphrates (1Ki 4:21, 24; Ps 72:8).
one by one—gathered most carefully, not merely as a nation, but as individuals.
13. great trumpet—image from the trumpets blown on the first day of the seventh month to summon the people to a holy convocation (Le 23:24). Antitypically, the gospel trumpet (Re 11:15; 14:6) which the Jews shall hearken to in the last days (Zec 12:10; 13:1). As the passover in the first month answers to Christ's crucifixion, so the day of atonement and the idea of "salvation" connected with the feast of tabernacles in the same seventh month, answer to the crowning of "redemption" at His second coming; therefore redemption is put last in 1Co 1:30.
Assyria—whither the ten tribes had been carried; Babylonia is mainly meant, to which Assyria at that time belonged; the two tribes were restored, and some of the ten accompanied them. However, "Assyria" is designedly used to point ultimately to the future restoration of the ten fully, never yet accomplished (Jer 3:18).
Egypt—whither many had fled at the Babylonish captivity (Jer 41:17, 18). Compare as to the future restoration, Isa 11:11, 12, 16; 51:9-16 ("Rahab" being Egypt).