17 No weapon H3627 that is formed H3335 against thee shall prosper; H6743 and every tongue H3956 that shall rise H6965 against thee in judgment H4941 thou shalt condemn. H7561 This is the heritage H5159 of the servants H5650 of the LORD, H3068 and their righteousness H6666 is of me, saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And G1161 we know G1492 that all things G3956 work together G4903 for G1519 good G18 to them that G3754 love G25 God, G2316 to them who are G5607 the called G2822 according G2596 to his purpose. G4286 For G3754 whom G3739 he did foreknow, G4267 he G4309 also G2532 did predestinate G4309 to be conformed G4832 to the image G1504 of his G846 Son, G5207 that G1519 he G846 might be G1511 the firstborn G4416 among G1722 many G4183 brethren. G80 Moreover G1161 whom G3739 he did predestinate, G4309 them G5128 he G2564 also G2532 called: G2564 and G2532 whom G3739 he called, G2564 them G5128 he G1344 also G2532 justified: G1344 and G1161 whom G3739 he justified, G1344 them G5128 he G1392 also G2532 glorified. G1392 What G5101 shall we G2046 then G3767 say G2046 to G4314 these things? G5023 If G1487 God G2316 be for G5228 us, G2257 who G5101 can be against G2596 us? G2257 He that G3739 G1065 spared G5339 not G3756 his own G2398 Son, G5207 but G235 delivered G3860 him G846 up G3860 for G5228 us G2257 all, G3956 how G4459 shall he G5483 not G3780 with G4862 him G846 also G2532 freely give G5483 us G2254 all things? G3956 Who G5101 shall lay any thing G1458 to the charge G2596 of God's G2316 elect? G1588 It is God G2316 that justifieth. G1344 Who G5101 is he that condemneth? G2632 It is Christ G5547 that died, G599 yea G1161 rather, G3123 G2532 that is risen again, G1453 who G3739 is G2076 even G2532 at G1722 the right hand G1188 of God, G2316 who G3739 also G2532 maketh intercession G1793 for G5228 us. G2257 Who G5101 shall separate G5563 us G2248 from G575 the love G26 of Christ? G5547 shall tribulation, G2347 or G2228 distress, G4730 or G2228 persecution, G1375 or G2228 famine, G3042 or G2228 nakedness, G1132 or G2228 peril, G2794 or G2228 sword? G3162 As G2531 it is written, G1125 G3754 For thy G4675 sake G1752 we are killed G2289 all G3650 the day long; G2250 we are accounted G3049 as G5613 sheep G4263 for the slaughter. G4967 Nay, G235 in G1722 all G3956 these things G5125 we are more than conquerors G5245 through G1223 him that loved G25 us. G2248 For G1063 I am persuaded, G3982 that G3754 neither G3777 death, G2288 nor G3777 life, G2222 nor G3777 angels, G32 nor G3777 principalities, G746 nor G3777 powers, G1411 nor G3777 things present, G1764 nor G3777 things to come, G3195 Nor G3777 height, G5313 nor G3777 depth, G899 nor G3777 any G5100 other G2087 creature, G2937 shall be able G1410 to separate G5563 us G2248 from G575 the love G26 of God, G2316 which is in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 our G2257 Lord. G2962
And I G2504 give G1325 unto them G846 eternal G166 life; G2222 and G2532 they shall G622 never G3364 G1519 G165 perish, G622 neither G2532 G3756 shall G726 any G5100 man pluck G726 them G846 out of G1537 my G3450 hand. G5495 My G3450 Father, G3962 which G3739 gave G1325 them me, G3427 is G2076 greater than G3187 all; G3956 and G2532 no G3762 man is able G1410 to pluck G726 them out of G1537 my G3450 Father's G3962 hand. G5495 I G1473 and G2532 my Father G3962 are G2070 one. G1520
Why do the heathen H1471 rage, H7283 and the people H3816 imagine H1897 a vain thing? H7385 The kings H4428 of the earth H776 set H3320 themselves, and the rulers H7336 take counsel H3245 together, H3162 against the LORD, H3068 and against his anointed, H4899 saying, Let us break H5423 their bands H4147 asunder, H5423 and cast away H7993 their cords H5688 from us. He that sitteth H3427 in the heavens H8064 shall laugh: H7832 the Lord H136 shall have them in derision. H3932 Then shall he speak H1696 unto them in his wrath, H639 and vex H926 them in his sore displeasure. H2740 Yet have I set H5258 my king H4428 upon my holy H6944 hill H2022 of Zion. H6726
Surely, shall one say, H559 in the LORD H3068 have I righteousness H6666 and strength: H5797 even to him shall men come; H935 and all that are incensed H2734 against him shall be ashamed. H954 In the LORD H3068 shall all the seed H2233 of Israel H3478 be justified, H6663 and shall glory. H1984
But G1161 now G3570 being made free G1659 from G575 sin, G266 and G1161 become servants G1402 to God, G2316 ye have G2192 your G5216 fruit G2590 unto G1519 holiness, G38 and G1161 the end G5056 everlasting G166 life. G2222 For G1063 the wages G3800 of sin G266 is death; G2288 but G1161 the gift G5486 of God G2316 is eternal G166 life G2222 through G1722 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 our G2257 Lord. G2962
Thou shalt ascend H5927 and come H935 like a storm, H7722 thou shalt be like a cloud H6051 to cover H3680 the land, H776 thou, and all thy bands, H102 and many H7227 people H5971 with thee. Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 It shall also come to pass, that at the same time H3117 shall things H1697 come H5927 into thy mind, H3824 and thou shalt think H2803 an evil H7451 thought: H4284
Is not thy wickedness H7451 great? H7227 and thine iniquities H5771 infinite? H7093 For thou hast taken a pledge H2254 from thy brother H251 for nought, H2600 and stripped H6584 the naked H6174 of their clothing. H899 Thou hast not given water H4325 to the weary H5889 to drink, H8248 and thou hast withholden H4513 bread H3899 from the hungry. H7457 But as for the mighty H2220 man, H376 he had the earth; H776 and the honourable man H5375 H6440 dwelt H3427 in it. Thou hast sent H7971 widows H490 away empty, H7387 and the arms H2220 of the fatherless H3490 have been broken. H1792 Therefore snares H6341 are round about H5439 thee, and sudden H6597 fear H6343 troubleth H926 thee; Or darkness, H2822 that thou canst not see; H7200 and abundance H8229 of waters H4325 cover H3680 thee. Is not God H433 in the height H1363 of heaven? H8064 and behold H7200 the height H7218 of the stars, H3556 how high H7311 they are! And thou sayest, H559 How doth God H410 know? H3045 can he judge H8199 through the dark cloud? H6205 Thick clouds H5645 are a covering H5643 to him, that he seeth H7200 not; and he walketh H1980 in the circuit H2329 of heaven. H8064 Hast thou marked H8104 the old H5769 way H734 which wicked H205 men H4962 have trodden? H1869 Which were cut down H7059 out of time, H6256 whose foundation H3247 was overflown H3332 with a flood: H5104 Which said H559 unto God, H410 Depart H5493 from us: and what can the Almighty H7706 do H6466 for them? Yet he filled H4390 their houses H1004 with good H2896 things: but the counsel H6098 of the wicked H7563 is far H7368 from me. The righteous H6662 see H7200 it, and are glad: H8055 and the innocent H5355 laugh them to scorn. H3932 Whereas H518 our substance H7009 is not cut down, H3582 but the remnant H3499 of them the fire H784 consumeth. H398 Acquaint H5532 now thyself with him, and be at peace: H7999 thereby good H2896 shall come H935 unto thee. Receive, H3947 I pray thee, the law H8451 from his mouth, H6310 and lay up H7760 his words H561 in thine heart. H3824 If thou return H7725 to the Almighty, H7706 thou shalt be built up, H1129 thou shalt put away H7368 iniquity H5766 far H7368 from thy tabernacles. H168 Then shalt thou lay up H7896 gold H1220 as H5921 dust, H6083 and the gold of Ophir H211 as the stones H6697 of the brooks. H5158 Yea, the Almighty H7706 shall be thy defence, H1220 and thou shalt have plenty H8443 of silver. H3701 For then shalt thou have thy delight H6026 in the Almighty, H7706 and shalt lift up H5375 thy face H6440 unto God. H433 Thou shalt make thy prayer H6279 unto him, and he shall hear H8085 thee, and thou shalt pay H7999 thy vows. H5088 Thou shalt also decree H1504 a thing, H562 and it shall be established H6965 unto thee: and the light H216 shall shine H5050 upon thy ways. H1870 When men are cast down, H8213 then thou shalt say, H559 There is lifting up; H1466 and he shall save H3467 the humble H7807 person. H5869 He shall deliver H4422 the island H336 of the innocent: H5355 and it is delivered H4422 by the pureness H1252 of thine hands. H3709
And he shewed H7200 me Joshua H3091 the high H1419 priest H3548 standing H5975 before H6440 the angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 and Satan H7854 standing H5975 at his right hand H3225 to resist H7853 him. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Satan, H7854 The LORD H3068 rebuke H1605 thee, O Satan; H7854 even the LORD H3068 that hath chosen H977 Jerusalem H3389 rebuke H1605 thee: is not this a brand H181 plucked H5337 out of the fire? H784 Now Joshua H3091 was clothed H3847 with filthy H6674 garments, H899 and stood H5975 before H6440 the angel. H4397 And he answered H6030 and spake H559 unto those that stood H5975 before H6440 him, saying, H559 Take away H5493 the filthy H6674 garments H899 from him. And unto him he said, H559 Behold, H7200 I have caused thine iniquity H5771 to pass H5674 from thee, and I will clothe H3847 thee with change of raiment. H4254
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 54
Commentary on Isaiah 54 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 54
Isa 54:1-17. The Fruit of Messiah's Sufferings, and of Israel's Final Penitence at Her Past Unbelief (Isa 53:6): Her Joyful Restoration and Enlargement by Jehovah, Whose Wrath Was Momentary, but His Kindness Everlasting.
Israel converted is compared to a wife (Isa 54:5; Isa 62:5) put away for unfaithfulness, but now forgiven and taken home again. The converted Gentiles are represented as a new progeny of the long-forsaken but now restored wife. The pre-eminence of the Hebrew Church as the mother Church of Christendom is the leading idea; the conversion of the Gentiles is mentioned only as part of her felicity [Horsley].
1. Sing—for joy (Zep 3:14).
barren—the Jewish Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute of spiritual children (Isa 54:6).
didst not bear—during the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during Israel's present dispersion.
the children—the Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church (Isa 54:3; Isa 49:20, 21).
than … married wife—than were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away [Maurer]. So Paul contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage (Ga 4:27). But the full accomplishment of it is yet future.
2. (Isa 49:19, 20; Jer 31:31-36, 38, 39). Thy children shall be so many that thy borders must be extended to contain them.
curtains—the cloth forming the covering of the tent.
spare not—give abundantly the means for the enlargement of the Church (2Co 9:5-7).
cords … stakes—The more the tent is enlarged by lengthening the cords by which the cloth covering is fastened to the ground, the more the stakes supporting the tent need to be strengthened; the Church is not merely to seek new converts, but to strengthen those she has in the faith. The image is appropriate, as the tabernacle was the symbol of the old Israelitish Church (see on Isa 33:20).
3. break forth—rather, "burst forth" with increase; thy offspring shall grow, answering to "thy seed" in the parallel clause.
thy seed—Israel and her children, as distinguished from "the Gentiles."
desolate cities—of Israel (Isa 44:26).
4. (Isa 41:10, 14).
shame of thy youth—Israel's unfaithfulness as wife of Jehovah, almost from her earliest history.
reproach of widowhood—Israel's punishment in her consequent dismissal from God and barrenness of spiritual children in Babylon and her present dispersion (Isa 54:1; Isa 49:21; Jer 3:24, 25; 31:19; Ho 2:2-5).
5. (Isa 62:5; Jer 3:14). That God was Israel's "Maker," both as individuals and as the theocratic kingdom, is the pledge of assurance that He will be her Redeemer (Isa 43:1-3). Hebrew, "makers … husbands"; plural for singular, to denote excellency.
of Israel … whole earth—Not until He manifests Himself as God of Israel shall He appear as God of the whole earth (Ps 102:13, 15, 16; Zec 14:5, 9).
6. called—that is, recalled: the prophetic past for the future.
forsaken—that had been forsaken.
when thou—or, "when she was rejected"; one who had been a wife of youth (Eze 16:8, 22, 60; Jer 2:2) at the time when (thou, or) she was rejected for infidelity [Maurer]. "A wife of youth but afterwards rejected" [Lowth].
7. small moment—as compared with Israel's coming long prosperity (Isa 26:20; 60:10). So the spiritual Israel (Ps 30:5; 2Co 4:17).
gather thee—to Myself from thy dispersions.
8. In a little wrath—rather, "In the overflowing of wrath"; as Pr 27:4, Margin, [Gesenius]. The wrath, though but "for a moment," was overflowing while it lasted.
hid … face—(Isa 8:17; Ps 30:7).
everlasting—in contrast to "for a moment."
9. I am about to do the same in this instance as in Noah's flood. As I swore then that it should not return (Ge 8:21; 9:11), and I kept that promise, so I swear now to My people, and will perform My promise, that there shall be no return of the deluge of My wrath upon them. Lowth, on insufficient authority, reads (the same will I do now as), "in the days of Noah."
10. (Isa 51:6; Ps 89:33, 34; Ro 11:29).
covenant of my peace—(2Sa 23:5). The covenant whereby I have made thee at peace with Me.
11. not comforted—by anyone; none gave her help or comfort.
lay … with fair colours—rather, "lay … in cement of vermilion" [Lowth]. The Hebrew for "fair colors" means stibium, the paint with which Eastern women painted their eyelids and eyelashes (2Ki 9:30). The very cement shall be of the most beautiful color (Re 21:18-21).
12. windows—rather, "battlements"; literally, "suns"; applied to battlements from their radiated appearance.
agates—rather, "rubies."
carbuncles—literally, "sparkling gems"; the carbuncle when held to the sun becomes like a burning coal.
all thy borders—rather, "thy whole circuit," consisting of precious stones. The glory of the Church on earth, when the Hebrew Church, according to the original design, shall be the metropolis of Christendom.
13. Quoted by the Saviour (Joh 6:45), to prove that in order to come to Him, men must be "drawn" by the Father. So Jer 31:34; Mic 4:2; 1Co 2:10; Heb 8:10; 10:16; 1Jo 2:20.
great … peace—generally (Ps 119:165). Specially referring to the peaceful prosperity which shall prevail under Messiah in the latter days (Isa 2:4, 9:6).
14. righteousness—the characteristic of the reign of Messiah (Isa 11:4, 5; Ps 72:2, 4; Re 19:11).
far from oppression, &c.—far from suffering oppression; "for thou shall have nothing to fear."
15. gather together, &c.—that is, If it should happen that enemies "gather together" against thee (Ps 2:2), they will not have been sent by Me (compare Ho 8:4) as instruments of My wrath (nay, it will be with My disapproval); for "whosoever shall gather together," &c. (Ps 59:3).
fall for thy sake—rather, "shall come over to thy side" [Lowth]. Literally, "fall to thee" (Jer 21:9; 39:9). To be fully fulfilled to Jerusalem hereafter (Zec 14:16).
16. The workman that forms "weapons against thee" (Isa 54:17) is wholly in My power, therefore thou needest not fear, having Me on thy side.
for his work—rather, "by his labor [Horsley]. "According to the exigencies of his work" [Maurer].
waster to destroy—(Isa 10:5-7; 37:26, 27; 45:1-6). Desolating conquerors who use the "instruments" framed by "the smith." The repetition of the "I" implies, however, something in the latter half of the verse contrasted with the former understand it, therefore, thus: "I have in My power both him who frames arms and him who destroys them (arms)" [Rosenmuller].
17. tongue … condemn—image from a court of justice. Those who desire to "condemn" thee thou shalt "condemn" (Ex 11:7; Jos 10:21; Ps 64:8; Ro 8:1, 33).
righteousness … of me—(Isa 45:24; 46:13). Rather, "(this is) their justification from Me." Their enemies would "condemn" them, but I justify and vindicate them, and so they condemn their enemies.