5 Hear H8085 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 ye that tremble H2730 at his word; H1697 Your brethren H251 that hated H8130 you, that cast you out H5077 for my name's H8034 sake, said, H559 Let the LORD H3068 be glorified: H3513 but he shall appear H7200 to your joy, H8057 and they shall be ashamed. H954
If G1487 the world G2889 hate G3404 you, G5209 ye know G1097 that G3754 it hated G3404 me G1691 before G4412 it hated you. G5216 If G1487 ye were G2258 of G1537 the world, G2889 the world G2889 would G302 love G5368 his own: G2398 but G1161 because G3754 ye are G2075 not G3756 of G1537 the world, G2889 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you G5209 out of G1537 the world, G2889 therefore G5124 G1223 the world G2889 hateth G3404 you. G5209 Remember G3421 the word G3056 that G3739 I G1473 said G2036 unto you, G5213 The servant G1401 is G2076 not G3756 greater than G3187 his G846 lord. G2962 If G1487 they have persecuted G1377 me, G1691 they will G1377 also G2532 persecute G1377 you; G5209 if G1487 they have kept G5083 my G3450 saying, G3056 they will keep G5083 yours G5212 also. G2532
Blessed G3107 are they which are persecuted G1377 for G1752 righteousness' sake: G1343 for G3754 theirs G846 is G2076 the kingdom G932 of heaven. G3772 Blessed G3107 are ye, G2075 when G3752 men shall revile G3679 you, G5209 and G2532 persecute G1377 you, and G2532 shall say G2036 all manner G3956 of evil G4190 G4487 against G2596 you G5216 falsely, G5574 for my sake. G1752 G1700 Rejoice, G5463 and G2532 be exceeding glad: G21 for G3754 great G4183 is your G5216 reward G3408 in G1722 heaven: G3772 for G1063 so G3779 persecuted they G1377 the prophets G4396 which G3588 were before G4253 you. G5216
Seeing G1512 it is a righteous thing G1342 with G3844 God G2316 to recompense G467 tribulation G2347 to them that trouble G2346 you; G5209 And G2532 to you G5213 who are troubled G2346 rest G425 with G3326 us, G2257 when G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 shall be revealed G602 from G575 heaven G3772 with G3326 his G846 mighty G1411 angels, G32 In G1722 flaming G5395 fire G4442 taking G1325 vengeance G1557 on them that know G1492 not G3361 God, G2316 and G2532 that obey G5219 not G3361 the gospel G2098 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547 Who G3748 shall be punished G1349 G5099 with everlasting G166 destruction G3639 from G575 the presence G4383 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 from G575 the glory G1391 of his G846 power; G2479 When G3752 he shall come G2064 to be glorified G1740 in G1722 his G846 saints, G40 and G2532 to be admired G2296 in G1722 all G3956 them that believe G4100 (because G3754 our G2257 testimony G3142 among G1909 you G5209 was believed G4100 ) in G1722 that G1565 day. G2250
Beloved, G27 think it G3579 not G3361 strange G3579 concerning the G5213 fiery trial G4451 which G1722 is G1096 to G4314 try G3986 you, G5213 as G5613 though some strange thing G3581 happened G4819 unto you: G5213 But G235 rejoice, G5463 inasmuch as G2526 ye are partakers G2841 of Christ's G5547 sufferings; G3804 that, G2443 when G1722 his G846 glory G1391 shall be revealed, G602 ye may be glad G5463 also G2532 with exceeding joy. G21 If G1487 ye be reproached G3679 for G1722 the name G3686 of Christ, G5547 happy G3107 are ye; for G3754 the spirit G4151 of glory G1391 and G2532 of God G2316 resteth G373 upon G1909 you: G5209 on G2596 G3303 their part G846 he is evil spoken of, G987 but G1161 on G2596 your part G5209 he is glorified. G1392
Who both G2532 killed G615 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 their own G2398 prophets, G4396 and G2532 have persecuted G1559 us; G2248 and G2532 they please G700 not G3361 God, G2316 and G2532 are contrary G1727 to all G3956 men: G444 Forbidding G2967 us G2248 to speak G2980 to the Gentiles G1484 that G2443 they might be saved, G4982 to G1519 fill up G378 their G846 sins G266 alway: G3842 for G1161 the wrath G3709 is come G5348 upon G1909 them G846 to G1519 the uttermost. G5056
I G1473 verily G3303 G3767 thought G1380 with myself, G1683 that I ought G1163 to do G4238 many things G4183 contrary G1727 to G4314 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 of Nazareth. G3480 Which thing G3739 I G4160 also G2532 did G4160 in G1722 Jerusalem: G2414 and G2532 many G4183 of the saints G40 did G2623 I G1473 shut up G2623 in prison, G5438 having received G2983 authority G1849 from G3844 the chief priests; G749 and G5037 when they G846 were put to death, G337 I gave G2702 my voice G5586 against them.
Therefore G3767 being G5312 by the right hand G1188 of God G2316 exalted, G5312 and G5037 having received G2983 of G3844 the Father G3962 the promise G1860 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 he hath shed forth G1632 this, G5124 which G3739 ye G5210 now G3568 see G991 and G2532 hear. G191 For G1063 David G1138 is not G3756 ascended G305 into G1519 the heavens: G3772 but G1161 he saith G3004 himself, G846 The LORD G2962 said G2036 unto my G3450 Lord, G2962 Sit thou G2521 on G1537 my G3450 right hand, G1188 Until G2193 I make G302 G5087 thy G4675 foes G2190 thy G4675 footstool. G4228 G5286 Therefore G3767 let G1097 all G3956 the house G3624 of Israel G2474 know G1097 assuredly, G806 that G3754 God G2316 hath made G4160 that same G5126 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 have crucified, G4717 both G2532 Lord G2962 and G2532 Christ. G5547 Now G1161 when they heard G191 this, they were pricked G2660 in their heart, G2588 and G5037 said G2036 unto G4314 Peter G4074 and G2532 to the rest G3062 of the apostles, G652 Men G435 and brethren, G80 what G5101 shall we do? G4160 Then G1161 Peter G4074 said G5346 unto G4314 them, G846 Repent, G3340 and G2532 be baptized G907 every one G1538 of you G5216 in G1909 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 for G1519 the remission G859 of sins, G266 and G2532 ye shall receive G2983 the gift G1431 of the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151 For G1063 the promise G1860 is G2076 unto you, G5213 and G2532 to your G5216 children, G5043 and G2532 to all G3956 that are afar off, G1519 G3112 even as many as G3745 the Lord G2962 our G2257 God G2316 shall call. G302 G4341 And G5037 with many G4119 other G2087 words G3056 did he testify G1263 and G2532 exhort, G3870 saying, G3004 Save yourselves G4982 from G575 this G5026 untoward G4646 generation. G1074 Then G3303 G3767 they that gladly G780 received G588 his G846 word G3056 were baptized: G907 and G2532 the same G1565 day G2250 there were added G4369 unto them about G5616 three thousand G5153 souls. G5590 And G1161 they continued G2258 stedfastly G4342 in the apostles' G652 doctrine G1322 and G2532 fellowship, G2842 and G2532 in breaking G2800 of bread, G740 and G2532 in prayers. G4335 And G1161 fear G5401 came upon G1096 every G3956 soul: G5590 and G5037 many G4183 wonders G5059 and G2532 signs G4592 were done G1096 by G1223 the apostles. G652 And G1161 all G3956 that believed G4100 were G2258 together, G1909 G846 and G2532 had G2192 all things G537 common; G2839 And G2532 sold G4097 their possessions G2933 and G2532 goods, G5223 and G2532 parted G1266 them G846 to all G3956 men, as G2530 every man G5100 had G302 G2192 need. G5532 And G5037 they, continuing G4342 daily G2596 G2250 with one accord G3661 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G5037 breaking G2806 bread G740 from G2596 house to house, G3624 did eat G3335 their meat G5160 with G1722 gladness G20 and G2532 singleness G858 of heart, G2588 Praising G134 God, G2316 and G2532 having G2192 favour G5485 with G4314 all G3650 the people. G2992 And G1161 the Lord G2962 added G4369 to the church G1577 daily G2596 G2250 such as should be saved. G4982
Blessed G3107 are ye, G2075 when G3752 men G444 shall hate G3404 you, G5209 and G2532 when G3752 they shall separate G873 you G5209 from their company, and G2532 shall reproach G3679 you, and G2532 cast out G1544 your G5216 name G3686 as G5613 evil, G4190 for the Son G5207 of man's G444 sake. G1752 Rejoice ye G5463 in G1722 that G1565 day, G2250 and G2532 leap for joy: G4640 for, G1063 behold, G2400 your G5216 reward G3408 is great G4183 in G1722 heaven: G3772 for G1063 in G2596 the like manner G5024 did G4160 their G846 fathers G3962 unto the prophets. G4396
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi H3065 had read H7121 three H7969 or four H702 leaves, H1817 he cut H7167 it with the penknife, H8593 H5608 and cast H7993 it into the fire H784 that was on the hearth, H254 until all the roll H4039 was consumed H8552 in the fire H784 that was on the hearth. H254 Yet they were not afraid, H6342 nor rent H7167 their garments, H899 neither the king, H4428 nor any of his servants H5650 that heard H8085 all these words. H1697 Nevertheless Elnathan H494 and Delaiah H1806 and Gemariah H1587 had made intercession H6293 to the king H4428 that he would not burn H8313 the roll: H4039 but he would not hear H8085 them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 66
Commentary on Isaiah 66 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 66
Isa 66:1-24. The Humble Comforted, the Ungodly Condemned, at the Lord's Appearing: Jerusalem Made a Joy on Earth.
This closing chapter is the summary of Isaiah's prophecies as to the last days, hence the similarity of its sentiments with what went before.
1. heaven … throne … where is … house … ye build—The same sentiment is expressed, as a precautionary proviso for the majesty of God in deigning to own any earthly temple as His, as if He could be circumscribed by space (1Ki 8:27) in inaugurating the temple of stone; next, as to the temple of the Holy Ghost (Ac 7:48, 49); lastly here, as to "the tabernacle of God with men" (Isa 2:2, 3; Eze 43:4, 7; Re 21:3).
where—rather, "what is this house that ye are building, &c.—what place is this for My rest?" [Vitringa].
2. have been—namely, made by Me. Or, absolutely, were things made; and therefore belong to Me, the Creator [Jerome].
look—have regard.
poor—humble (Isa 57:15).
trembleth at … word—(2Ki 22:11, 19; Ezr 9:4). The spiritual temple of the heart, though not superseding the outward place of worship, is God's favorite dwelling (Joh 14:23). In the final state in heaven there shall be "no temple," but "the Lord God" Himself (Re 21:22).
3. God loathes even the sacrifices of the wicked (Isa 1:11; Pr 15:8; 28:9).
is as if—Lowth not so well omits these words: "He that killeth an ox (presently after) murders a man" (as in Eze 23:39). But the omission in the Hebrew of "is as if"—increases the force of the comparison. Human victims were often offered by the heathen.
dog's neck—an abomination according to the Jewish law (De 23:18); perhaps made so, because dogs were venerated in Egypt. He does not honor this abomination by using the word "sacrifice," but uses the degrading term, "cut off a dog's neck" (Ex 13:13; 34:20). Dogs as unclean are associated with swine (Mt 7:6; 2Pe 2:22).
oblation—unbloody: in antithesis to "swine's blood" (Isa 65:4).
burneth—Hebrew, "he who offereth as a memorial oblation" (Le 2:2).
they have chosen—opposed to the two first clauses of Isa 66:4: "as they have chosen their own ways, &c., so I will choose their delusions.
4. delusions—(2Th 2:11), answering to "their own ways" (Isa 66:3; so Pr 1:31). However, the Hebrew means rather "vexations," "calamities," which also the parallelism to "fears" requires; "choose their calamities" means, "choose the calamities which they thought to escape by their own ways."
their fears—the things they feared, to avert which their idolatrous "abominations" (Isa 66:3) were practised.
I called … none … answer—(See on Isa 65:12; Isa 65:24; Jer 7:13).
did … chose—not only did the evil deed, but did it deliberately as a matter of choice (Ro 1:32). "They chose that in which I delighted not"; therefore, "I will choose" that in which they delight not, the "calamities" and "fears" which they were most anxious to avert.
before mine eyes—(See on Isa 65:3).
5. tremble at … word—the same persons as in Isa 66:2, the believing few among the Jews.
cast you out for my name's sake—excommunicate, as if too polluted to worship with them (Isa 65:5). So in Christ's first sojourn on earth (Mt 10:22; Joh 9:22, 34; 16:2; 15:21). So it shall be again in the last times, when the believing shall be few (Lu 18:8).
Let the Lord be glorified—the mocking challenge of the persecutors, as if their violence towards you was from zeal for God. "Let the Lord show Himself glorious," namely, by manifesting Himself in your behalf; as the parallelism to, "He shall appear to your joy," requires (as in Isa 5:19; compare Isa 28:15; 57:4). So again Christ on the cross (Mt 27:42, 43).
appear to your joy—giving you "joy" instead of your "rebuke" (Isa 25:8, 9).
6. God, from Jerusalem and His "temple," shall take vengeance on the enemy (Eze 43:1-8; Zec 12:2, 3; 14:3, 19-21). The abrupt language of this verse marks the suddenness with which God destroys the hostile Gentile host outside: as Isa 66:5 refers to the confounding of the unbelieving Jews.
voice of noise—that is, the Lord's loud-sounding voice (Ps 68:33; 29:3-9; 1Th 4:16).
7. she—Zion.
Before … travailed … brought forth—The accession of numbers, and of prosperity to her, shall be sudden beyond all expectation and unattended with painful effort (Isa 54:1, 4, 5). Contrast with this case of the future Jewish Church the travail-pains of the Christian Church in bringing forth "a man child" (Re 12:2, 5). A man child's birth is in the East a matter of special joy, while that of a female is not so; therefore, it here means the manly sons of the restored Jewish Church, the singular being used collectively for the plural: or the many sons being regarded as one under Messiah, who shall then be manifested as their one representative Head.
8. earth—rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [Lowth]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day (Mr 4:28).
at once—In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once.
for—rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [Maurer].
9. cause to bring forth, and shut—rather, "Shall I who beget, restrain the birth?" [Lowth], (Isa 37:3; Ho 13:13); that is, Shall I who have begun, not finish My work of restoring Israel? (1Sa 3:12; Ro 11:1; Php 1:6).
shut—(compare Re 3:7, 8).
10. love … mourn for her—(Ps 102:14, 17, 20; 122:6).
11. suck—(Isa 60:5, 16; 61:6; 49:23).
abundance—Hebrew, "the ray-like flow of her opulence," that is, with the milk spouting out from her full breasts (answering to the parallel, "breast of her consolations") in ray-like streams [Gesenius].
12. extend—I will turn peace (prosperity) upon her, like a river turned in its course [Gesenius]. Or, "I will spread peace over her as an overflowing river" [Barnes], (Isa 48:18).
flowing stream—as the Nile by its overflow fertilizes the whole of Egypt.
borne upon … sides—(See on Isa 60:4).
her … her—If "ye" refers to the Jews, translate, "ye shall be borne upon their sides … their knees," namely, those of the Gentiles, as in Isa 49:22; and as "suck" (Isa 60:16) refers to the Jews sucking the Gentile wealth. However, English Version gives a good sense: The Jews, and all who love Jehovah (Isa 66:10), "shall suck, and be borne" by her as a mother.
13. mother—(Isa 49:15).
comforteth—(Isa 40:1, 2).
14. bones—which once were "dried up" by the "fire" of God's wrath (La 1:13), shall live again (Pr 3:8; 15:30; Eze 37:1, &c.).
flourish … herb—(Ro 11:15-24).
known toward—manifested in behalf of.
15. (Isa 9:5; Ps 50:3; Hab 3:5; 2Th 1:8; 2Pe 3:7).
chariots … whirlwind—(Jer 4:13).
render—as the Hebrew elsewhere (Job 9:13; Ps 78:38) means to "allay" or "stay wrath." Maurer translates it so here: He stays His anger with nothing but fury," &c.; nothing short of pouring out all His fiery fury will satisfy His wrath.
fury—"burning heat" [Lowth], to which the parallel, "flames of fire," answers.
16. Rather, "With fire will Jehovah judge, and with His sword (He will judge) all flesh." The parallelism and collocation of the Hebrew words favor this (Isa 65:12).
all flesh—that is, all who are the objects of His wrath. The godly shall be hidden by the Lord in a place of safety away from the scene of judgment (Isa 26:20, 21; Ps 31:20; 1Th 4:16, 17).
17. in … gardens—Hebrew and the Septuagint rather require, "for (entering into) gardens," namely, to sacrifice there [Maurer].
behind one tree—rather, "following one," that is, some idol or other, which, from contempt, he does not name [Maurer]. Vitringa, &c., think the Hebrew for "one," Ahhadh, to be the name of the god; called Adad (meaning One) in Syria (compare Ac 17:23). The idol's power was represented by inclined rays, as of the sun shining on the earth. Gesenius translates, "following one," namely, Hierophant ("priest"), who led the rest in performing the sacred rites.
in … midst—namely, of the garden (see on Isa 65:3, 4).
mouse—legally unclean (Le 11:29) because it was an idol to the heathen (see on Isa 37:36; 1Sa 6:4). Translate, "the field mouse," or "dormouse" [Bochart]. The Pharisees with their self-righteous purifications, and all mere formalists, are included in the same condemnation, described in language taken from the idolatries prevalent in Isaiah's times.
18. know—not in the Hebrew. Rather, understand the words by aposiopesis; it is usual in threats to leave the persons threatened to supply the hiatus from their own fears, owing to conscious guilt: "For I … their works and thoughts," &c.; namely, will punish [Maurer].
it shall come—the time is come that I will, &c. [Maurer].
gather … nations—against Jerusalem, where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall fight for Jerusalem against those nations: and the survivors (Isa 66:19) shall "see God's glory" (Zec 12:8, 9; 14:1-3, 9).
tongues—which have been many owing to sin, being confounded at Babel, but which shall again be one in Christ (Da 7:14; Zep 3:9; Re 7:9, 10).
19. sign—a banner on a high place, to indicate the place of meeting for the dispersed Jewish exiles, preparatory to their return to their land (Isa 5:26; 11:12; 62:10).
those that escape of them—the Gentile survivors spared by God (see on Isa 66:18; Zec 14:16). Isa 2:2, 3; Mic 5:7; and Zec 14:16-19 represent it, not that the Jews go as missionaries to the Gentiles, but that the Gentiles come up to Jerusalem to learn the Lord's ways there.
Tarshish—Tartessus in Spain, in the west.
Pul—east and north of Africa: probably the same as Philœ, an island in the Nile, called by the Egyptians Pilak, that is, the border country, being between Egypt and Ethiopia [Bochart].
Lud—the Libyans of Africa (Ge 10:13), Ludim being son of Mizraim (Egypt): an Ethiopian people famous as bowmen (Jer 46:9): employed as mercenaries by Tyre and Egypt (Eze 27:10; 30:5).
Tubal—Tibarenians, in Asia Minor, south of the Caucasus, between the Black Sea and Araxes. Or, the Iberians [Josephus]. Italy [Jerome].
Javan—the Greeks; called Ionians, including all the descendants of Javan, both in Greece and in Asia Minor (Ge 10:2-4).
my glory … Gentiles—(Mal 1:11).
20. they—the Gentiles (Isa 66:19).
bring … your brethren—the Jews, back to the Holy Land (Isa 49:22). It cannot mean the mere entrance of the Jews into the Christian Church; for such an entrance would be by faith, not upon "horses, litters, and mules" [Houbigant]. "Offering" is metaphorical, as in Ro 15:16.
horses—not much used by the Jews. The Gentiles are here represented as using their modes of conveyance to "bring" the Jews to Jerusalem.
chariots—as these are not found in Oriental caravans, translate, "vehicles," namely, borne, not drawn on wheels.
litters—covered sedans for the rich.
upon swift beasts—dromedaries: from Hebrew root, "to dance," from their bounding motion, often accelerated by music [Bochart]. Panniers were thrown across the dromedaries' back for poorer women [Horsley].
21. of them—the Gentiles.
priests … Levites—for spiritual worship: enjoying the direct access to God which was formerly enjoyed by the ministers of the temple alone (1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6).
22. (Isa 65:17; 2Pe 3:13; Re 21:1).
23. Literally, "As often as the new moon (shall be) in its own new moon," that is, every month (Zec 14:16).
sabbath—which is therefore perpetually obligatory on earth.
all flesh—(Ps 65:2; 72:11).
before me—at Jerusalem (Jer 3:16, 17).
24. go forth, and look—as the Israelites looked at the carcasses of the Egyptians destroyed at the Red Sea (Ex 14:30; compare Isa 26:14-19; Ps 58:10; 49:14; Mal 4:1-3).
carcasses, &c.—(Isa 66:16), those slain by the Lord in the last great battle near Jerusalem (Zec 12:2-9; 14:2-4); type of the final destruction of all sinners.
worm … not die—(Mr 9:44, 46, 48). Image of hell, from bodies left unburied in the valley of Hinnom (whence comes Gehenna, or "hell"), south of Jerusalem, where a perpetual fire was kept to consume the refuse thrown there (Isa 30:33). It shall not be inconsistent with true love for the godly to look with satisfaction on God's vengeance on the wicked (Re 14:10). May God bless this Commentary, and especially its solemn close, to His glory, and to the edification of the writer and the readers of it, for Jesus' sake!