3 For the LORD H3068 shall comfort H5162 Zion: H6726 he will comfort H5162 all her waste places; H2723 and he will make H7760 her wilderness H4057 like Eden, H5731 and her desert H6160 like the garden H1588 of the LORD; H3068 joy H8342 and gladness H8057 shall be found H4672 therein, thanksgiving, H8426 and the voice H6963 of melody. H2172
Break forth into joy, H6476 sing H7442 together, H3162 ye waste places H2723 of Jerusalem: H3389 for the LORD H3068 hath comforted H5162 his people, H5971 he hath redeemed H1350 Jerusalem. H3389
A fire H784 devoureth H398 before H6440 them; and behind H310 them a flame H3852 burneth: H3857 the land H776 is as the garden H1588 of Eden H5731 before H6440 them, and behind H310 them a desolate H8077 wilderness; H4057 yea, and nothing shall escape H6413 them.
And Lot H3876 lifted up H5375 his eyes, H5869 and beheld H7200 all the plain H3603 of Jordan, H3383 that it was well watered H4945 every where, before H6440 the LORD H3068 destroyed H7843 Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah, H6017 even as the garden H1588 of the LORD, H3068 like the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 as thou comest H935 unto Zoar. H6820
Sing, H7442 O heavens; H8064 and be joyful, H1523 O earth; H776 and break forth H6476 into singing, H7440 O mountains: H2022 for the LORD H3068 hath comforted H5162 his people, H5971 and will have mercy H7355 upon his afflicted. H6041
The Spirit H7307 of the Lord H136 GOD H3069 is upon me; because the LORD H3068 hath anointed H4886 me to preach good tidings H1319 unto the meek; H6035 he hath sent H7971 me to bind up H2280 the brokenhearted, H7665 H3820 to proclaim H7121 liberty H1865 to the captives, H7617 and the opening of the prison H6495 to them that are bound; H631 To proclaim H7121 the acceptable H7522 year H8141 of the LORD, H3068 and the day H3117 of vengeance H5359 of our God; H430 to comfort H5162 all that mourn; H57 To appoint H7760 unto them that mourn H57 in Zion, H6726 to give H5414 unto them beauty H6287 for ashes, H665 the oil H8081 of joy H8342 for mourning, H60 the garment H4594 of praise H8416 for the spirit H7307 of heaviness; H3544 that they might be called H7121 trees H352 of righteousness, H6664 the planting H4302 of the LORD, H3068 that he might be glorified. H6286 And they shall build H1129 the old H5769 wastes, H2723 they shall raise up H6965 the former H7223 desolations, H8074 and they shall repair H2318 the waste H2721 cities, H5892 the desolations H8074 of many H1755 generations. H1755
And G2532 after G3326 these things G5023 I heard G191 a great G3173 voice G5456 of much G4183 people G3793 in G1722 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 Alleluia; G239 Salvation, G4991 and G2532 glory, G1391 and G2532 honour, G5092 and G2532 power, G1411 unto the Lord G2962 our G2257 God: G2316 For G3754 true G228 and G2532 righteous G1342 are his G846 judgments: G2920 for G3754 he hath judged G2919 the great G3173 whore, G4204 which G3748 did corrupt G5351 the earth G1093 with G1722 her G846 fornication, G4202 and G2532 hath avenged G1556 the blood G129 of his G846 servants G1401 at G1537 her G846 hand. G5495 And G2532 again G1208 they said, G2046 Alleluia. G239 And G2532 her G846 smoke G2586 rose up G305 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 And G2532 the four G5064 and G2532 twenty G1501 elders G4245 and G2532 the four G5064 beasts G2226 fell down G4098 and G2532 worshipped G4352 God G2316 that sat G2521 on G1909 the throne, G2362 saying, G3004 Amen; G281 Alleluia. G239 And G2532 a voice G5456 came G1831 out of G1537 the throne, G2362 saying, G3004 Praise G134 our G2257 God, G2316 all ye G3956 his G846 servants, G1401 and G2532 ye that fear G5399 him, G846 both G2532 small G3398 and G2532 great. G3173 And G2532 I heard G191 as it were G5613 the voice G5456 of a great G4183 multitude, G3793 and G2532 as G5613 the voice G5456 of many G4183 waters, G5204 and G2532 as G5613 the voice G5456 of mighty G2478 thunderings, G1027 saying, G3004 Alleluia: G239 for G3754 the Lord G2962 God G2316 omnipotent G3841 reigneth. G936 Let us be glad G5463 and G2532 rejoice, G21 and G2532 give G1325 honour G1391 to him: G846 for G3754 the marriage G1062 of the Lamb G721 is come, G2064 and G2532 his G846 wife G1135 hath made G2090 herself G1438 ready. G2090
Whom G3739 having G1492 not G3756 seen, G1492 G1492 ye love; G25 in G1519 whom, G3739 though now G737 ye see G3708 him not, G3361 yet G1161 believing, G4100 ye rejoice G21 with joy G5479 unspeakable G412 and G2532 full of glory: G1392
Blessed G2128 be God, G2316 even G2532 the Father G3962 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the Father G3962 of mercies, G3628 and G2532 the God G2316 of all G3956 comfort; G3874 Who G3588 comforteth G3870 us G2248 in G1909 all G3956 our G2257 tribulation, G2347 that G1519 we G2248 may be able G1410 to comfort G3870 them which are in G1722 any G3956 trouble, G2347 by G1223 the comfort G3874 wherewith G3739 we G3870 ourselves G846 are comforted G3870 of G5259 God. G2316
Sing, H7442 O daughter H1323 of Zion; H6726 shout, H7321 O Israel; H3478 be glad H8055 and rejoice H5937 with all the heart, H3820 O daughter H1323 of Jerusalem. H3389 The LORD H3068 hath taken away H5493 thy judgments, H4941 he hath cast out H6437 thine enemy: H341 the king H4428 of Israel, H3478 even the LORD, H3068 is in the midst H7130 of thee: thou shalt not see H7200 evil H7451 any more. In that day H3117 it shall be said H559 to Jerusalem, H3389 Fear H3372 thou not: and to Zion, H6726 Let not thine hands H3027 be slack. H7503 The LORD H3068 thy God H430 in the midst H7130 of thee is mighty; H1368 he will save, H3467 he will rejoice H7797 over thee with joy; H8057 he will rest H2790 in his love, H160 he will joy H1523 over thee with singing. H7440 I will gather H622 them that are sorrowful H3013 for the solemn assembly, H4150 who are of thee, to whom the reproach H2781 of it was a burden. H4864 Behold, at that time H6256 I will undo H6213 all that afflict H6031 thee: and I will save H3467 her that halteth, H6760 and gather H6908 her that was driven out; H5080 and I will get H7760 them praise H8416 and fame H8034 in every land H776 where they have been put to shame. H1322 At that time H6256 will I bring H935 you again, even in the time H6256 that I gather H6908 you: for I will make H5414 you a name H8034 and a praise H8416 among all people H5971 of the earth, H776 when I turn back H7725 your captivity H7622 before your eyes, H5869 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
The cedars H730 in the garden H1588 of God H430 could not hide H6004 him: the fir trees H1265 were not like H1819 his boughs, H5589 and the chesnut trees H6196 were not like his branches; H6288 nor any tree H6086 in the garden H1588 of God H430 was like H1819 unto him in his beauty. H3308 I have made H6213 him fair H3303 by the multitude H7230 of his branches: H1808 so that all the trees H6086 of Eden, H5731 that were in the garden H1588 of God, H430 envied H7065 him. Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thou hast lifted up H1361 thyself in height, H6967 and he hath shot up H5414 his top H6788 among the thick boughs, H5688 and his heart H3824 is lifted up H7311 in his height; H1363
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 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Again in this place, H4725 which is desolate H2720 without man H120 and without beast, H929 and in all the cities H5892 thereof, shall be an habitation H5116 of shepherds H7462 causing their flocks H6629 to lie down. H7257 In the cities H5892 of the mountains, H2022 in the cities H5892 of the vale, H8219 and in the cities H5892 of the south, H5045 and in the land H776 of Benjamin, H1144 and in the places about H5439 Jerusalem, H3389 and in the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 shall the flocks H6629 pass again H5674 under the hands H3027 of him that telleth H4487 them, saith H559 the LORD. H3068
Therefore they shall come H935 and sing H7442 in the height H4791 of Zion, H6726 and shall flow together H5102 to the goodness H2898 of the LORD, H3068 for wheat, H1715 and for wine, H8492 and for oil, H3323 and for the young H1121 of the flock H6629 and of the herd: H1241 and their soul H5315 shall be as a watered H7302 garden; H1588 and they shall not sorrow H1669 any more H3254 at all. Then shall the virgin H1330 rejoice H8055 in the dance, H4234 both young men H970 and old H2205 together: H3162 for I will turn H2015 their mourning H60 into joy, H8342 and will comfort H5162 them, and make them rejoice H8055 from their sorrow. H3015 And I will satiate H7301 the soul H5315 of the priests H3548 with fatness, H1880 and my people H5971 shall be satisfied H7646 with my goodness, H2898 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Rejoice H8055 ye with Jerusalem, H3389 and be glad H1523 with her, all ye that love H157 her: rejoice H7797 for joy H4885 with her, all ye that mourn H56 for her: That ye may suck, H3243 and be satisfied H7646 with the breasts H7699 of her consolations; H8575 that ye may milk out, H4711 and be delighted H6026 with the abundance H2123 of her glory. H3519 For thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Behold, I will extend H5186 peace H7965 to her like a river, H5104 and the glory H3519 of the Gentiles H1471 like a flowing H7857 stream: H5158 then shall ye suck, H3243 ye shall be borne H5375 upon her sides, H6654 and be dandled H8173 upon her knees. H1290 As one H376 whom his mother H517 comforteth, H5162 so will I comfort H5162 you; and ye shall be comforted H5162 in Jerusalem. H3389 And when ye see H7200 this, your heart H3820 shall rejoice, H7797 and your bones H6106 shall flourish H6524 like an herb: H1877 and the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 shall be known H3045 toward his servants, H5650 and his indignation H2194 toward his enemies. H341
And the LORD H3068 God H430 planted H5193 a garden H1588 eastward H6924 in Eden; H5731 and there H8033 he put H7760 the man H120 whom H834 he had formed. H3335 And out H4480 of the ground H127 made H6779 the LORD H3068 God H430 to grow H6779 every tree H6086 that is pleasant H2530 to the sight, H4758 and good H2896 for food; H3978 the tree H6086 of life H2416 also in the midst H8432 of the garden, H1588 and the tree H6086 of knowledge H1847 of good H2896 and evil. H7451
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
I, even I, am he that comforteth H5162 you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid H3372 of a man H582 that shall die, H4191 and of the son H1121 of man H120 which shall be made H5414 as grass; H2682
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 In an acceptable H7522 time H6256 have I heard H6030 thee, and in a day H3117 of salvation H3444 have I helped H5826 thee: and I will preserve H5341 thee, and give H5414 thee for a covenant H1285 of the people, H5971 to establish H6965 the earth, H776 to cause to inherit H5157 the desolate H8074 heritages; H5159
That confirmeth H6965 the word H1697 of his servant, H5650 and performeth H7999 the counsel H6098 of his messengers; H4397 that saith H559 to Jerusalem, H3389 Thou shalt be inhabited; H3427 and to the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 Ye shall be built, H1129 and I will raise up H6965 the decayed places H2723 thereof:
I will open H6605 rivers H5104 in high places, H8205 and fountains H4599 in the midst H8432 of the valleys: H1237 I will make H7760 the wilderness H4057 a pool H98 of water, H4325 and the dry H6723 land H776 springs H4161 of water. H4325 I will plant H5414 in the wilderness H4057 the cedar, H730 the shittah tree, H7848 and the myrtle, H1918 and the oil H8081 tree; H6086 I will set H7760 in the desert H6160 the fir tree, H1265 and the pine, H8410 and the box tree H8391 together: H3162
Comfort H5162 ye, comfort H5162 ye my people, H5971 saith H559 your God. H430 Speak H1696 ye comfortably H3820 to Jerusalem, H3389 and cry H7121 unto her, that her warfare H6635 is accomplished, H4390 that her iniquity H5771 is pardoned: H7521 for she hath received H3947 of the LORD'S H3068 hand H3027 double H3718 for all her sins. H2403
And the parched ground H8273 shall become a pool, H98 and the thirsty land H6774 springs H4002 of water: H4325 in the habitation H5116 of dragons, H8577 where each lay, H7258 shall be grass H2682 with reeds H7070 and rushes. H1573 And an highway H4547 shall be there, and a way, H1870 and it shall be called H7121 The way H1870 of holiness; H6944 the unclean H2931 shall not pass over H5674 it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, H1980 though fools, H191 shall not err H8582 therein. No lion H738 shall be there, nor any ravenous H6530 beast H2416 shall go up H5927 thereon, it shall not be found H4672 there; but the redeemed H1350 shall walk H1980 there: 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
The wilderness H4057 and the solitary place H6723 shall be glad H7797 for them; and the desert H6160 shall rejoice, H1523 and blossom H6524 as the rose. H2261 It shall blossom H6524 abundantly, H6524 and rejoice H1523 even with joy H1525 and singing: H7444 the glory H3519 of Lebanon H3844 shall be given H5414 unto it, the excellency H1926 of Carmel H3760 and Sharon, H8289 they shall see H7200 the glory H3519 of the LORD, H3068 and the excellency H1926 of our God. H430
And in that day H3117 thou shalt say, H559 O LORD, H3068 I will praise H3034 thee: though thou wast angry H599 with me, thine anger H639 is turned away, H7725 and thou comfortedst H5162 me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 51
Commentary on Isaiah 51 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 51
Isa 51:1-23. Encouragement to the Faithful Remnant of Israel to Trust in God for Deliverance, Both from Their Long Babylonian Exile, and from Their Present Dispersion.
1. me—the God of your fathers.
ye … follow after righteousness—the godly portion of the nation; Isa 51:7 shows this (Pr 15:9; 1Ti 6:11). "Ye follow righteousness," seek it therefore from Me, who "bring it near," and that a righteousness "not about to be abolished" (Isa 51:6, 7); look to Abraham, your father (Isa 51:2), as a sample of how righteousness before Me is to be obtained; I, the same God who blessed him, will bless you at last (Isa 51:3); therefore trust in Me, and fear not man's opposition (Isa 51:7, 8, 12, 13). The mistake of the Jews, heretofore, has been, not in that they "followed after righteousness," but in that they followed it "by the works of the law," instead of "by faith," as Abraham did (Ro 9:31, 32; 10:3, 4; 4:2-5).
hole of … pit—The idea is not, as it is often quoted, the inculcation of humility, by reminding men of the fallen state from which they have been taken, but that as Abraham, the quarry, as it were (compare Isa 48:1), whence their nation was hewn, had been called out of a strange land to the inheritance of Canaan, and blessed by God, the same God is able to deliver and restore them also (compare Mt 3:9).
2. alone—translate, "I called him when he was but one" (Eze 33:24). The argument is: the same God who had so blessed "one" individual, as to become a mighty nation (Ge 12:1; 22:7), can also increase and bless the small remnant of Israel, both that left in the Babylonish captivity, and that left in the present and latter days (Zec 14:2); "the residue" (Isa 13:8, 9).
3. For—See for the argument, see on Isa 51:2.
the garden of the Lord—restoration of the primeval paradise (Ge 2:8; Eze 28:13; Re 2:7).
melody—Hebrew, "psalm." God's praises shall again be heard.
4. my people—the Jews. This reading is better than that of Gesenius: "O peoples … nations," namely, the Gentiles. The Jews are called on to hear and rejoice in the extension of the true religion to the nations; for, at the first preaching of the Gospel, as in the final age to come, it was from Jerusalem that the gospel law was, and is, to go forth (Isa 2:3).
law … judgment—the gospel dispensation and institutions (Isa 42:1, "judgment").
make … to rest—establish firmly; found.
light, &c.—(Isa 42:6).
5. righteousness … near—that is, faithful fulfilment of the promised deliverance, answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause (Isa 46:13; 56:1; Ro 10:8, 9). Ye follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it (Isa 51:1).
arms—put for Himself; I by My might.
judge—(Isa 2:3, 4; Ps 98:9).
isles, &c.—(Isa 60:9).
arm—(Ro 1:16), "the power of God unto (the Gentiles as well as the Jews) salvation."
6. (Isa 40:6, 8; Ps 102:26; Heb 1:11, 12).
vanish away—literally, "shall be torn asunder," as a garment [Maurer]; which accords with the context.
in like manner—But Gesenius, "Like a gnat"; like the smallest and vilest insect. Jerome translates, as English Version, and infers that "in like manner" as man, the heavens (that is, the sky) and earth are not to be annihilated, but changed for the better (Isa 65:17).
righteousness—My faithfully fulfilled promise (see on Isa 51:5).
7. know righteousness—(See on Isa 51:1).
8. (See on Isa 50:9; Job 4:18-20). Not that the moth eats men up, but they shall be destroyed by as insignificant instrumentality as the moth that eats a garment.
9. Impassioned prayer of the exiled Jews.
ancient days—(Ps 44:1).
Rahab—poetical name for Egypt (see on Isa 30:7).
dragon—Hebrew, tannin. The crocodile, an emblem of Egypt, as represented on coins struck after the conquest of Egypt by Augustus; or rather here, "its king," Pharaoh (see on Isa 27:1; Ps 74:13, 14; Eze 32:2, Margin; Eze 29:3).
10. it—the arm.
Art not Thou the same Almighty power that … ? dried the sea—the Red Sea (Isa 43:16; Ex 14:21).
11. (Isa 35:10).
Therefore—assurance of faith; or else the answer of Jehovah corresponding to their prayer. As surely as God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, He shall redeem them from Babylon, both the literal in the age following, and mystical in the last ages (Re 18:20, 21). There shall be a second exodus (Isa 11:11-16; 27:12, 13).
singing—image from the custom of singing on a journey when a caravan is passing along the extended plains in the East.
everlasting joy—(Jude 24).
sorrow … flee away—(Re 21:4).
12. comforteth—(Isa 51:3; Isa 40:1).
thou—Zion.
son of man—frail and dying as his parent Adam.
be made as grass—wither as grass (Isa 40:6, 7).
13. (Isa 40:12, 26, 28), the same argument of comfort drawn from the omnipotence of the Creator.
as if … ready, &c.—literally, "when he directs," namely, his arrow, to destroy (Ps 21:12; 7:13; 11:2) [Maurer].
14. captive exile—literally, one bowed down as a captive (Isa 10:4) [Maurer]. The scene is primarily Babylon, and the time near the close of the captivity. Secondarily, and antitypically, the mystical Babylon, the last enemy of Israel and the Church, in which they have long suffered, but from which they are to be gloriously delivered.
pit—such as were many of the ancient dungeons (compare Jer 38:6, 11, 13; Ge 37:20).
nor … bread … fail—(Isa 33:16; Jer 37:21).
15. divided … sea—the Red Sea. The same Hebrew word as "make to rest" (Isa 51:4). Rather, "that terrify the sea," that is, restrain it by My rebuke, "when its waves roar" [Gesenius]. The Hebrew favors Maurer, "that terrify the sea so that the waves roar." The sense favors Gesenius (Jer 5:22; 31:35), or English Version (Isa 51:9, 10, which favors the special reference to the exodus from Egypt).
16. Addressed to Israel, embodied in "the servant of Jehovah" (Isa 42:1), Messiah, its ideal and representative Head, through whom the elect remnant is to be restored.
put my words in thy mouth—true of Israel, the depository of true religion, but fully realized only in Israel's Head and antitype, Messiah (Isa 49:2; 50:4, 5; 59:21; De 18:18; Joh 3:34).
covered … in … shadow of … hand—protected thee (see on Isa 49:2).
plant—rather, "fix" as a tabernacle; so it ought to be rendered (Da 11:45). The "new creation," now going on in the spiritual world by the Gospel (Eph 2:10), and hereafter to be extended to the visible world, is meant (Isa 65:17; 66:22; compare Isa 13:13; 2Pe 3:10-13).
Zion—Its restoration is a leading part in the new creation to come (Isa 65:17, 19).
17. Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, &c.—(Isa 52:1).
drunk—Jehovah's wrath is compared to an intoxicating draught because it confounds the sufferer under it, and makes him fall (Job 21:20; Ps 60:3; 75:8; Jer 25:15, 16; 49:12; Zec 12:2; Re 14:10); ("poured out without mixture"; rather, "the pure wine juice mixed with intoxicating drugs").
of trembling—which produced trembling or intoxication.
wrung … out—drained the last drop out; the dregs were the sediments from various substances, as honey, dates, and drugs, put into the wine to increase the strength and sweetness.
18. Following up the image in Isa 51:17, intoxicated and confused by the cup of God's anger, she has none to guide her in her helpless state; she has not yet awakened out of the sleep caused by that draught. This cannot apply to the Babylonish captivity; for in it they had Ezekiel and Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, as "guides," and soon awoke out of that sleep; but it applies to the Jews now, and will be still more applicable in their coming oppression by Antichrist.
19. two—classes of evils, for he enumerates four, namely, desolation and destruction to the land and state; famine and the sword to the people.
who shall be sorry for thee—so as to give thee effectual relief: as the parallel clause, "By whom shall I comfort thee?" shows (La 2:11-13).
20. head of all … streets—(La 2:19; 4:1).
wild bull—rather, "oryx" [Jerome], or gazelle [Gesenius], or wild goat [Bochart]; commonly in the East taken in a net, of a wide sweep, into which the beasts were hunted together. The streets of cities in the East often have gates, which are closed at night; a person wishing to escape would be stopped by them and caught, as a wild animal in a net.
21. drunken … not with wine—(Isa 29:9; compare Isa 51:17, 20, here; La 3:15).
22. pleadeth … cause—(Ps 35:1; Jer 50:34; Mic 7:9).
no more drink it—(Isa 54:7-9). This cannot apply to Israel after the return from Babylon, but only to them after their final restoration.
23. (Isa 49:26; Jer 25:15-29; Zec 12:2).
Bow down that … go over—Conquerors often literally trod on the necks of conquered kings, as Sapor of Persia did to the Roman emperor Valerian (Jos 10:24; Ps 18:40; 66:11, 12).