1Keep silenceH2790 before me, O islandsH339; and let the peopleH3816 renewH2498 their strengthH3581: let them come nearH5066 ; then let them speakH1696 : let us come nearH7126 togetherH3162 to judgmentH4941. 2Who raised upH5782 the righteousH6664 man from the eastH4217, calledH7121 him to his footH7272, gaveH5414 the nationsH1471 beforeH6440 him, and made him ruleH7287 over kingsH4428? he gaveH5414 them as the dustH6083 to his swordH2719, and as drivenH5086 stubbleH7179 to his bowH7198. 3He pursuedH7291 them, and passedH5674 safelyH7965; even by the wayH734 that he had not goneH935 with his feetH7272. 4Who hath wroughtH6466 and doneH6213 it, callingH7121 the generationsH1755 from the beginningH7218? I the LORDH3068, the firstH7223, and with the lastH314; I am he. 5The islesH339 sawH7200 it, and fearedH3372 ; the endsH7098 of the earthH776 were afraidH2729, drew nearH7126, and cameH857 . 6They helpedH5826 every oneH376 his neighbourH7453; and every one saidH559 to his brotherH251, Be of good courageH2388 . 7So the carpenterH2796 encouragedH2388 the goldsmithH6884, and he that smoothethH2505 with the hammerH6360 him that smoteH1986 the anvilH6471, sayingH559, It is readyH2896 for the soderingH1694: and he fastenedH2388 it with nailsH4548, that it should not be movedH4131 . 8But thou, IsraelH3478, art my servantH5650, JacobH3290 whom I have chosenH977, the seedH2233 of AbrahamH85 my friendH157 . 9Thou whom I have takenH2388 from the endsH7098 of the earthH776, and calledH7121 thee from the chief menH678 thereof, and saidH559 unto thee, Thou art my servantH5650; I have chosenH977 thee, and not cast thee awayH3988 . 10FearH3372 thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayedH8159 ; for I am thy GodH430: I will strengthenH553 thee; yea, I will helpH5826 thee; yea, I will upholdH8551 thee with the right handH3225 of my righteousnessH6664. 11Behold, all they that were incensedH2734 against thee shall be ashamedH954 and confoundedH3637 : they shall be as nothing; and theyH582 that striveH7379 with thee shall perishH6 . 12Thou shalt seekH1245 them, and shalt not findH4672 them, even themH582 that contendedH4695 with thee: they that warH4421 against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of noughtH657. 13For I the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 will holdH2388 thy right handH3225, sayingH559 unto thee, FearH3372 not; I will helpH5826 thee. 14FearH3372 not, thou wormH8438 JacobH3290, and ye menH4962 of IsraelH3478; I will helpH5826 thee, saithH5002 the LORDH3068, and thy redeemerH1350, the Holy OneH6918 of IsraelH3478. 15Behold, I will makeH7760 thee a newH2319 sharpH2742 threshingH4173 instrument havingH1167 teethH6374: thou shalt threshH1758 the mountainsH2022, and beat them smallH1854, and shalt makeH7760 the hillsH1389 as chaffH4671. 16Thou shalt fanH2219 them, and the windH7307 shall carry them awayH5375, and the whirlwindH5591 shall scatterH6327 them: and thou shalt rejoiceH1523 in the LORDH3068, and shalt gloryH1984 in the Holy OneH6918 of IsraelH3478. 17When the poorH6041 and needyH34 seekH1245 waterH4325, and there is none, and their tongueH3956 failethH5405 for thirstH6772, I the LORDH3068 will hearH6030 them, I the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 will not forsakeH5800 them. 18I will openH6605 riversH5104 in high placesH8205, and fountainsH4599 in the midstH8432 of the valleysH1237: I will makeH7760 the wildernessH4057 a poolH98 of waterH4325, and the dryH6723 landH776 springsH4161 of waterH4325. 19I will plantH5414 in the wildernessH4057 the cedarH730, the shittah treeH7848, and the myrtleH1918, and the oilH8081 treeH6086; I will setH7760 in the desertH6160 the fir treeH1265, and the pineH8410, and the box treeH8391 togetherH3162: 20That they may seeH7200, and knowH3045, and considerH7760, and understandH7919 togetherH3162, that the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 hath doneH6213 this, and the Holy OneH6918 of IsraelH3478 hath createdH1254 it. 21ProduceH7126 your causeH7379, saithH559 the LORDH3068; bring forthH5066 your strongH6110 reasons, saithH559 the KingH4428 of JacobH3290. 22Let them bring them forthH5066, and shewH5046 us what shall happenH7136 : let them shewH5046 the former thingsH7223, what they be, that we may considerH7760 H3820 them, and knowH3045 the latter endH319 of them; or declareH8085 us things for to comeH935 . 23ShewH5046 the things that are to comeH857 hereafterH268, that we may knowH3045 that ye are godsH430: yea, do goodH3190, or do evilH7489, that we may be dismayedH8159, and beholdH7200 it togetherH3162. 24Behold, ye are of nothingH369, and your workH6467 of noughtH659: an abominationH8441 is he that choosethH977 you. 25I have raised upH5782 one from the northH6828, and he shall comeH857 : from the risingH4217 of the sunH8121 shall he callH7121 upon my nameH8034: and he shall comeH935 upon princesH5461 as upon morterH2563, and as the potterH3335 treadethH7429 clayH2916. 26Who hath declaredH5046 from the beginningH7218, that we may knowH3045 ? and beforetimeH6440, that we may sayH559, He is righteousH6662? yea, there is none that shewethH5046, yea, there is none that declarethH8085, yea, there is none that hearethH8085 your wordsH561. 27The firstH7223 shall say to ZionH6726, BeholdH2009, beholdH2009 them: and I will giveH5414 to JerusalemH3389 one that bringeth good tidingsH1319 . 28For I beheldH7200, and there was no manH376; even among them, and there was no counsellorH3289, that, when I askedH7592 of them, could answerH7725 a wordH1697. 29Behold, they are all vanityH205; their worksH4639 are nothingH657: their molten imagesH5262 are windH7307 and confusionH8414.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ADDITIONAL REASONS WHY THE JEWS SHOULD PLACE CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S PROMISES OF DELIVERING THEM; HE WILL RAISE UP A PRINCE AS THEIR DELIVERER, WHEREAS THE IDOLS COULD NOT DELIVER THE HEATHEN NATIONS FROM THAT PRINCE. (Isa. 41:1-29)
(
Zech 2:13). God is about to argue the case; therefore let the nations listen in reverential silence. Compare
Gen 28:16-
Gen 28:17, as to the spirit in which we ought to behave before God.
before me--rather (turning), "towards me" [MAURER].
islands--including all regions beyond sea (
Jer 25:22), maritime regions, not merely isles in the strict sense.
renew . . . strength--Let them gather their strength for the argument; let them adduce their strongest arguments (compare
Isa 1:18;
Job 9:32). "Judgment" means here, to decide the point at issue between us.
2 Who--else but God? The fact that God "raiseth up" Cyrus and qualifies him for becoming the conqueror of the nations and deliverer of God's people, is a strong argument why they should trust in Him. The future is here prophetically represented as present or past.
the righteous man--Cyrus; as
Isa 44:28;
Isa 45:1-
Isa 45:4,
Isa 45:13;
Isa 46:11, "from the East," prove. Called "righteous," not so much on account of his own equity [HERODOTUS, 3.89], as because he fulfilled God's righteous will in restoring the Jews from their unjust captivity. Raised him up in righteousness. The Septuagint takes the Hebrew as a noun "righteousness." MAURER translates, "Who raised up him whom salvation (national and temporal, the gift of God's 'righteousness' to the good,
Isa 32:17; compare
Isa 45:8;
Isa 51:5) meets at his foot" (that is, wherever he goes). Cyrus is said to come from the East, because Persia is east of Babylon; but in
Isa 41:25, from the north, in reference to Media. At the same time the full sense of righteousness, or righteous, and of the whole passage, is realized only in Messiah, Cyrus' antitype (Cyrus knew not God,
Isa 45:4). He goes forth as the Universal Conqueror of the "nations," in righteousness making war (
Ps 2:8-
Ps 2:9;
Rev 19:11-
Rev 19:15;
Rev 6:2;
Rev 2:26-
Rev 2:27). "The idols He shall utterly abolish" (compare
Isa 7:23, with
Isa 2:18). Righteousness was always raised up from the East. Paradise was east of Eden. The cherubim were at the east of the garden. Abraham was called from the East. Judea, the birthplace of Messiah, was in the East.
called . . . to . . . foot--called him to attend His (God's) steps, that is, follow His guidance. In
Ezra 1:2, Cyrus acknowledges Jehovah as the Giver of his victories. He subdued the nations from the Euxine to the Red Sea, and even Egypt (says XENOPHON).
dust-- (
Isa 17:13;
Isa 29:5;
Ps 18:42). Persia, Cyrus' country, was famed for the use of the "bow" (
Isa 22:6). "Before him" means "gave them into his power" (
Josh 10:12). MAURER translates, "Gave his (the enemy's) sword to be dust, and his (the enemy's) bow to be as stubble" (
Job 41:26,
Job 41:29).
3 Cyrus had not visited the regions of the Euphrates and westward until he visited them for conquest. So the gospel conquests penetrated regions where the name of God was unknown before.
4 Who--else but God?
calling . . . generations from . . . beginning--The origin and position of all nations are from God (
Deut 32:8;
Acts 17:26); what is true of Cyrus and his conquests is true of all the movements of history from the first; all are from God.
with the last--that is, the last (
Isa 44:6;
Isa 48:12).
5 feared--that they would be subdued.
drew near, and came--together, for mutual defense.
6 Be of good courage--Be not alarmed because of Cyrus, but make new images to secure the favor of the gods against him.
7 One workman encourages the other to be quick in finishing the idol, so as to avert the impending danger.
nails--to keep it steady in its place. Wisdom 13:15, 16, gives a similar picture of the folly of idolatry.
8 Contrast between the idolatrous nations whom God will destroy by Cyrus, and Israel whom God will deliver by the same man for their forefathers' sake.
servant--so termed as being chosen by God to worship Him themselves, and to lead other peoples to do the same (
Isa 45:4).
Jacob . . . chosen-- (
Ps 135:4).
my friend--literally, "loving me."
9 Abraham, the father of the Jews, taken from the remote Ur of the Chaldees. Others take it of Israel, called out of Egypt (
Deut 4:37;
Hos 11:1).
from the chief men--literally, "the elbows"; so the joints; hence the root which joins the tree to the earth; figuratively, those of ancient and noble stock. But the parallel clause "ends of the earth" favors GESENIUS, who translates, "the extremities of the earth"; so JEROME.
10 be not dismayed--literally, anxiously to look at one another in dismay.
right hand of my righteousness--that is, My right hand prepared in accordance with My righteousness (faithfulness to My promises) to uphold thee.
11 ashamed--put to the shame of defeat (compare
Isa 54:17;
Rom 9:33).
12 seek . . . and . . . not find--said of one so utterly put out of the way that not a trace of him can be found (
Ps 37:36).
thing of naught--shall utterly perish.
13 (
Deut 33:26,
Deut 33:29).
14 worm--in a state of contempt and affliction, whom all loathe and tread on, the very expression which Messiah, on the cross, applies to Himself (
Ps 22:6), so completely are the Lord and His people identified and assimilated. God's people are as 'worms' in humble thoughts of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them; worms, but not vipers, or of the serpent's seed." [HENRY].
men--The parallelism requires the word "men" here to have associated with it the idea of fewness or feebleness. LOWTH translates, "Ye mortals of Israel." The Septuagint, "altogether diminutive." MAURER supports English Version, which the Hebrew text best accord with.
the Lord--in general.
and thy redeemer--in particular; a still stronger reason why He should "help" them.
15 God will make Israel to destroy their enemies as the Eastern corn-drag (
Isa 28:27-
Isa 28:28) bruises out the grain with its teeth, and gives the chaff to the winds to scatter.
teeth--serrated, so as to cut up the straw for fodder and separate the grain from the chaff.
mountains . . . hills--kingdoms more or less powerful that were hostile to Israel (
Isa 2:14).
16 fan--winnowed (compare
Matt 3:12).
whirlwind . . . scatter them-- (
Job 27:21;
Job 30:22).
17 poor and needy--primarily, the exiles in Babylon.
water--figuratively, refreshment, prosperity after their affliction. The language is so constructed as only very partially to apply to the local and temporary event of the restoration from Babylon; but fully to be realized in the waters of life and of the Spirit, under the Gospel (
Isa 30:25;
Isa 44:3;
John 7:37-
John 7:39;
John 4:14). God wrought no miracles that we read of, in any wilderness, during the return from Babylon.
faileth--rather, "is rigid" or parched [HORSLEY].
18 Alluding to the waters with which Israel was miraculously supplied in the desert after having come out of Egypt.
high places--bare of trees, barren, and unwatered (
Jer 4:11;
Jer 14:6). "High places . . . valleys" spiritually express that in all circumstances, whether elevated or depressed, God's people will have refreshment for their souls, however little to be expected it might seem.
19 (
Isa 32:15;
Isa 55:13).
shittah--rather, the "acacia," or Egyptian thorn, from which the gum Arabic is obtained [LOWTH].
oil tree--the olive.
fir tree--rather, the "cypress": grateful by its shade.
pine--GESENIUS translates, "the holm."
box tree--not the shrub used for bordering flower beds, but [GESENIUS] a kind of cedar, remarkable for the smallness of its cones, and the upward direction of its branches.
20 consider--literally, "lay it (to hear)"; turn (their attention) to it. "They" refers to all lands (
Isa 41:1;
Ps 64:9;
Ps 40:3). The effect on the Gentiles of God's open interposition hereafter in behalf of Israel shall be, they shall seek Israel's God (
Isa 2:3;
Zech 8:21-
Zech 8:23).
21 A new challenge to the idolaters (see
Isa 41:1,
Isa 41:7) to say, can their idols predict future events as Jehovah can (
Isa 41:22-
Isa 41:25, &c.)?
your strong reasons--the reasons for idol-worship which you think especially strong.
22 what shall happen--"Let them bring near and declare future contingencies" [HORSLEY].
former things . . . the latter end of them--show what former predictions the idols have given, that we may compare the event ("latter end") with them; or give new prophecies ("declare things to come") (
Isa 42:9), [MAURER]. BARNES explains it more reconditely, "Let them foretell the entire series of events, showing, in their order, the things which shall first occur, as well as those which shall finally happen"; the false prophets tried to predict isolated events, having no mutual dependency; not a long series of events mutually and orderly connected, and stretching far into futurity. They did not even try to do this. None but God can do it (
Isa 46:10;
Isa 44:7-
Isa 44:8). "Or . . . things to come" will, in this view, mean, Let them, if they cannot predict the series, even predict plainly any detached events.
23 do good . . . evil--give any proof at all of your power, either to reward your friends or punish your enemies (
Ps 115:2-
Ps 115:8).
that we may be dismayed, and behold it together--MAURER translates, "That we (Jehovah and the idols) may look one another in the face (that is, encounter one another,
2Kgs 14:8,
2Kgs 14:11), and see" our respective powers by a trial. HORSLEY translates, "Then the moment we behold, we shall be dismayed." "We" thus, and in English Version, refers to Jehovah and His worshippers.
24 of nothing--(See on
Isa 40:17). The Hebrew text is here corrupt; so English Version treats it.
abomination--abstract for concrete: not merely abominable, but the essence of whatever is so (
Deut 18:12).
chooseth you--as an object of worship.
25 raised up--in purpose: not fulfilled till a hundred fifty years afterwards.
north--In
Isa 41:2, "from the East"; both are true: see the note there.
call . . . my name--acknowledge Me as God, and attribute his success to Me; this he did in the proclamation (
Ezra 1:2). This does not necessarily imply that Cyrus renounced idolatry, but hearing of Isaiah's prophecy given a hundred fifty years before, so fully realized in his own acts, he recognized God as the true God, but retained his idol (so Naaman, 2Ki. 5:1-27; compare
2Kgs 17:33,
2Kgs 17:41;
Dan 3:28;
Dan 4:1-
Dan 4:3,
Dan 4:34-
Dan 4:37).
princes--the Babylonian satraps or governors of provinces.
mortar--"mire"; He shall tread them under foot as dirt (
Isa 10:6).
26 Who--of the idolatrous soothsayers? When this prophecy shall be fulfilled, all shall see that God foretold as to Cyrus, which none of the soothsayers have.
beforetime--before the event occurred.
He is righteous--rather, "It is true"; it was a true prophecy, as the event shows. "He is righteous," in English Version, must be interpreted, The fulfilment of the idol's words proves that he is faithful.
showeth, &c.--rather, "there was none (of the soothsayers) that showed . . . declared--no one has heard your words" foretelling the event.
27 Rather, "I first will give to Zion and to Jerusalem the messenger of good tidings, Behold, behold them!" The clause, "Behold . . . them" (the wished-for event is now present) is inserted in the middle of the sentence as a detached exclamation, by an elegant transposition, the language being framed abruptly, as one would speak in putting vividly as it were, before the eyes of others, some joyous event which he had just learned [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU] (compare
Isa 40:9). None of the idols had foretold these events. Jehovah was the "first" to do so (see
Isa 41:4).
28 no counsellor--no one of the idolatrous soothsayers who could inform (
Num 24:14) those who consulted them what would take place. Compare "counsel of His messenger" (
Isa 44:26).
when I asked--that is, challenged them, in this chapter.
29 confusion--"emptiness" [BARNES].
God's description of His character (
Isa 42:1-
Isa 42:4). God addresses Him directly (
Isa 42:5-
Isa 42:7). Address to the people to attend to the subject (
Isa 42:8-
Isa 42:9). Call to all, and especially the exile Jews to rejoice in the coming deliverance (Isa. 42:10-25).