1Yet now hearH8085, O JacobH3290 my servantH5650; and IsraelH3478, whom I have chosenH977: 2Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 that madeH6213 thee, and formedH3335 thee from the wombH990, who will helpH5826 thee; FearH3372 not, O JacobH3290, my servantH5650; and thou, JesurunH3484, whom I have chosenH977. 3For I will pourH3332 waterH4325 upon him that is thirstyH6771, and floodsH5140 upon the dry groundH3004: I will pourH3332 my spiritH7307 upon thy seedH2233, and my blessingH1293 upon thy offspringH6631: 4And they shall spring upH6779 as amongH996 the grassH2682, as willowsH6155 by the waterH4325 coursesH2988. 5One shall sayH559, I am the LORD’SH3068; and another shall callH7121 himself by the nameH8034 of JacobH3290; and another shall writeH3789 with his handH3027 to the LORDH3068, and surnameH3655 himself by the nameH8034 of IsraelH3478. 6Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068 the KingH4428 of IsraelH3478, and his redeemerH1350 the LORDH3068 of hostsH6635; I am the firstH7223, and I am the lastH314; and besidesH1107 me there is no GodH430. 7And who, as I, shall callH7121, and shall declareH5046 it, and set it in orderH6186 for me, since I appointedH7760 the ancientH5769 peopleH5971? and the things that are comingH857, and shall comeH935, let them showH5046 to them. 8FearH6342 ye not, neither be afraidH7297: have not I toldH8085 thee from that timeH227, and have declaredH5046 it? ye are even my witnessesH5707. Is thereH3426 a GodH433 besidesH1107 me? verily, there is no GodH6697; I knowH3045 not any. 9They that makeH3335 a graven imageH6459 are all of them vanityH8414; and their delectable thingsH2530 shall not profitH3276; and they are their own witnessesH5707; they seeH7200 not, nor knowH3045; that they may be ashamedH954. 10Who hath formedH3335 a godH410, or castH5258 a graven imageH6459 that is profitableH3276 for nothingH1115? 11Behold, all his companionsH2270 shall be ashamedH954: and the workmenH2796, they are of menH120: let them all be gathered togetherH6908, let them stand upH5975; yet they shall fearH6342, and they shall be ashamedH954 togetherH3162. 12The smithH1270 H2796 with the tongsH4621 both workethH6466 in the coalsH6352, and fashionethH3335 it with hammersH4717, and workethH6466 it with the strengthH3581 of his armsH2220: yea, he is hungryH7457, and his strengthH3581 failethH369: he drinkethH8354 no waterH4325, and is faintH3286. 13The carpenterH2796 H6086 stretcheth outH5186 his ruleH6957; he marketh it outH8388 with a lineH8279; he fittethH6213 it with planesH4741, and he marketh it outH8388 with the compassH4230, and makethH6213 it after the figureH8403 of a manH376, according to the beautyH8597 of a manH120; that it may remainH3427 in the houseH1004. 14He heweth downH3772 cedarsH730 for himself and takethH3947 the cypressH8645 and the oakH437, which he strengthenethH553 for himself among the treesH6086 of the forestH3293: he plantethH5193 an ashH766, and the rainH1653 doth nourishH1431 it. 15Then shall it be for a manH120 to burnH1197: for he will takeH3947 of it, and warmH2552 himself; indeed, he kindlethH5400 it, and bakethH644 breadH3899; yea, he makethH6466 a godH410, and worshippethH7812 it; he makethH6213 it a graven imageH6459, and falleth downH5456 to it. 16He burnethH8313 partH2677 of it inH1119 the fireH784; with partH2677 of it he eatethH398 fleshH1320; he roastethH6740 meatH6748, and is satisfiedH7646: yea, he warmethH2552 himself, and saithH559, AhaH1889, I am warmH2552, I have seenH7200 the fireH217: 17And the restH7611 of it he makethH6213 a godH410, even his graven imageH6459: he falleth downH5456 to it, and worshippethH7812 it, and prayethH6419 to it, and saithH559, DeliverH5337 me; for thou art my godH410. 18They have not knownH3045 nor understoodH995: for he hath shutH2902 their eyesH5869, that they cannot seeH7200; and their heartsH3826, that they cannot understandH7919. 19And none considerethH7725 in his heartH3820, neither is there knowledgeH1847 nor understandingH8394 to sayH559, I have burnedH8313 partH2677 of it inH1119 the fireH784; I have also bakedH644 breadH3899 upon its coalsH1513; I have roastedH6740 fleshH1320, and eatenH398 it: and shall I makeH6213 the restH3499 of it an abominationH8441? shall I fall downH5456 to the stockH944 of a treeH6086? 20He feedethH7462 on ashesH665: a deceivedH2048 heartH3820 hath turned him asideH5186, that he cannot deliverH5337 his soulH5315, nor sayH559, Is there not a lieH8267 in my right handH3225? 21RememberH2142 these, O JacobH3290 and IsraelH3478; for thou art my servantH5650: I have formedH3335 thee; thou art my servantH5650: O IsraelH3478, thou shalt not be forgottenH5382 by me. 22I have blotted outH4229, as a thick cloudH5645, thy transgressionsH6588, and, as a cloudH6051, thy sinsH2403: returnH7725 to me; for I have redeemedH1350 thee. 23SingH7442, O ye heavensH8064; for the LORDH3068 hath doneH6213 it: shoutH7321, ye lower partsH8482 of the earthH776: break forthH6476 into singingH7440, ye mountainsH2022, O forestH3293, and every treeH6086 in it: for the LORDH3068 hath redeemedH1350 JacobH3290, and glorifiedH6286 himself in IsraelH3478. 24Thus saithH559 the LORDH3068, thy redeemerH1350, and he that formedH3335 thee from the wombH990, I am the LORDH3068 that makethH6213 all things; that stretcheth forthH5186 the heavensH8064 alone; that spreadeth abroadH7554 the earthH776 by myself; 25That frustratethH6565 the tokensH226 of the liarsH907, and maketh divinersH7080 madH1984; that turnethH7725 wiseH2450 men backwardH268, and maketh their knowledgeH1847 foolishH5528; 26That confirmethH6965 the wordH1697 of his servantH5650, and performethH7999 the counselH6098 of his messengersH4397; that saithH559 to JerusalemH3389, Thou shalt be inhabitedH3427; and to the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, Ye shall be builtH1129, and I will raise upH6965 its decayed placesH2723: 27That saithH559 to the deepH6683, Be dryH2717, and I will dry upH3001 thy riversH5104: 28That saithH559 of CyrusH3566, He is my shepherdH7462, and he shall performH7999 all my pleasureH2656: even sayingH559 to JerusalemH3389, Thou shalt be builtH1129; and to the templeH1964, Thy foundation shall be laidH3245.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER. (Isa. 44:1-28)
Yet--Though thou hast sinned, yet hear God's gracious promise as to thy deliverance.
chosen-- (
Isa 41:8).
2 (
Isa 43:1,
Isa 43:7).
formed . . . from . . . womb--(So
Isa 44:24;
Isa 49:1,
Isa 49:5). The sense is similar to that in
Isa 1:2, "I have nourished and brought up children."
Jesurun--A diminutive term of endearment applied to Israel. The full title of affection was Israelun; contracted it became Jeshurun, with an allusion to the Hebrew root, jashar, "upright," "perfect" (see on
Isa 42:19, note on "He that is perfect") [GESENIUS], (
Deut 32:15).
3 (
Isa 41:18).
him . . . thirsty--rather, "the land" (
Isa 35:6-
Isa 35:7), figuratively for man thirsting after righteousness (
Matt 5:6).
floods--the abundant influences of the Holy Spirit, stronger than "water."
spirit--including all spiritual and temporal gifts, as the parallel, "blessing," proves (
Isa 11:2;
Isa 32:15).
seed-- (
Isa 59:21).
4 they--thy "seed" and "offspring" (
Isa 44:3).
as among--needlessly inserted in English Version. Rather, "The seed shall spring up as willows among the grass beside canals of water" [HORSLEY]. Or, "They shall spring up among the grass (that is, luxuriantly; for what grows in the midst of grass grows luxuriantly) as willows by the water-courses," which makes the parallel clauses better balanced [MAURER].
5 The third clause answers in parallelism to the first, the fourth to the second.
I am the Lord's-- (
Jer 50:5;
1Cor 6:19-20;
2Cor 8:5).
call himself by the name of Jacob--The Gentiles (as the result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel, the Lord's "seed," first) shall join themselves to the children of Jacob, in order to worship their God (compare
Isa 43:7;
Ps 49:11). Or, "calls," that is, invokes and celebrates the name of Jacob, attaches himself to his nation and religion [MAURER], (
Ps 24:6).
subscribe . . . hand unto . . . Lord--in solemn and public covenant, pledging himself to God's service (compare
Neh 9:38), before "witnesses" (
Heb 12:1), after the manner of a civil contract (
Jer 32:10,
Jer 32:12,
Jer 32:44). So the Christian in the sacraments [BARNES]. Literally, "shall fill his hand with letters (
Exod 32:15;
Ezek 2:10) in honor of Jehovah"; or "shall write upon his hand, I am Jehovah's" (compare
Isa 49:16;
Rev 13:16); alluding to the puncture with ink on the hand, whereby a soldier marked himself as bound to his commander; and whereby the Christians used to mark themselves with the name of Christ [LOWTH]. The former view is simpler.
surname himself . . . Israel--MAURER and GESENIUS interpret this as the Hebrew sanctions, answering to their rendering of the parallel second clause, "calls blandly (speaks in honorable terms of) the name of Israel." Retaining English Version, we must, from the Hebrew understand it thus, "Surname himself by the honorable name of Israel" (
Isa 45:4).
6 Here follows an argument for Jehovah, as the only God, and against the idols, as vanity (see on
Isa 41:4;
Isa 43:1;
Isa 43:10-
Isa 43:12).
7 Who but God can predict future events and declare also the order and time of each (see on
Isa 41:22-
Isa 41:23;
Isa 45:21)?
call--"openly proclaim" (
Isa 40:6) things to come [MAURER]. Or, "call forth" the event; command that it happen (
Isa 46:11;
Isa 48:15), [BARNES].
set . . . in order--There is no chance or confusion; all events occur in the order best fitted to subserve God's plans.
for me--It is FOR GOD that all things exist and take place (
Rev 4:11). But MAURER translates, "Let him set it forth (
Job 37:19) to me."
since . . . ancient people--I have given the Jews predictions of the future ever since I appointed them as My people in ancient times; therefore they were qualified to be His witnesses (
Isa 44:8). As to their being God's "ancient (everlasting) people," see
Deut 32:7-
Deut 32:9;
Jer 31:3; the type of the redeemed Church (
Eph 1:4).
8 be afraid--literally, "be astounded," or "distracted with fear."
from that time--namely, from the time that "I appointed the ancient people" (
Isa 44:7). From the time of Abraham's call, his family were the depositories of the predictions of the Redeemer, whereas the promise of Cyrus was not heard of till Isaiah's time; therefore, the event to the prediction and accomplishment of which God appeals in proof of His sole Godhead, is the redemption of man by a descendant of Abraham, in whose person "the ancient people" was first formally "appointed." The deliverance of the Jews, by Cyrus, is mentioned afterwards only as an earnest of that greater mercy [HORSLEY].
no God--Hebrew, tsur, "rock" (
Deut 32:4); that is, a stronghold to take refuge in, and a solid foundation to build on.
9 (
Isa 40:18,
Isa 40:20;
Isa 41:29).
delectable things--the idols in which they take such pride and delight.
not profit-- (
Hab 2:18).
they are their own witnesses--contrasted with, "Ye are My witnesses" (
Isa 44:8). "They," that is, both the makers and the idols, are witnesses against themselves, for the idols palpably see and know nothing (
Ps 115:4-
Ps 115:8).
that they may be ashamed--the consequence deducible from the whole previous argument, not merely from the words immediately preceding, as in
Isa 28:13;
Isa 36:12. I say all this to show that they are doomed to perish with shame, which is their only fitting end.
10 Who . . . ?--Sarcastic question: "How debased the man must be who forms a god!" It is a contradiction in terms. A made god, worshipped by its maker (
1Cor 8:4)!
11 his fellows--the associates of him who makes an idol; or of the idol (see
Deut 7:26;
Ps 115:8;
Hos 4:17).
they are of men--They are mortal men themselves; what better, then, can the idol be than its maker?
gathered together . . . stand up--as in a court of justice, to try the issue between God and them (see on
Isa 41:1;
Isa 41:21).
yet--wrongly inserted in English Version. The issue of the trial shall be, "they shall fear," &c.
12 tongs--rather, "prepareth (to be supplied) an axe," namely, with which to cut down the tree designed as the material of the idol. The "smith" (Hebrew, "workman in iron") here answers to the "carpenter" (Hebrew, "workman in wood"). "He worketh it (the axe, not the idol, which was wood, not metal) in the coals," &c. The axe was wrought, not cast. The smith makes the axe for the carpenter.
hungry . . . drinketh no water--so eager is he to expedite his work while the iron is hot. If the god were worth anything, it would not let him grow "faint" with hunger and thirst. Williams, the missionary, states that the South Sea islanders when they make an idol abstain from food and drink.
13 After the smith's work in preparing the instruments comes the carpenter's work in forming the idol.
rule--rather, "line" [BARNES].
with a line--rather, a "pencil," [HORSLEY]. Literally, "red ochre," which he uses to mark on the wood the outline of the figure [LOWTH]. Or best, the stylus or graver, with which the incision of the outline is made [GESENIUS].
planes--rather, "chisels" or "carving tools," for a plane would not answer for carving.
compass--from a Hebrew root, "to make a circle"; by it, symmetry of form is secured.
according to . . . beauty of a man--irony. The highest idea the heathen could form of a god was one of a form like their own. JEROME says, "The more handsome the statue the more august the god was thought." The incarnation of the Son of God condescends to this anthropomorphic feeling so natural to man, but in such a way as to raise man's thoughts up to the infinite God who "is a spirit."
that it may remain in . . . house--the only thing it was good for; it could not hear nor save (compare Wisdom 13:15).
14 Description of the material out of which the idol is formed.
cypress--rather, from Hebrew root, "to be hard," the holm oak," an evergreen abundant in Palestine [GESENIUS].
strengtheneth--literally, "and he getteth strength to himself in the trees of the forest;" that is, he layeth in a great store of timber [LOWTH]. Or, "chooseth," as "madest strong for thyself," that is, hast chosen (
Ps 80:15,
Ps 80:17) [GESENIUS]. But English Version gives a good sense: "strengtheneth"; that is, rears to maturity; a meaning suitable also to the context of
Ps 80:15,
Ps 80:17, where Israel is compared to a vine planted by Jehovah [MAURER].
rain doth nourish it--Though the man planted the tree, yet he could not make it grow. In preparing to make an idol, he has to depend on the true God for rain from heaven (
Jer 14:22).
15 The same tree that furnishes the material for the god is in part used as fuel for a fire to cook his meals and warm himself!
thereto--rather, "he falleth down before them," that is, such images [MAURER].
16 part . . . part--not distinct parts, but the same part of the wood (compare
Isa 44:17).
eateth--that is, cooks so as to eat (
Isa 44:19).
I have seen--I feel its power.
18 he, &c.--God hath given them over to judicial blindness; not His direct physical, but His providential agency in administering His moral government, is meant (
Isa 6:9-
Isa 6:10). "Shut," literally, "daubed," plastered up; it is an Eastern custom in some cases to seal up the eyes of offenders.
19 considereth--literally, "layeth it to heart," (
Isa 42:25;
Jer 12:11).
abomination--the scriptural term for an idol, not merely abominable, but the essence of what is so, in the eyes of a jealous God (
1Kgs 11:5,
1Kgs 11:7).
20 feedeth on ashes--figuratively, for the idolater delights in what is vain (
Pro 15:14;
Hos 12:1). "Feedeth on wind." There is an allusion, perhaps, also, to the god being made of a tree, the half of which was reduced to ashes by fire (
Isa 44:15-
Isa 44:17); the idol, it is implied, was no better, and could, and ought, to have been reduced to ashes like the other half.
deceived heart--The heart and will first go astray, then the intellect and life (
Rom 1:28;
Eph 4:18).
lie in . . . right hand--Is not my handiwork (the idol) a self-deceit?
21 Remember--"Be not like the idolaters who consider not in their heart" (
Isa 44:19).
these--things just said as to the folly of idol-worship.
my servant--not like the idolaters, slaves to the stock of a tree (
Isa 44:19). See
Isa 44:1-
Isa 44:2.
thou . . . not . . . forgotten of me--Therefore thou oughtest to "remember" Me.
22 blotted out--the debt of thy sin from the account-book in which it was entered (
Exod 32:32-
Exod 32:33;
Rev 20:12).
as a thick cloud--scattered away by the wind (
Ps 103:12).
as a cloud--a descending gradation. Not only the "thick cloud" of the heavier "transgressions," but the "cloud" ("vapor" [LOWTH], not so dense, but covering the sky as a mist) of the countless "sins." These latter, though not thought much of by man, need, as much as the former, to be cleared away by the Sun of righteousness; else they will be a mist separating us from heaven (
Ps 19:12-
Ps 19:13;
1John 1:7-9).
return . . . for--The antecedent redemption is the ground of, and motive to, repentance. We do not repent in order that He may redeem us, but because He hath redeemed us (
Zech 12:10;
Luke 24:47;
Acts 3:18-
Acts 3:19). He who believes in his being forgiven cannot but love (
Luke 7:43,
Luke 7:47).
23 Call to inanimate nature to praise God; for it also shall share in the coming deliverance from "the bondage of corruption" (
Rom 8:20-
Rom 8:21).
done it--effected redemption for both the literal and spiritual Israel.
lower parts, &c.--antithetical to "heavens"; "mountains," "forest," and "tree," are the intermediate objects in a descending gradation (see
Ps 96:11-
Ps 96:12).
24 Confirmation of His promises to the Church and Israel, by various instances of His omnipotence; among these the restoration of the Jews by Cyrus.
alone--literally, "Who was with Me?" namely, when I did it; answering to "by Myself," in the parallel clause (compare similar phrases,
Hos 8:4;
John 5:30) [MAURER].
25 tokens--prognostics; the pretended miracles whiten they gave as proofs of their supernatural powers.
liars-- (
Jer 50:36). Conjurers; or, astrologers; men leading a retired contemplative life in order to study divination by the signs of the stars [VITRINGA].
backward--with shame at their predictions not being verified. "To turn away the face" is to frustrate defeat (
Isa 36:9;
1Kgs 2:15). The "wise men" are the diviners who, when Babylon was attacked by Cyrus, predicted his overthrow.
26 servant--in a collective sense, for the prophets in general, who foretold the return from Babylon; answering to "His messengers" (plural, in the parallel clause) [MAURER]. Antitypically, and ultimately, Messiah, who is the consummating embodiment of all the prophets and messengers of God (
Mal 3:1;
Matt 21:34,
Matt 21:36-
Matt 21:37;
John 10:36); hence the singular, "His servant."
counsel--predictions; prophets' counsels concern the future (compare "counsellor,"
Isa 41:28).
Jerusalem--regarded prophetically, as lying in ruins.
27 Referring to the Euphrates, which was turned into a different channel, close to Babylon, by Cyrus, who thereby took the city. "The deep" is applied to Euphrates as "sea" (
Jer 51:32,
Jer 51:36). "Rivers" refers to the artificial canals from the Euphrates made to irrigate the country; when it was turned off into a different bed (namely, a lake, forty miles square, which was originally formed to receive the superfluous water in an inundation), the canals became dry.
28 my shepherd--type of Messiah (
Isa 40:11;
Ps 23:1;
Ps 77:20;
Ezek 34:23).
all my pleasure--so Messiah (
Isa 42:1;
Isa 53:10). This is the first time Cyrus is named expressly; and that, a hundred fifty years before the time when in 550 B.C. he began his reign. The name comes from the Persian khorschid, "the sun"; kings often taking their names from the gods; the sun was worshipped as a god in Persia.
saying--rather, "and that saith"; construed with God, not with Cyrus. God's word is instantaneously efficient in accomplishing His will.
to . . . to--or, "of Jerusalem . . . of the temple," as previously, the same Hebrew word is translated, "of Cyrus" [BARNES]. English Version is more graphic. Cyrus, according to JOSEPHUS, heard of this prophecy of Isaiah delivered so long before; hence he was induced to do that which was so contrary to Oriental policy, to aid in restoring the captive Jews and rebuilding their temple and city.
