Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 49:25
But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
25. Read For instead of But, and later in the verse but instead of for.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But thus saith the Lord – The meaning of this verse is, that however difficult or impracticable this might seem to be, yet it should be done. The captives taken by the terrible and the mighty should be rescued, and should be restored to their own land.
Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away – Margin, as Hebrew, The captivity of the mighty. That which could not have been rescued by any ordinary means. The language here refers undoubtedly to Babylon, and to the captivity of the Jews there.
The prey of the terrible – Of a nation formidable, cruel, and not inclined to compassion; in the previous verse described as just, that is, indisposed to mercy.
For I will contend with him – I will punish the nation that has inflicted these wrongs on thee, and will thus rescue thee from bondage.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The prey of the terrible; or, of the violent; which is opposed to the lawful captive in the foregoing verse; and it is hereby intimated, that although God was just in delivering them into captivity, yet their oppressors were guilty of injustice and violence, both in desiring and endeavouring to keep them in perpetual bondage beyond the seventy years which God had fixed, and in their cruel usage of them.
I will contend; I the Almighty God will undertake thy quarrel and this work, and therefore it must necessarily be accomplished.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. (Isa 53:12;Psa 68:18; Col 2:15).
contend with him, &c.(Isa 54:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But thus saith the Lord,…. In answer to the above objection, being mightier than the mighty, and stronger than he by whom his people are detained, being the Almighty:
even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; or, “the prey of the violent ones” u; which is an answer both as to might and right; as to might, though they are the captives of the mighty, yet they shall be taken away from them by him that is mightier than they, even the mighty God; and as to right, they are the prey of persons that have by force and violence usurped a power over them, and therefore shall be delivered; as the Lord’s people are out of the hands of Satan; both in redemption by Christ out of the hands of him that is stronger than they; and in conversion by him who is stronger than the strong man armed; and enters into their hearts, the palace of the devil, spoils his goods, takes his armour from him, overcomes and binds him, and delivers them from his power; so that he shall not have dominion over them, and much less destroy them, though he may sometimes be terrible to them by his temptations, Jer 31:11. This will have a further accomplishment, in the deliverance of the Lord’s people from the mighty and terrible beast of Rome:
for I will contend with them that contend with thee; the Babylonians literally; Satan and his principalities figuratively; and also antichrist, and the antichristian kings and states, that quarrel with, fight against, and oppress the Lord’s people:
and I will save thy children; regenerate persons, the members of the church, be they where they will; these the Lord will save with a temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation, Deliverance from the Romish yoke and oppression seems to be here chiefly designed, when Jezebel’s children will be killed with death, as follows; see Re 2:23.
u “captura violenti”, Moutanus Junius Tremellius, Piscator “turba captiva violenti”, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25. The prey of the tyrant shall be delivered. However they may boast of having a right to govern, and glory in an empty title, the Lord declares that they are most wicked robbers, when he threatens that he will be an avenger and will snatch their prey from them. God does not overturn just dominion; and hence it follows that the dominion which they usurped over the people of God is mere robbery and wicked tyranny. Neither their arms, nor their forces, nor their warlike preparations, shall hinder the Lord from taking out of their hands an unjust possession.
Nor does this promise relate only to outward enemies and tyrants, but also to the tyranny of Satan, from which we are rescued by the wonderful power of God. True indeed, he possesses vast power, but God is far more powerful, takes away his arms and demolishes his fortresses, that he may set us at liberty. (Mat 12:29; Luk 11:22.) If therefore we have had experience of the power of God in this respect, so much the stronger reason have we for trusting that he will undoubtedly be our deliverer, whenever our enemies shall lay us under their feet and oppress us with cruel bondage.
I will contend with him that contendeth with thee. When he threatens that He will “contend” on our account, first, he reminds us to consider his power, that we may not regard the matter by human reason or by the power of men. We ought not therefore to look at what we can do or what resources we possess, but it is our duty to commit the whole matter to the disposal of God alone, who is graciously pleased to protect and defend us. Secondly, he affirms that he will be a powerful advocate, to reply to the slanders of enemies. We said, a little before, that wicked men not only are hurried along by violence and cruelty against the Church, but load her with false and calumnious charges, as if they had a right to treat her with cruelty; and therefore this consolation is highly necessary, that God will be the defender of our innocence, to scatter by his defense all the idle pretences which strengthen the audacity and fierceness of wicked men. Accordingly he again repeats, —
I will save thy children. We derive great consolation from knowing that we are united with him by so close a bond that he sets himself in opposition to all who contend with us, “blesses those who bless us, and, on the other hand, curses those who curse us,” and, in short, declares that he is the enemy of our enemies. (Gen 12:3.) Hence also it ought to be observed, that, when we are restored to liberty and life, when we are not oppressed by enemies, and, in short, when we are saved, it is not a work of man; that no one may ascribe to his own industry what God commands us to expect as an extraordinary blessing from himself alone.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) I will contend . . .The pronoun is specially emphatic. The question of Isa. 49:24 is answered in the affirmative, because Jehovah is the deliverer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Ver. 25. But thus saith the Lord. ] Here is a full answer to the former objection, as God doth usually in the Scripture frame answers to men’s thoughts; the law is spiritual and heart reaching.
And I will contend with him that contendeth with thee.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
captives = captivity. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for “captives”.
terrible = tyrant or ruthless one.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Even: Isa 10:27, Isa 52:2-5, Jer 29:10, Jer 50:17-19, Jer 50:33, Jer 50:34, Zec 9:11, Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15, 1Jo 3:8
captives: Heb. captivity
I will contend: Isa 41:11, Isa 41:12, Isa 54:15-17, Gen 12:3, Num 23:8, Num 23:9, Jer 51:35, Jer 51:36, Zec 9:13-16, Zec 12:3-6, Zec 14:3, Zec 14:12, Rom 8:31-39, Rev 18:20
I will save: Isa 54:13, Gal 4:26
Reciprocal: Lev 25:10 – proclaim Lev 25:54 – then Isa 5:29 – lay hold Isa 25:5 – shalt bring Isa 29:20 – the terrible Isa 40:10 – with strong hand Isa 45:13 – let go Isa 49:19 – they that Isa 51:23 – I will Isa 53:12 – will I Isa 59:18 – fury Isa 61:1 – to proclaim Jer 15:21 – deliver Jer 30:10 – I Jer 49:16 – terribleness Oba 1:16 – as ye Mic 2:13 – breaker Nah 2:13 – I will cut Zep 3:19 – I will undo Mar 5:15 – him that Luk 4:18 – to preach deliverance Luk 8:35 – and found Luk 11:22 – General Joh 8:36 – General Act 26:18 – and from Col 1:13 – delivered Col 2:15 – having 2Ti 2:26 – who are Rev 20:2 – he laid
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
49:25 But thus saith the LORD, {e} Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
(e) This is the answer to their objection, that no one is stronger than the Lord, neither has a more just title to them.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Yahweh replied that He would indeed save the Israelites’ descendants from their tyrannical captors even though that would be humanly impossible. He is stronger than they.