Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction [are] in their paths.
7. their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity (or evil)] corresponding to their deeds, Isa 59:6.
wasting and destruction ] as ch. Isa 51:19, Isa 60:18; an alliteration in the Hebr.
in their paths ] Lit. in their highways, cf. Pro 16:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7, 8. Cf. Pro 1:16; Rom 3:15-17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Their feet run to evil – In accordance with the design of the prophet to show the entireness of their depravity, he states that all their members were employed in doing evil. In Isa 59:3-6. he had remarked that depravity had extended to their hands, their fingers, their lips, and their tongue; he here states that their feet also were employed in doing evil. Instead of treading the paths of righteousness, and hastening to execute purposes of mercy and justice, they were employed in journeyings to execute plans of iniquity. The words run, and make haste, are designed to intimate the intensity of their purpose to do wrong. They did not walk slowly; they did not even take time to deliberate; but such was their desire of wrong-doing, that they hastened to execute their plans of evil. People usually walk slowly and with a great deal of deliberation when any good is to be done; they walk rapidly, or they run with haste and alacrity when evil is to be accomplished. This passage is quoted by the apostle Paul Rom 3:15, and is applied to the Jews of his own time as proof of the depraved character of the entire nation.
They make haste to shed innocent blood – No one can doubt that this was the character of the nation in the time of Manasseh (see the Introduction, Section 3). It is not improbable that the prophet refers to the bloody and cruel reign of this prince. That it was also the character of the nation when Isaiah began to prophesy is apparent from Isa 1:15-21.
Their thoughts – That is, their plans and purposes are evil. It is not merely that evil is done, but they intended that it should be done. They had no plan for doing good; and they were constantly laying plans for evil.
Wasting – That is, violence, oppression, destruction. It means that the government was oppressive and tyrannical; and that it was the general character of the nation that they were regardless of the interests of truth and righteousness.
And destruction – Margin, Breaking. The word commonly means breaking or breach; then a breaking down, or destruction, as of a kingdom Lam 2:11; Lam 3:47; or of individuals Isa 1:28. Here it means that they broke down or trampled on the rights of others.
Are in their paths – Instead of marking their ways by deeds of benevolence and justice, they could be tracked by cruelty and blood. The path of the wicked through the earth can be seen usually by the desolations which they make. The path of conquerors can be traced by desolated fields, and smouldering ruins, and forsaken dwelling-places, and flowing blood; and the course of all the wicked can be traced by the desolations which they make in their way.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 59:7
Their feet run to evil
A picture of moral corruption
This verse and the first part of the following have been interwoven by Paul, in Rom 3:15-17, into his description of universal moral corruption.
The representation of life as a road, and of ones mode of action as a manner of walking, is a common feature in gnomic compositions, where its terminology has been fully developed. From the beginning of verse 7, one may perceive that steadfast believers, during the exile, were persecuted even to death by their fellow-countrymen who had forgotten God. The verbs run and hasten depict the delight felt in wickedness, when the conscience is completely asleep. (F. Delitzsch, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Their feet run to evil: this seems to be taken from Pro 1:16. See Poole “Pro 1:16“. He had spoken of their hands, lips, and heart, &c. before, and now of their feet, to show that they were wholly set upon mischief.
Their thoughts, i.e. their heart and mind, is set upon doing wrong and injury; they not only do evil, but do it deliberately. You have the wicked described by this kind of working of their thoughts, Psa 64:6; they meditate on little or nothing else.
Wasting and destruction are in their paths; a metaphor put for the behaviours and carriages of men; in what way or work soever they are engaged, it all tends to ruin and destruction. A metaphor taken from an overspreading torrent, or sweeping plague, or beasts of prey, that tear and devour whatsoever comes in their way.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. feetAll theirmembers are active in evil; in Isa59:3, the “hands, fingers, lips, and tongue,” arespecified.
run . . . haste (Ro3:15). Contrast David’s “running and hasting” in theways of God (Psa 119:32; Psa 119:60).
thoughtsnot merelytheir acts, but their whole thoughts.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Their feet run to evil,…. Make haste to commit all manner of sin, and particularly that which follows, with great eagerness and swiftness, taking delight and pleasure therein, and continuing in it; it is their course of life. The words seem to be taken out of Pr 1:16 and are quoted with the following by the Apostle Paul, Ro 3:15 to prove the general corruption of mankind:
and they make haste to shed innocent blood: in wars abroad or at home, in quarrels and riots, or through the heat of persecution; which if it does not directly touch men’s lives, yet issues in the death of many that fall under the power of it; and which persecutors are very eager and hasty in the prosecution of. The phrase fitly describes their temper and conduct:
their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity: their thoughts are continually devising things vain and sinful in themselves, unprofitable to them, and pernicious to others: their thoughts, words, and actions being evil; their tongue, lips, hands, and feet being employed in sin, show their general depravity:
wasting and destruction are in their paths: they waste and destroy all they meet with in their ways, their fellow creatures and their substance; and the ways they walk in lead to ruin and destruction, which will be their portion for evermore.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This evil doing of theirs rises even to hatred, the very opposite of that love which is well-pleasing to God. “Their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness; wasting and destruction are in their paths.” Paul has interwoven this passage into his description of the universal corruption of morals, in Rom 3:15-17. The comparison of life to a road, and of a man’s conduct to walking, is very common in proverbial sayings. The prophet has here taken from them both his simile and his expressions. We may see from Isa 59:7, that during the captivity the true believers were persecuted even to death by their countrymen, who had forgotten God. The verbs and (the proper reading, with m etheg, not m unach, under the ) depict the pleasure taken in wickedness, when the conscience is thoroughly lulled to sleep.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
7. Their feet run to evil. In various ways he paints to us the picture of what may be called extreme wickedness; that is, when men, having shaken off and cast away from them the fear of God, throw themselves into every kind of wickedness, and break out into all cruelty, extortion, and outrage. He says that they run, because they are eager and hasten with excessive keenness to evil actions. Having formerly spoken of the “hands” and the “tongues,” he likewise adds the feet, in order to show that they are proficients (135) in every kind of villainy, and that there is no part of their body that is entirely free from crime. Some are violent, but restrain their tongues. (136) Others resemble harpies, but are satisfied with the first prey that they meet with. But the Prophet says that his countrymen are swift of foot for committing robberies. (137)
Wasting and destruction are in their paths. He means that, wherever they go, they will resemble wild beasts, which seize and devour whatever they meet with, and leave nothing behind, so that, by their terrific onset, they drive away every kind of animals from venturing to approach to them. Pliny makes use of the same comparison, when speaking of Domitian, whose arrival was like that of a savage beast. The same thing happens with other violent men, whom all avoid as wild beasts. And in this manner their ways are rendered desolate and solitary, when none have any intercourse with them.
(135) “ Maistres passez.” “Acknowledged masters.”
(136) “ Mais c’est sans parler.” “But it is without speaking.
(137) “ Pour piller et brigander.” “For thieving and higbwayrobbery.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Their feet run to evil.Note the parallelisms, entirely after the manner of Isaiah, with Pro. 1:16; Pro. 16:17. So the four words paths, goings, ways, and paths (another word in the Hebrew) are all from the same book.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7, 8. Before this, depravity had involved hands, fingers, lips, tongue; now the feet are added.
Make haste Running and making “haste” to do evil. To indicate further degrees in depravity, citations are made from Pro 1:16; and in both verses Paul (Rom 3:15-17) finds a fitting citation for utter depravity. Not only things they touch and speak of are polluted, but their ways are made crooked for working greater lengths of destruction. Corresponding retribution follows.
Way of peace they know not No peace do they have; no judgment, or, better, no sense of right, is in their goings; that is, along their whole pathway of life.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts [are] thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction [are] in their paths.
Ver. 7. Their feet run to evil, &c. ] They trot apace toward hell; they take long strides, as if they feared lest hell should be full before they come thither.
And they make haste to shed innocent blood.
Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
a A Lapide.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Their feet = They. Feet being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for the whole person. Quoted in Rom 3:15, Rom 3:16.
evil. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
innocent blood. Reference to Pentateuch. Only here in Isaiah; five times in Deuteronomy (Isa 19:10, Isa 19:13; Isa 19:21, Isa 19:8, Isa 19:9).
paths = highways. See note on Isa 7:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
feet: Pro 1:16, Pro 6:17, Rom 3:15
and they: Isa 59:3, Jer 22:17, Lam 4:13, Eze 9:9, Eze 22:6, Mat 23:31-37, Rev 17:6
their thoughts: Pro 15:26, Pro 24:9, Mar 7:21, Mar 7:22, Act 8:20-22
wasting: Isa 60:18, Rom 3:16
destruction: Heb. breaking
Reciprocal: Deu 19:10 – General 2Sa 17:1 – I will arise Psa 10:4 – thoughts Psa 14:3 – all gone Psa 55:11 – deceit Psa 59:4 – run Pro 6:18 – feet Pro 12:6 – words Ecc 4:1 – and considered Isa 65:2 – which Jer 2:34 – Also Jer 6:19 – even Jer 7:6 – and shed Jer 19:4 – filled Jer 41:7 – slew Eze 7:23 – for Eze 18:7 – hath spoiled Mic 7:2 – they all Mat 2:16 – and slew Mat 15:19 – evil Joh 13:30 – went Act 23:15 – that he 2Co 10:5 – every thought
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 59:7-8. Their feet run to evil This seems to be taken from Pro 1:16; where see the note. He had spoken of their hands, fingers, lips, tongues, &c., before, and now he speaks of their feet, to show that they were wholly set upon mischief. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity Their minds and hearts are wholly set upon committing wickedness, and doing injuries: they not only do evil, but do it deliberately. Wasting and destruction are in their paths In what way or work soever they are engaged, it all tends to ruin and destruction. It is a metaphor taken from an overspreading torrent, or sweeping plague, or from beasts of prey, that tear and devour whatever comes in their way. The way of peace they know not They live in continual contentions and discords, and break in pieces the very bonds of society. And there is no judgment No justice, equity, faith, or integrity, which are the foundation of judgment; in their goings In their conduct or actions. They have made them crooked paths They have turned aside from the way of Gods commandments, which are a plain and straight way, into the crooked and winding paths of craft, subtlety, and selfishness. Whosoever goeth therein shall know no peace Shall experience none. Whosoever shall do as they do, and be turbulent and perverse as they are, will have as little peace within, or happiness without, as they have.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Instead of running from evil, God’s people were running to it, even hastily shedding innocent blood to secure their ends (cf. Rom 3:15-17). Again Isaiah used "way" to describe the moral life. Their hands and feet only manifested what was in their hearts, however. Their imaginations and thought processes were corrupt. All human ways are utterly futile apart from the Lord’s intervention. Note the repetition of "iniquity" four times in Isa 59:3-4; Isa 59:6-7.
"His highways are peace and redemption (Isa 11:16; Isa 19:23; Isa 35:8; Isa 40:3; Isa 49:11; Isa 62:10), but the human highways are destruction and confusion (Isa 7:3; Isa 33:8; Isa 36:2; Isa 59:7). In his way there is guidance and confidence (Isa 2:3; Isa 30:12), but in our ways there is discord and strife (Isa 3:12; Isa 8:11; Isa 57:17; Isa 65:2)." [Note: Oswalt, The Book . . . 40-66, p. 516.]