Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 60:17
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
17. For brass gold &c. ] Cf. ch. Isa 9:10; 1Ki 10:21; 1Ki 10:27, and the opposite experience, 1Ki 14:26 f.
I will also make, &c. ] Render: and I will appoint Peace as thy government, and Righteousness as thy ruler. The word for officers is an abstract noun (like “management” or “magistracy”) used in a concrete sense; exactors is a plural of majesty, precisely as in ch. Isa 3:12. Its use here is an oxymoron; it denotes a tyrannous, arbitrary ruler (see on ch. Isa 53:7), the idea conveyed being that the tyranny of the present shall be replaced by the genial rule of Righteousness. In other words, Peace and Righteousness (personified qualities, as ch. Isa 59:14) shall be the governing powers in the new Jerusalem. The other rendering, “I will make thy governors peaceful” &c. (so virtually the LXX.) is grammatically possible, but yields a sense feeble and unsatisfying.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
17, 18. The inner order and security of the commonwealth shall correspond to its material splendour, a double contrast to its present (or past) condition.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For brass I will bring gold – This commences the description of the happy times when the Gentiles should be led to embrace the true religion, and when the wealth of the world would be consecrated to the service of the true God. The idea is, that all things would be changed for the better. The golden age should come; and a change from the calamities to which reference had been made by the prophet, would take place as great as if, in all purposes of life, gold should be used where brass is commonly used; and silver where iron is commonly used; and brass where wood is used; and iron where stones are used. Calvin supposes, not improbably, that allusion is here made to the temple, and that, in describing the future glory of the church, the prophet says that the change would be as glorious as if, in all places where brass and iron and wood and stone had been used, gold and silver and brass and iron should be respectively used in their places. The Chaldee renders this, Instead of the brass which they took away from thee, O Jerusalem, I will bring gold; and instead of the iron I will bring silver; and instead of the wood, brass; and instead of the stones, iron. Jarchi, Kimchi, and Grotius, accord with this interpretation. But it is probably designed as a poetical description of the glory of the future age, and of the great changes which would take place in human society under the influence of the gospel. No one can doubt that the gospel produces these changes; and that the changes of society caused by the gospel are as beautiful and striking as though gold and silver should be substituted for brass and iron, and brass and iron for wood and stone. Such changes shall yet take place everywhere on the earth; and the world shall ye be beautified, enriched, and adorned by the prevalence of the true religion.
I will also make thy officers peace – Thy officers shall be appointed to promote peace and shall secure it. The sense is, that wars would be ended, and that universal concord and harmony would prevail in the church under the guidance of those appointed to administer to its affairs (compare Isa 2:4; Isa 9:6). The word officers, here denotes those who should be appointed to superintend the affairs of the church (from paqad), to visit, review, superintend, oversee), and refers here to all who should be appointed to rule in the church. The word itself may be applicable either to civil magistrates or to the ministers of religion. The Septuagint renders it, Archontas – Rulers, and they translate the passage, I will give thy rulers in peace en eirene).
And thine exactors – They who should exact, or collect tribute or taxes. The word from which the noun used here is derived ( nagas’), means to urge, impel, drive – hence the noun taskmaster – ergodioktes (Exo 3:7; Job 3:18); then to urge a debtor, to exact a debt; then to rule or have dominion; to appoint and exact taxes, etc. Here it refers to magistrates, and it means that they would be mild and equal in their exactions.
Righteousness – They shall not lay unequal or oppressive burdens; they shall not oppress in the collection of taxes. The idea is, that righteousness would prevail in every department of the church and the state.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 60:17
For brass I will bring gold
The kingdom of God
This passage occurs amid the glowing prophecies concerning the millennial kingdom.
It has, however, its application to the kingdom in its present state.
I. THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST RECOGNIZES DIFFERENT GRADES, QUALITIES, VALUES, USES. Each of these is most effective in its own place. We would much sooner commit ourselves to a vessel of steel than to one whose hull was made of gold. No greater calamity could happen to the world than to turn all substances into gold. In the Church variety of talent and gifts, differences of classes are essential to prosperity. God never repeats-Himself. Equality is impossible, and if possible would be disastrous.
II. ALL THINGS TAKE ON ENHANCED VALUE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. For brass I will bring gold, etc. Wherever the Church of Christ comes, instantly all things leap into higher value–property, schools, trade, institutions, government, the family, the individual. You may interrogate in just four different directions–Nature, the Rational World, Sin, the Kingdom. Nature replies: I change nothing. I furnish the ore; I cannot bring out the metal; I cant change even the place of a stone. Rational World replies: I can change the shapes, the places, the combinations of things, but I cannot change the substances. I cannot turn iron into silver, wood into brass, stones into iron. Sin rises in its black monstrosity, and says: Yes, I have power to change. I can reach up, lay my hand on the twenty-two carat gold and drag it down to silver; I can drag the silver down to brass, the brass to iron, the iron to stone, the stone to wood, the wood I can burn with the torch of hate, and scatter the ashes on the red-hot floor of hell–I can do that! Sin can drag the genius or the archangel down to the abyss of a hopeless hades. It is only the Kingdom that can say: Everything I touch shall increase in value. I can take even the devils outcasts and change them into burning seraphs.
III. THIS ENHANCEMENT OF VALUES IS BY AND THROUGH SUCCESSIVE GRADES–wood, stone, iron, brass, silver, gold. Gods method of working is by development through grades. There is no such thing as reaching perfection at a bound. It is a walk, a race–meaning steady progress by steps.
IV. THE DIVINE AGENCY IS EMPHASIZED. I will bring. Transformations in human nature are effected through Divine power and grace. (A. McE. Wylie.)
The golden age
The golden age of humanity is in the future. This age is here represented as so far excelling all future ages as gold excels brass. Morally this may include three things.
I. THAT FOR PRACTICAL ATHEISM THERE WILL BE GODLINESS.
II. THAT FOR DOMINANT MATERIALISM THERE WILL BE SPIRITUALITY.
III. THAT FOR CONTROLLING SELFISHNESS THERE WILL BE BENEVOLENCE. (Homilist.)
The wonderful exchange
This seems like a very unthrifty kind of commerce. It promises only the most speedy and utter bankruptcy. Surely one making such an offer must have great treasures, and great love. There must be a perfect confidence that there can be no exhaustion of treasure, nor any exhaustion in the delight of perpetually giving others the best end of the bargain. No one can have such confidence and feeling but God. It is God, the infinite, who proposes to give gold for brass. It is just what He is constantly doing in nature, giving out the best for the worst. God always sees and seeks the highest possible thing in every nature. And He wants us to catch His penetrative insight. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived the glories God hath prepared for those who love Him. But God is constantly trying to reveal them unto us by His Spirit. He is ever trying to give us gold for brass, and silver for iron. This ought to be good news for man. He is always willing to get the best end of a bargain. Now there are various kinds of life, and many degrees of each kind. There is what is known as physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life. Evidently there is life that is as clay, as ore, as iron, as brass, as silver, as gold. God all the time offers to every man to change his hard iron of life into brass his brass into silver, his silver into gold. How does He propose to do it? On precisely the principles that man acts in every-day life. Indeed, God has made it impossible for men to succeed at all in the life that now is, except in the laws that give success in the life to come. Just as man gives muscle for bread, or exertion of muscle that all the delights of life may be his, just as he gives a few midnights So study that he may be everlastingly wise, just as he gives self-denial that he may have exuberance of strength, just as he gives all the things that he hath, in order that he may keep his life, so God always asks your iron when He would give brass, asks your brass when He would give silver, asks your silver when He would give gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich, and have crowns of eternal glory. The trouble with men is they give their muscle for bread, but will not give iron to God for brass. I think it is a statement capable of vindication, that God does not enrich by legacy, but by exchange. Every one that is endowed is in great peril. Look at the great heroes that God has made in our history: they fill the earth and rise into the skies. Were they endowed? Not one, except with faculties; they had to develop their virtues. So in the case of all moral greatness. God gives the Conditions, the opportunities; but man must work with God. Did the human soul that Christ associated with Himself submit to this plan of development, and especially did the Son of God, begotten in holiness and perfection, submit Himself to this law that has been applied to all men? If this shall be answered in the affirmative, we must conclude that there is no other possible way to greatness and road to perfection. It is evident at first glance, that the man Christ Jesus constantly accepted this law. He was obedient to His parents, giving up His will to them. His announced principle of life was: I came not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. He gave up the riches of silver, anal for our sakes became poor. He vacated the throne of the universe and became Seryant of servants of men. The Lord of life became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. He gave up all silver, brass, iron, stones, and wood. Was there any gold in return Wherefore, because of this, God hath highly exalted Him. There can be no mistake. We see plainly the way to highest strength of character and greatest height of glory. It is not the way of present gratification, of selfishness, of the pursuit of personal and family ends, but a giving up of personal good for Gods higher good, a selling of lower for higher. Once God opened the windows of heaven and poured out water enough to drown a world. Then He takes that great deluge of abundance and makes it an emblem of the abundance of spiritual blessings.
Bring the tithes into the storehouse, the little tenths of daily gain, and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Homiletic Review.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
For brass I will bring gold: here is the effect of the former promise, Thy poverty shall be turned to riches, all things shall be altered for the best; an allusion to the days of Solomon, when gold was as brass: thus, on the contrary, when they change for the worse in the state, it useth to be expressed by the like metaphors, Isa 21; Isa 22; Isa 23.
I will also make thy officers peace, i.e. loving, meek, and peaceable; the abstract put for the concrete, as is usual, whether you understand it of under officers, they shall be officers of peace, or of governors, thou shalt have a peaceable government, as it was made good to them under Ezra, Nehemiah, Zorobabel, and such like.
And thine exactors righteousness; most righteous, as before peace for peaceable. The church is not freed from taxes and payments, that is given by Christ and Peter unto Caesar, but it shall be without oppression and grinding; no more than is necessary, and not exacted rigorously. Though all these were made good in their return out of Babylon, yet doth it more properly relate to the meliorating of the church under the gospel, wherein instead of carnal ceremonies, she had spiritual ordinances, which is the scope of the apostle, Heb 9, and larger measures of the Holy Spirit, and should have such officers as would speak peace to the consciences, by discovering the complete and perfect righteousness of him who fulfilled all righteousness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. Poetically, with figurativeallusion to the furniture of the temple; all things in that happy ageto come shall be changed for the better.
exactorsnamely, oftribute.
righteousnessAllrulers in restored Jerusalem shall not only be peaceable andrighteous, but shall be, as it were, “peace” and”righteousness” itself in their administration.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron,…. By “wood and stones” may be meant the Old Testament dispensation; by the “brass and iron” the present Gospel dispensation; and by “silver and gold” the latter day glory; by “silver” the spiritual reign of Christ in his church; and by “gold” his personal reign in the New Jerusalem; which is said to be all of pure gold, and even the very street of it, Re 21:18, now, as far as brass and iron exceed wood and stones, so far the Gospel dispensation exceeds the legal one; the one being the shadow, the other the substance; the one having carnal ordinances, which are done away; the other spiritual ones, which remain; and as far as silver and gold exceed brass and iron, so far the glory of the latter day will exceed the present state of things, in clear light, in spiritual grace and strength, in purity of doctrine and worship, in holiness of life, and in love, peace, and unity; and as far as gold exceeds silver, so far, and much more, will the personal reign of Christ, which will be perfectly glorious, exceed the spiritual one. There may be an allusion to the times of Solomon, a type of Christ, 1Ki 10:27. This, by some Jewish writers f, is applied to the times of the Messiah they yet expect. The Targum is,
“for the brass which they spoiled thee of, O Jerusalem, I will bring gold, c.”
I will also make thine officers peace civil magistrates shall be men of peaceable dispositions, who shall promote peace and unity in kingdoms, states, cities, towns, and neighbourhoods; they shall be properly justices of peace; they will answer to their office, and the title of it. Church officers or ministers of the word shall publish the Gospel of peace in the clearest manner; and the peace of God shall rule in the hearts of all the saints; there will be abundance of temporal and of spiritual peace, promoted by each of the officers of church and state; see Ps 72:7:
and thine exactors righteousness; even tax gatherers, who used to be the worst of people for injustice and oppression, these shall do nothing but what is right and just; nor will there be any reason to complain of them. The Septuagint render it “bishops” or “overseers” g, pastors of churches, who shall be truly ministers of righteousness; preach up the doctrine of justification by Christ’s righteousness; and instruct persons to live soberly, righteously, and godly.
f Caphtor Uperah, fol. 57. 2. g .
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The outward and inward beauty of the new Jerusalem is now depicted by the materials of her structure, and the powers which prevail within her. “For copper I bring gold, and for iron I bring silver, and for wood copper, and for stones iron, and make peace thy magistracy, and righteousness thy bailiffs. Injustice is no more seen in thy land, wasting and destruction in thy borders; and thou callest salvation thy walls, and renown thy gates.” Wood and stone are not used at all in the building of the new Jerusalem. Just as in the time of Solomon silver was counted as nothing (1Ki 10:21) and had only the value of stones (1Ki 10:27), so here Jehovah gives her gold instead of copper, silver instead of iron; whilst copper and iron are so despised with this superabundance of the precious metals, that they take the place of such building materials as wood and stones. Thus the city will be a massive one, and not even all of stone, but entirely built of metal, and indestructible not only by the elements, but by all kinds of foes. The allegorical continuation of the prophecy shows very clearly that the prophet does not mean his words to be taken literally. The lxx, Saad., and others, are wrong in adopting the rendering, “I make thy magistracy peace,” etc.; since shalom and ts e daqah are not accusatives of either the predicate or the object, but such personifications as we are accustomed to in Isaiah (vid., Isa 32:16-17; Isa 59:14; cf., Isa 45:8). Jehovah makes peace its p e quddah , i.e., its “overseership” (like g e bhurah , heroship, in Isa 3:25, and ezrah , helpership, in Isa 31:2), or magistracy; and righteousness its bailiffs. The plural is no disproof of the personification; the meaning is, that ts e daqah (righteousness) is to Jerusalem what the whole body of civil officers together are: that is to say, righteousness is a substitute for the police force in every form. Under such magistracy and such police, nothing is ever heard within the land, of which Jerusalem is the capital, of either c hamas , i.e., a rude and unjust attack of the stronger upon the weaker, or of shod , i.e., conquest and devastation, and shebher , i.e., dashing to pieces, or breaking in two. It has walls (Isa 60:10); but in truth “salvation,” the salvation of its God, is regarded as its impregnable fortifications. It has gates (Isa 60:11) but t e hillah , the renown that commands respect, with which Jehovah has invested it, is really better than any gate, whether for ornament or protection.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
17. For brass I will bring gold. He alludes to the building of the ancient temple, and compares it with the heavenly and spiritual temple; as if he had said, “When you shall be led into captivity, you will deplore the ruin of the temple, but I will cause you to build one far more excellent.” Thus, “for brass I will bring gold, for iron silver, for wood brass, for stones iron;” that is, everything shall be full of magnificence and splendor in that temple which shall come in place of the former.
We know that this prediction was never accomplished ill that external restoration of the people, or during the commencement of it, and even that the temple which was afterwards erected was far inferior to the former. It follows, therefore, that the Prophet, to whom a full redemption was exhibited in spirit, not only relates what shall happen immediately after the return of the people, but discourses concerning the excellence of the spiritual temple; that is, of the Church of Christ. We must, therefore, come down in uninterrupted succession to Christ, if we wish to understand this prophecy. In his reign these things were abundantly fulfilled, and the glory of the former temple was greatly surpassed; for the Lord poured out gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are more excellent than gold, silver, and jewels. We may therefore see the temple now built with precious stones, as was formerly said. (Isa 54:11)
I will make thy magistracy peace. (162) Instead of “magistracy” some render the word “tribute.” I have no doubt that the Prophet intended indirectly to compare the wretched bondage of the people under which they were to be kept, with that preeminently high rank which they afterwards obtained. With “peace” and “righteousness” he contrasts the “magistrates” who exercised unjust rule, while they were harassed by the avarice and cruelty of the Babylonians.
And thy exactors righteousness. He now shows that when their “exactors” shall have been exterminated, there will be no “magistracy” but that of “peace” and “righteousness.” “They who shall have power over thee will observe righteousness and peace.” This was more fully accomplished when, through Christ, we were delivered from the tyranny of the devil; for by the Gospel he set up a kingdom of righteousness which he has not yet completed; but we must look for his last coming so as to have our eyes eagerly fixed on it, and, in the meantime, must; be satisfied with those firstfruits.
(162) “‘And I will make thy magistracy peace;’ that is, ‘I will make thy rulers peaceful. פקדה, ( pekudah,) which evidently corresponds to the Greek word ἐπισκοπὴ, is here used by metonymy for, אנשי פקדה, ( anshe pekudah,) or בעלי פקדה, ( begnale pekudah,) those who discharge the office of magistracy, as in 2Kg 11:18, Eze 44:11. The Septuagint renders it ἄρχοντάς, ‘thy rulers,’ and the Chaldee פרנסך, ( parnasach,) ‘thy governors.’“ Rosenmuller
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) For brass I will bring gold . . . The material wealth of the days of Solomon (1Ki. 10:21-27) furnishes another element in the picture of the ideal city, but with this striking difference: that there the officers and exactors of the king had been instruments of oppression (1Ki. 12:4), while now they were to be the very embodiment of righteousness, and, in the widest sense, of peace, and, therefore, of prosperity.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. In the first part of Isa 60:17, the material of which the city is built is the allegorical subject.
For brass I will bring gold for iron silver for wood brass for stones iron In Solomon’s day (1Ki 10:21; 1Ki 10:27) civilization so rapidly advanced that in the above terms it was made a type, as here used, of advancing improvements evermore in Zion’s city. Gold in place of brass, silver in place of iron, etc., signify ever-growing preciousness in all that pertains to the temple of holy Zion. Compare Rev 21:10-21.
Thy officers peace Better, Thy magistracy shall be peace. The term characterizing it shall be “peace;” shall be, in other words, order, truth, love. These shall mark the whole of Zion’s government.
Thy exactors Not tyrants or tyranny, but justice, equity absolute.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘For bronze I will bring gold,
And for iron I will bring silver,
And for wood, bronze,
And for stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace,
And your exactors (taskmasters) righteousness,
Violence will no more be heard in your land,
Desolation or destruction within your borders,
But you will call your walls, Salvation,
And your gates, Praise.’
The catalogue of perfection for the new Jerusalem continues. Gold and silver instead of bronze and iron; bronze and iron instead of wood and stones. All will be better than it has ever been before. Peace will be its overseers and righteousness its exactors, that is it will be controlled in all things by peace and righteousness, and as they enjoy and delight in both of these, their ‘subjection’ will be their joy.
There will be no more violence, no more desolation, no more destruction. All the forces of disorder and chaos will be gone. They will be guarded by the walls of salvation, and shut in by the gates of praise (compare Isa 26:1-4). Peace, righteousness, salvation and praise will be their inheritance. A wondrous city indeed is this.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Isa 60:17. Thy officers Thine inspectors. Lowth.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
Ver. 17. For brass I will brlng gold, ] i.e., I will beautify my Church with far greater gifts of my Spirit than now. The New Jerusalem (which signifieth, say some, the state of the Church in this world), when it shall be refined to the utmost, is all of gold, and these golden times are yet to come.
Thine exactors.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
For brass. Note the correspondence (by contrast)of this verse with Isa 3:24. Compare also Isa 1:23-26.
thine exactors = thy tax-gatherers. See Luk 3:13.
righteousness = righteous. The very opposite to what they have been. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for righteous.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
brass: Isa 30:26, 1Ki 10:21-27, Zec 12:8, Heb 11:40, 2Pe 3:13
make: Isa 1:26, Isa 32:1, Isa 32:2
Reciprocal: 1Ki 6:30 – General 2Ch 1:15 – the king Psa 68:29 – shall Psa 147:14 – He maketh peace Son 8:9 – we will Isa 2:4 – neither Isa 32:18 – General Isa 61:6 – named Eze 45:8 – and my princes Mic 4:3 – neither Hag 2:8 – General Zec 12:5 – the governors 1Co 3:12 – gold Rev 21:21 – pure
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers {r} peace, and thy exactors righteousness.
(r) Your governors will love you, and seek your wealth and prosperity.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Contrasts with the present 60:17-22
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Everything will be better in Israel’s millennial future. The contrasts appear to be with regard to Zion (Isa 60:14). Peace and righteousness will be the governing principles in that city. If peace and righteousness are the slave drivers and inspectors, what will the best be? Another view is that Isaiah personified peace and righteousness as vice-regents of God, in order to indicate that human leaders would no longer be necessary. The Israelites could not produce peace and righteousness (Isa 59:9-13), but God will provide them.