Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 66:4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.
4. delusions ] Perhaps insults; see on ch. Isa 3:4. Cheyne renders expressively “freaks of fortune,” remarking, “the word is very peculiar: it represents calamity under the figure of a petulant child.”
their fears ] i.e. “that which they fear,” and strive to avert by their magical rites.
because when I called &c. ] Repeated from ch. Isa 65:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I also will choose their delusions – Margin, Devices. The Hebrew word rendered here delusions and devices ( taalulym) properly denotes petulance, sauciness; and then vexation, adverse destiny, from alal, to do, to accomplish, to do evil, to maltreat. It is not used in the sense of delusions, or devices; and evidently here means the same as calamity or punishment. Compare the Hebrew in Lam 1:22. Lowth and Noyes render it, Calamities; though Jerome and the Septuagint understand it in the sense of illusions or delusions; the former rendering it, Illusiones, and the latter empaigmata – delusions. The parallelism requires us to understand it of calamity, or something answering to fear, or that which was dreaded; and the sense undoubtedly is, that God would choose out for them the kind of punishment which would be expressive of his sense of the evil of their conduct.
And will bring their fears upon them – That is, the punishment which they have so much dreaded, or which they had so much reason to apprehend.
Because when I called – (See the notes at Isa 65:12).
But they did evil before mine eyes – (See the notes at Isa 65:3).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 66:4
I also will choose their delusions
Sin and penalty
I.
THE OFFENCE. Impenitence, aggravated transgression, wilful contempt.
II. THE PUNISHMENT. Delusion, fear, ruin. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
They had made their choice, they chose not the ways of God, but their own ways, that which God delighted not in, as in the latter part of this verse; therefore (saith God) I will also choose their delusions, or illusions, or devices. Montanus translates it, ad inventionibus; it is a noun derived from a word which signifies to speak childishly or corruptly; the word in this form is only used in this text, and in 1Sa 25:3; it signifies studies, or works, Psa 12:4; Isa 3:4; Hos 4:9. It is an ordinary thing for God thus generally to declare his justice against men, that he will deal with sinners as they deal with him; so Psa 18:25,26; Le 26:27,28; Jer 34:17; Pro 1:24,28. The meaning is, I will be no kinder to them than they have been to me; they have chosen to mock and delude me, I will choose to suffer them to delude themselves; or they have chosen to work wickedness, I will choose the effect. Their fears; that is, (say some,) the things which they feared, and did these things to avoid, as Jer 42:16; Eze 11:8. Others by their fears choose rather to understand such terrors and affrightments as are natural to men upon the prospect of great evils, as. Lev 20:4; as God in mercy delivereth his people from their fears, Psa 34:4; so in judgment he causeth fears as a great judgment to possess sinners, Lev 26:16; Deu 28:66.
Because when I called, none did answer; because when by my prophets I exhorted you to your duty, very few yielded obedience: see Pro 1:24; Isa 65:12; Jer 7:13.
When I spake, they did not hear: hearing here signifieth hearkening or obeying; not hearing is expounded by doing evil, and choosing that wherein God delighted not. God accounts that those do not hear who do not obey his will.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. delusions (2Th2:11), answering to “their own ways” (Isa66:3; so Pr 1:31). However,the Hebrew means rather “vexations,” “calamities,”which also the parallelism to “fears” requires; “choosetheir calamities” means, “choose the calamitieswhich they thought to escape by their own ways.”
their fearsthe thingsthey feared, to avert which their idolatrous “abominations”(Isa 66:3) were practised.
I called . . . none . . .answer(See on Isa 65:12;Isa 65:24; Jer7:13).
did . . . chosenotonly did the evil deed, but did it deliberately as a matter ofchoice (Ro 1:32). “Theychose that in which I delighted not”; therefore, “Iwill choose” that in which they delight not, the”calamities” and “fears” which they were mostanxious to avert.
before mine eyes(Seeon Isa 65:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I also will choose their delusions,…. Suffer them to approve and make choice of such persons that should delude and deceive them; as the Scribes and Pharisees, who were wolves in sheep’s clothing, and through their appearance of sanctity deceived many, and by their long prayers devoured widows’ houses; and as these false prophets, so likewise false Christs, many of which arose after the true Messiah was come, and was rejected by them, whom they embraced, and, by whom they were deluded and ruined, Mt 7:15
and will bring their fears upon them; the things they feared; such as the sword, famine, and pestilence; and especially the Romans, who, they feared, would come and take away their place and nation, Joh 11:48:
because, when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear; that is, when Christ called unto the Jews, in the external ministry of the word, to come and hear him, they refused to come, nor would they suffer others to answer to this call, and hear him, and attend on his ministry; which rejection of him and his Gospel was the cause of their ruin:
but they did evil before mine eyes; openly and publicly to his face; blasphemed and contradicted his word, and despised his ordinances: and chose that in which I delighted not; their oral law, their legal sacrifices, and their own self-righteousness, as well as their immoralities.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. I also will choose their delusions. (220) The Prophet means that the Jews gain nothing by holding out various and plausible pretences and by searching for excuses; because God does not care for the cunning or fine speeches of men. And indeed it is not proper to measure God by our own capacity, and we ought not to depend on human judgment; but it is our duty to judge of the works of God from his word. I will choose; that is, “I will scatter the clouds which they endeavor to spread over themselves, so that their delusions shall be manifest and visible to all; for now they appear to be hidden, but one day they shall be dragged forth to public view.” The meaning may be thus summed up. “Because the Jews have indulged so freely in sinning that everything which they chose was preferred by them to the command ments of God, so also, in his turn, God will lay open their delusions at his pleasure.”
And will bring upon them their terror. (221) Under the word “terror” he repeats the same thing, according to the custom of Hebrew writers. “I will cause them to know that they have fallen into a mistake, and that the terrors which they indulged shall fall on their own heads. (222) Thus their excuses or hypocritical pretences will be of no avail for confounding truth and falsehood and veiling superstitions; because the Lord will clearly distinguish between them.
Because I called. The Prophet again condemns the Jews for obstinacy, in not having suffered the Lord to correct them. This is the only remedy that remains for correcting our vices, that we hear the Lord speaking, when he endeavors to bring us back into the right way; but when we sear and harden our hearts, it is the worst of all evils. Whenever therefore men prefer their own inventions to the ordinances and commandments of God, they openly despise God, to whose will they ought to have yielded. This is especially the case when there is added such obstinate hardness of heart as shuts the door against holy warnings, and it is vain for them to allege that they cannot displease God by doing that which they undertake for the purpose of worshipping him; for all that men, by neglecting the word, choose and follow, the Lord rejects and abhors.
Before mine eyes. He repeats what he had formerly said, that the Jews sinned in the sight of God, as if they had resolved to provoke him to anger. At length he adds their manner of doing so, that, with perverse desire, they sought what God had forbidden; nor is it without good reason that he so frequently censures the wicked insolence of men, in defrauding God of his right, by treating contemptuously what he approves.
(220) “‘That I may mock them.’ Here the word תעלוליהם (tagnalulehem) means להתעולל בם, (lehithgnolel bam,), that I may mock them,’ in the same sense as the words used in another passage, כי התעללת בי, (ki hith-gnallalt bi) ‘because thou hast mocked me.’ (Num 22:29.)” — Jarchi.
(221) “ Et leur feray venir les choses qu’ils craignoyent.” “And will bring (or cause to come) upon them the things which they dreaded.”
(222) “ Je feray qu ils cognoistront avoir failli, tellement que ce qu ils craignoyent leur tombera dessus la teste.” “I will cause them to know that they have been mistaken, and that what they dreaded has fallen on their own head.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) I also will choose their delusions . . .The Hebrew noun conveys the thought of the turnings and windings of fortunewhat has been called the irony of history. These are the instruments with which God, as it were, mocks and has in derision those who mock Him by their hypocrisy. Their choice did not delight Him; what He chooses will be far other than delightful for them. (Comp. Psa. 2:4; Pro. 1:24-26.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Choose their delusions “Delusions” rather, devices consists of still offering ritual worship now that its original intent is all removed from it. The born, crucified, and risen Messiah, to whom it had pointed in its symbols and types, has taken its place.
Because From this point the language is the same as that of Isa 65:12.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.
Ver. 4. I also will choose their delusions. ] As they have had their will, so will I have mine another while. I will make them to perish by their mockeries, idque ex lege talionis. See Isa 65:11-12 . They thought to dupe me by an outside service; but it shall appear that they have duped themselves when I bring upon them mercedem multiplicis petulantiae eorum, as Piscator rendereth it, the reward of their manifold petulancies and illusions.
And will bring their fear upon them.
Because when I called, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
did = have done.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
will choose: 1Ki 22:19-23, Psa 81:12, Pro 1:31, Pro 1:32, Mat 24:24, 2Th 2:10-12
delusions: or, devices
will bring: Pro 10:24
when I called: Isa 50:2, Isa 65:12, Pro 1:24, Jer 7:13, Mat 22:2-7
they did: Isa 65:3, 2Ki 21:2, 2Ki 21:6
Reciprocal: Jdg 17:13 – General 1Sa 8:7 – Hearken Isa 57:12 – General Jer 35:17 – because Eze 11:8 – General Eze 14:4 – I the Lord Eze 14:9 – if the Eze 20:25 – I gave Zec 13:8 – two Act 7:42 – and gave Act 28:26 – Hearing 2Th 2:11 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 66:4. I also will choose their delusions I will punish them in their own way, and set those over them as teachers who shall govern them by their traditions instead of my word. Or, I will suffer false Christs and false prophets to deceive them, Mat 24:24; Joh 5:43. And I will bring their fears upon them This was exactly fulfilled when, as they crucified Christ for fear of the Romans, (Joh 11:48,) that very sin was punished with their utter destruction by the Romans. Because when I called Because when, by my servants, I called you to repentance, to bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, and to believe in my Son, your true Messiah; none did answer Very few yielded obedience. He evidently speaks of the calls to repentance, and the invitations to believe in Christ, given them by John the Baptist, Jesus himself, and his apostles and evangelists. When I spake they did not hear God accounts that those do not hear who do not obey his will.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
66:4 I also will {e} choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before my eyes, and chose [that] in which I delighted not.
(e) I will discover their wickedness and hypocrisy, with which they think to blind my eyes to all the world.