Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 41:20
That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
20. The ultimate object of this miracle is the demonstration of the creative power of the true God; see ch. Isa 40:5, Isa 55:13. The verse seems to shew that the previous description is not merely figurative, but that an actual physical transformation of the desert is contemplated.
That they (men in general) may consider ] Lit. “lay (to heart),” a common ellipsis. together binds the four verbs of the sentence.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That they – The Jews, the people who shall be rescued from their long captivity, and restored again to their own land. So rich and unexpected would be the blessings – as if in a pathless desert the most beautiful and refreshing trees and fountains should suddenly spring up – that they would have the fullest demonstration that they came from God.
Hath created it – That is, all this is to be traced to him. In the apocryphal book of Baruch there is an expression respecting the return from Babylon remarkably similar to that which is used here by Isaiah: Even the woods and every sweet-smelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God Isa 5:8.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. And consider] The verb yasimu, without leb added, cannot signify to apply the heart, or to attend to a thing, as Houbigant has observed; he therefore reads yashshemu, they shall wonder. The conjecture is ingenious; but it is much more probable that the word leb is lost out of the text; for all the ancient versions render the phrase to the same sense, as if it were fully expressed, yasimu leb; and the Chaldee renders it paraphrastically, yet still retaining the very words in his paraphrase, vishavvun dechalti al lebehon, “that they may put my fear in their heart.” See also Isa 41:22, where the same phrase is used.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That they may see; or, that men may see; for it is an indefinite expression. The sense is, that all that see this wonderful change may consider it, and may know that this is the work of God alone.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. considerliterally, “layit (to heart)”; turn (their attention) to it. “They”refers to all lands (Isa 41:1;Psa 64:9; Psa 40:3).The effect on the Gentiles of God’s open interposition hereafter inbehalf of Israel shall be, they shall seek Israel’s God (Isa 2:3;Zec 8:21-23).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,…. Not the nations of the world, as Kimchi; but rather, as Aben Ezra, the poor and needy; who in all this, by subduing kingdoms and states, their enemies, supplying their wants when in the greatest distress, and in a marvellous manner, and converting sinners, might easily perceive, and so frankly own and acknowledge, as well as lay it to heart, and lay it up in their minds, and get understanding from it:
that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it; for the things before said to be done carry in them plain marks of the hand of the Lord, and are as clear proofs of his almighty power, as what was done in the creation of all things; such as a worm to be made a threshing instrument, to beat down mountains and hills, kingdoms and states, and make them as chaff; rivers to be opened in high places, and all manner of excellent trees to be planted in a wilderness; and indeed the work of conversion is a creation work; men are by it made new creatures, and are manifestly the workmanship of the hand of God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
20. Therefore let them see and know. While God leads us by all his works to adore him, yet when the restoration of his Church is the matter in question, his wonderful power is manifested, so as to constrain all to admire him. As we have seen elsewhere, and as he will afterwards repeat frequently, when he brought back his people from banishment, he gave a proof fitted for being remembered in all ages, as he declares in this passage that he will do. But because we are either sluggish or careless in considering his works, and because they quickly pass away from our view in consequence of our giving so little attention to them, he repeats the same statement in many forms. We give our attention to vain and useless matters, instead of admiring these works of God; and if at any time they excite our admiration, yet we quickly forget them, because we are speedily led aside to different and very unimportant matters. The Prophet therefore arouses us, in order to shake off our slothfulness, and to quicken and direct all our senses to understand the power of God. On this account he places in the first rank looking, which produces certain knowledge, and next adds thought, which more fully and abundantly confirms the knowledge.
It is uncertain whether the Prophet speaks of the Jews, who were the citizens of the Church, or of foreigners; but in my opinion we may view it as having a general meaning, that in the restoration of the Church the hand of God will be visible even to very remote Gentiles, so that all shall be constrained to admire the work of God. Yet it is certain that the Persians and Medes, after having conquered the Jews, were singularly astonished when they heard those passages from the prophets:, and especially when they beheld the accomplishment of them before their eyes; for they knew that such things could not be performed by men, though they were not converted to God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) That they may see.The outward blessings, yet more the realities of which they are the symbols, are given to lead men to acknowledge Him who alone would be the giver.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Ver. 20. That they may see, and know, and consider. ] Heb., Lay. Lay it upon their heart, which natural men are very hardly drawn to do. The best are so backward, that an Ezekiel may hear, “Son of man, behold with thine eye, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall show thee,” &c., Eze 40:4 and Haggai calleth upon the good people of his time to “consider” and better “consider.” Hag 1:5 ; Hag 1:7
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton for emphasis.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 43:7-13, Isa 43:21, Isa 44:23, Isa 45:6-8, Isa 66:18, Exo 9:16, Num 23:23, Job 12:9, Psa 109:27, Eph 2:6-10, 2Th 1:10
Reciprocal: Isa 1:4 – the Holy Isa 43:10 – that ye Isa 60:13 – The glory Heb 3:1 – consider Rev 3:7 – he that is holy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel {q} hath created it.
(q) That is, has appointed and determined that it will come to pass.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord would do this so the afflicted and the needy (Isa 41:17), His people, would reflect and learn that their God had done a powerful creative work for them.
"The righteous God of Isa 8:13 and the Redeemer of Isa 8:14-17 is now the Creator (Isa 8:20), transforming his creation (Isa 8:18-19) for the benefit of his needy ones (Isa 8:17)." [Note: Motyer, p. 314.]