Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
8 11. An appeal to history and prophecy in proof of Jehovah’s divinity.
shew yourselves men ] R.V. marg. renders “stand fast,” but neither sense is suitable in an address to “rebels.” The verb used ( hith’shsh) is unknown in Hebrew. The rendering of A.V. is based on a common view that it is a denominative from the word for “man” ( ’sh), which is grammatically untenable; that of R.V. marg. connects it with a root found in Aramaic, Assyrian and Arabic, meaning to “be firm.” Of proposed emendations the easiest is Lagarde’s, “be ye ashamed” ( hithbshsh, after Gen 2:25). Others, hithbnn, “consider” (ch. Isa 43:18).
bring it again to mind ] as ch. Isa 44:19.
O ye transgressors ] Rather rebels (Isa 48:8, Isa 53:12, Isa 66:24). From ch. Isa 45:9 onwards there seems to be a growing sense of antagonism between the prophet and at least a section of his audience (see Isa 46:12 and on Isa 48:1-11).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Remember this – Bear in mind what is now said of the manner in which idols are made. This is addressed, doubtless, to the Jews, and is designed to keep them from idolatry.
And show yourselves men – Act as men; throw away the childish trifles of idolaters. The word used here ( hithe‘oshashu’ occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It is according to Gesenius, derived from ‘ysh, a man, and means to act as a man. A similar word is used in 1Co 16:13 ( andrizesthe, from aner, a man), and is correctly rendered there, quit you like men. This Greek word often occurs in the Septuagint. It is used as a translation of ‘amats, in Jos 1:6-7, Jos 1:9, Jos 1:18; 1Ch 28:20; 2Ch 32:7; Neh 2:1; of gadal in Rth 1:12; of chazaq, in Deu 31:6-7, Deu 31:23; Jos 10:25; 2Ki 2:12; 2Ki 12:8; 1Ch 28:20, and in several other places. Jerome renders the Hebrew word here, Be confounded; the Septuagint, Stenachate) – Groan; the Syriac, Consider, or understand. The meaning is, that they were to act as became people – not as children; as became those endowed with an immortal mind, and not as the brutes. So Kimchi renders it: Be men, and not brutes, which neither consider nor understand.
O ye transgressors – Ye who have violated the laws of God by the worship of idols. In the time of Manasseh, the Israelites were much addicted to idolatry, and probably this is to be regarded as addressed to them, and as designed to recall them from it to the worship of the true God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Show yourselves men] hithoshashu. This word is rather of doubtful derivation and signification. It occurs only in this place: and some of the ancient interpreters seem to have had something different in their copies. The Vulgate read hithbosheshu, take shame to yourselves; the Syriac hithbonenu, consider with yourselves; the Septuagint perhaps hithabbelu, groan or mourn, within yourselves. Several MSS. read hithosheshu, but without any help to the sense.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Remember this, consider these things which I now speak, O ye Israelites,
and show yourselves men; act like reasonable creatures, and be not so brutish as to worship your own works; be so wise and courageous as to withstand all solicitation to idolatry.
Bring it again to mind; think of this again and again.
O ye transgressors; you who have been guilty of this foolish sin; and therefore are obliged to take the better heed that you do not relapse into it again.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. show yourselves menRenouncethe childishness of idolatry as shown in what precedes(1Co 14:20; 1Co 16:13;Eph 4:14). In order to be manlywe must be godly; for man was made “in the image of God,”and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; virtueis derived from the Latin vir, “a man.”
bring . . . to mindrather,”lay it to heart.”
transgressorsaddressedto the idolaters among the Jews.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Remember this,…. Or “these things”, as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God:
and show yourselves men; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or “be ye strong” q; so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or “burn ye” r or “be ye inflamed”, so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, “be ye confounded” s; or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired t with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors; of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.
q “roborat vos”, Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word. r Ardete, “comburite vos”, some in Vatablus. s “Confundamini”, V. L. “et erubescite”, Calvin. t “Incendimini sive corripimini zelo”, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The second admonition is addressed to those who would imitate the heathen. “Remember this, and become firm, take it to heart, ye rebellious ones! Remember the beginning from the olden time, that I am God, and none else: Deity, and absolutely none like me: proclaiming the issue from the beginning, and from ancient times what has not yet taken place, saying, My counsel shall stand, and all my good pleasure I carry out: calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a distant land: not only have I spoken, I also bring it; I have purposed it, I also execute it.” The object to which “this” points back is the nothingness of idols and idolatry. The persons addressed are the (those apostatizing), but, as shows, whether it mean or (1Co 16:13), such as have not yet actually carried out their rebellion or apostasy, but waver between Jehovahism and heathenism, and are inclined to the latter. is hardly a denom. hithpalel of in the sense of “man yourselves,” since , whether it signifies a husband or a social being, or like , a frail or mortal being, is at any rate equivalent to , and therefore never shows the modification u. ( ) signifies to be firm, strong, compact; in the piel (rabb.), to be well-grounded; nithpael , to be fortified, established; here hithpoel , “show yourselves firm” (Targ., Jer.: fundamini ne rursum subitus idololatriae vos turbo subvertat ). That they may strengthen themselves in faith and fidelity, they are referred to the history of their nation; are not prophecies given at an earlier time – a meaning which the priora only acquire in such a connection as Isa 43:9 – but former occurrences. They are to pass before their minds the earlier history, and indeed “from the olden time.” “ Remember: ” zikhru is connected with the accusative of the object of remembrance, and points to its result. An earnest and thoughtful study of history would show them that Jehovah alone was El , the absolutely Mighty One, and ‘Elohm , the Being who united in Himself all divine majesty by which reverence was evoked. The participles in Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11 are attached to the “I” of . It is Jehovah, the Incomparable, who has now, as at other times from the very commencement of the new turn in history, predicted the issue of which it would lead, and m iqqedem , i.e., long before, predicted things that have not yet occurred, and which therefore lit outside the sphere of human combination – another passage like Isa 41:26; Isa 45:21, etc., in which what is predicted in these prophecies lays claim to the character of a prediction of long standing, and not of one merely uttered a few years before. The , in which the are already in progress (Isa 42:9), is to be regarded as the prophet’s ideal present; for Jehovah not only foretells before the appearance of Cyrus what is to be expected of him, but declares that His determination must be realized, that He will bring to pass everything upon which His will is set, and summons the man upon the stage of history as the instrument of its accomplishment, so that He knew Cyrus before he himself had either consciousness or being (Isa 45:4-5). The east is Persis (Isa 41:2); and the distant land, the northern part of Media (as in Isa 13:5). Cyrus is called an eagle, or, strictly speaking, a bird of prey ( ayit ),
(Note: The resemblance to ( ) is merely accidental. This name for the eagle is traceable, like avid , to a root va , to move with the swiftness of the wind. This was shown by Passow, compare Kuhn’s Zeitschrift, i. 29, where we also find at 10, 126 another but less probable derivation from a root i, to go (compare eva , a course).)
just as in Jer 49:22 and Eze 17:3 Nebuchadnezzar is called a nesher . According to Cyrop. vii. 1, 4, the campaign of Cyrus was . Instead of , the keri reads more clearly, though quite unnecessarily, ( (see e.g., Isa 44:26). The correlate ( Isa 46:11), which is only attached to the second verb the second time, affirms that Jehovah does not only the one, but the other also. His word is made by Him into a deed, His idea into a reality. is a word used particularly by Isaiah, to denote the ideal preformation of the future in the mind of God (cf., Isa 22:11; Isa 37:26). The feminine suffixes refer in a neuter sense to the theme of the prophecy – the overthrow of idolatrous Babel, upon which Cyrus comes down like an eagle, in the strength of Jehovah. So far we have the nota bene for those who are inclined to apostasy. They are to lay to heart the nothingness of the heathen gods, and, on the other hand, the self-manifestation of Jehovah from the olden time, that is to say, of the One God who is now foretelling and carrying out the destruction of the imperial city through the eagle from the east.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 8-11: JEHOVAH’S DEITY PROVED BY HIS PROVIDENTIAL CONTROL
1. This passage is apparently addressed to the transgressors of Judah, who have forsaken their God and are called upon to admit their transgression, (vs. 8; Isa 50:1; Isa 57:3-6).
2. Remembrance of His faithfullness, in times past, should awaken their confidence in His supreme ability to bring them safely through the impending crises – the Babylonian Captivity, (vs. 9).
3. From ancient times He has worked all things according to the counsel of His own perfect will – even foretelling precisely what He would do, (vs. 10; Deu 32:7-12).
a. What He purposes, He always performs, (Isa 14:24; Isa 25:1; Isa 40:8; Psa 33:11; Pro 19:21; Act 4:27-28).
b. He is able to fulfill all His good pleasure, (Eph 1:11-12; Eph 3:20-21; Rom 9:11; Heb 6:17-20).
c. So certain is God to carry out His plan that He “calleth those things that be not as though they were” – though the actual fulfillment may await the passing of centuries! (Rom 4:17).
4. He has purposed to bring Judah back to Himself through the use of human instrumentality, (vs. 11).
a. Some consider “the ravenous bird from the east” to be Nebuchadnezzar – who led Judah captive into Babylon, to accomplish the divine discipline purposed upon her transgression, (Jer 49:22; Ezekiel 17).
b. It seems more likely, however, that “the ravenous bird” and “the man that executeth my counsel” are both used of Cyrus.
1) The bird-figure is suggestive of the swiftness, power and destructiveness of his military strategy.
2) According to Xenophon, the standard of Cyrus was an eagle.
c. In His providential rule over the affairs of men, God summons heathen kings (unknown to themselves) to serve His high and holy purpose; by His over-ruling providence, He sends them forth victoriously, but in such a way that their careers redound to His own glory and praise – and to the ultimate benefit of His erring people.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. Remember this. This verse may be explained in two ways, either that the Lord addresses the Jews, or that he addresses the Gentiles. Men who otherwise are not well instructed in the Law are led into mistakes, because they extinguish that knowledge which God kindles in their hearts; for there is no person who has not some seed of religion implanted in him by nature, but men choke it by their unbelief, or corrupt and debase it by their inventions. On this account we might extend it to the whole human race. But I am more disposed to adopt a different opinion, which is also demanded by the context; for the Prophet will soon afterwards add what does not apply to any but the Jews, whom he calls transgressors, because, having been vanquished by a slight temptation, they revolted from the true God, as if captivity ought to have obliterated from their hearts all the benefits which he had bestowed on them. Since, therefore, they had shaken off the true religion, he sharply rebukes their ingratitude in having been so easily led away to sinful inventions.
Return to the heart. (218) By giving them this injunction he means that they are not of sound understanding. Others render it, “Recall.” This is feeble and inappropriate, and, a little before, he had bid them remember, and will immediately repeat the same thing. Now, therefore, he rather bids them “return to the heart,” because forgetfulness of God’s benefits was a sort of madness.
Blush. Others render it, “Act a manly part,” and derive the word from איש , (ish.) Others derive it from אשיש, (ashish,) which means “a foundation;” as if he had said, “Take courage, do not despair of my assistance.” But I rather agree with Jerome, who derives it from אש, ( esh;) for it is more appropriate, when their disgrace has been exposed, to “be ashamed” than to assume manly courage; though I leave it to every person to form his own judgment. He therefore means that they blush for their madness, ingratitude, and wickedness, so as to return to God. (219)
(218) “Bring (it) again to mind.” — Eng. Ver.
(219) “The verb התאששו (hithshteshu) is a ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, and admits of several different explanations. Joseph Kimchi derived it from אש (esh,) fire, and explained it to mean, ‘Be inflamed or reddened,’ that is, ‘blush.’ So the Vulgate, confundamini (be confounded.) The Targum and Jarchi understand it to mean, ‘Fortify or strengthen yourselves,’ and connect it with אששים, (ashishim,) foundations. (Isa 16:7.) Bochart derives it from איש, (ish,) a man, and identifies it with the ἀνδρίζεσθε, of 1Co 16:13.” — Alexander.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Shew yourselves men.As elsewhere, the prophets challenge is couched in the language of irony. The worshippers of idols should at least have the courage of their convictions. A conjectural emendation gives the opposite meaning, Be ye deeply ashamed.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8, 9. Remember this The address is now, probably, to the Israelites. The impotence of idol gods was shown them in early days. See Deu 32:37-39.
Show yourselves men That is, learn the lesson of the impotence of idol gods to give aid; learn to stand firm, and resist staunchly the whole idol system. Know and assert who your true deity is.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Remember this and show yourselves men,
Bring it again to mind, O you transgressors.
Remember the former things of old,
For I am God and there is none else.
I am God and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, “My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all my pleasure.”
So they must reveal their manhood and their human intelligence by appreciating Who and what He is.
‘Remember this and show yourselves men’ probably means ‘remember what I am and what I have done, and the former things of old, and show that you are rational like men should be by understanding it and responding’. Or it may mean ‘show yourselves to be real men by responding in action’. The result is the same. This is the only use in the Old Testament of ’ish (man) as a verb. The next phrase then reveals His opinion of those He is speaking to. It stresses that they are transgressors. Thus for them a change of mind is needed.
This is an appeal to the unfaithful in Israel. He wants them to remember the former things of old which will prove that He, and He alone is God, and respond. Let them consider the gods of Babylon bobbing along on the backs of asses. Then let them consider the fact that He is the only God, and that this is revealed by the fact that He declares the end from the beginning, revealing the whole of things from beginning to end, and reveals things that have not happened long before they do. It is also revealed by the fact of His sovereign statements when He declares that what He has counselled will stand, and He will bring about what He determines. Thus He is supreme. How foolish of them then to transgress against Him.
‘Saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” There is a contrast here between Cyrus having done all His pleasure (Isa 44:28), and God’s own doing of His own pleasure. For His purposes and pleasure are longer lasting than the brief activity of Cyrus, separating the end from the beginning. Indeed they began when He called Abraham from the East in order that through his seed he might raise up His Servant to bless all nations and bring the world to Himself (Isa 41:2-10).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
A Reproof of Israel’s Refusal to Believe the Divine Promises
v. 8. Remember this, v. 9. Remember the former things of old, v. 10. declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, v. 11. calling a ravenous bird, v. 12. Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, v. 13. I bring near My righteousness,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Isa 46:8-9. Remember this Remember this, and be inflamed with zeal, &c. This is similar to chap. Isa 44:21. See also Deu 30:1. The prophet in the ninth verse proposes a new argument, whereby to prove the divinity of God; namely, the wonderful works which he had done in former times, particularly in delivering his people from Egypt, and settling them in the land of Canaan.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
See, my soul, how Jehovah pleads with his people, and what sweet and condescending appeals he makes to their understanding, when enlightened by his grace! And do not overlook this precious account, which the Lord gives of himself, in the bosom of this scripture. His counsel must stand. Blessed be God for this! Embrace this solemn truth, in an especial manner, as it concerns the gospel of Jesus. Here, the Lord hath by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, given to the heirs of promise strong consolation. He will do all his pleasure: yea, he hath not only commissioned a man, like a bird of prey, and called him Cyrus by name, to execute his purposes in the deliverance of his people from Babylon, but he hath called the Lord Jesus Christ for all the purposes of salvation, in delivering his people from hell, death, and the grave; and will deliver them with an everlasting salvation, world without end. Isa 45:13 ; Heb 6:17-18 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Ver. 8. Remember this. ] Suffer me not to press these things so oft upon you to no purpose.
And show yourselves men.
Bring it again to mind.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 46:8-11
8Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
9Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.
Isa 46:8 Remember This verse and the first line of Isa 46:9 contain a series of IMPERATIVES.
1. remember, Isa 46:8 – Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 269, KB 269)
2. be assured, Isa 46:8 – Hithpoel IMPERATIVE (BDB 84, KB 100)
3. recall, Isa 46:8 – Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 996, KB 1427)
4. remember, Isa 46:9 – same as #1
Number 2 is a rare form. The Aramaic Targums translate it as take courage, possibly from a related Arabic root (cf. Leupold, p. 145).
you transgressors This shows that some in Israel still had doubts about the way God was performing His task of redemption (cf. Isa 45:9-11, the book of Habakkuk). This same group is referred to in Isa 46:12 as the stubborn minded of the Jewish people.
Isa 46:9 the former things long past This could refer to
1. YHWH’s ancient covenant with Abraham (cf. Isa 43:18; Isa 65:17; Jer 16:14; Jer 23:7)
2. YHWH’s acts of birthing (i.e., the Exodus) them
3. Israel’s ancient promise to be loyal and abide by the covenant (cf. Deu 32:7)
4. YHWH’s proof of His existence by predicting the future (cf. Isa 46:10-11; Isa 42:9)
For I am God See note at Isa 46:5.
Isa 46:10-11 Again, God is using the example of predictive prophecy to show that He is in control of history. The emphasis on His purposes, mentioned so often in Isa 46:10-11, shows that history is not random but has a divine purpose (i.e., teleological; cf. Isa 14:24; Isa 14:26; Isa 25:1). This assurance of YHWH fulfilling His Divine Plan is also seen in Isa 14:24; Isa 25:1; Isa 40:8; Isa 55:11 (see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., pp. 371-390).
The phrase in 10a is theologically parallel to Isa 41:4; Isa 44:6; Isa 48:12. YHWH is the present one from the very beginning to the very end (i.e., the first and last)!
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Remember. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 32:7). App-92.
men. Hebrew. ‘ish. App-14.
bring it again. The Western reading was “and bring it”, &c.
transgressors = rebels. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Isa 46:8-13
Isa 46:8-11
“Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and thee is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; and calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.”
The city of Jerusalem in the reign of Manasseh is very much the background of all these passages against idolatry. O ye transgressors (Isa 40:8) “Suggests the times of Manasseh when the Israelites were very much given to idolatry; and probably this is to be regarded as addressed to them and designed to recall them to the worship of the true God.”
The frequency of God’s appeal to the fact that he had repeatedly prophesied events far before they occurred would have been impossible in any situation where it was not known and accepted as the truth. The most unreasonable postulation ever indulged by critics is that of denying predictive prophecy. Did not God prophecy some eight hundred years before it happened that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? We shall have a number of occasions later in Isaiah to study other instances just as convincing.
Isa 40:8 has the meaning, “Remember this, and stand firm; and it is addressed to certain Jews who were wavering between idolatry and the worship of God.”
There are three reasons visible in these verses which are designed to inspire trust in the chosen people: (1) they should recall the many wonders God has already performed on their behalf; (2) they should especially remember his power and ability to prophecy events before they occur; and (3) they should dwell upon the fact that God has promised to deliver them from captivity. That “ravenous bird from the east” is of course a reference to Cyrus; and as Lowth noted, “`Calling from the east that eagle’ was a very proper emblem for Cyrus, particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle.”
“From the east …” (Isa 40:11). Cyrus’ kingdom was indeed east of Jerusalem, as were also Nineveh and Babylon. However, in the scriptures, enemies of Jerusalem were generally depicted as coming upon Jerusalem from “the north,” this being due to the fact that it was impossible to attack through the desert from the east. That was not the case here, because the Persians could attack Babylon on the Euphrates directly from the east.
Isa 46:12-13
“Hearken unto me ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.”
Paul in Rom 10:6-9 uses expressions very similar to some of those in this passage, the idea being that the way to please God is not a difficult thing to know. “The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach.” Henderson was correct in the observation that, “There seems to be here a transition, momentarily, to a greater deliverance than that from Babylon; Jehovah here hints that he will effect a far greater deliverance and that it would originate in Zion for the glory of Israel.” By far the vast majority of the generation of Jews that received this prophecy simply did not believe it; but regardless of that, God would, in his own good time, Deliver the Messiah into the arms of Mary; and the reign of the Son of God would indeed “Draw all men unto Him.”
Isa 46:8-13 DIRECTION FOR ISRAEL: The stance Israel is to take in light of the soon demise of Babylons gods is to remember. They are reminded of two things: (a) it is sinful to worship gods other than Jehovah; (b) there is no One but Jehovah whose word is sovereign. The Hebrew word hitheaoshashu (show yourselves men Isa 46:8) means literally, firmly founded. Gods direction for Israel is that she remember who He is and fix it firmly in her heart. This is the only solution for Israels idolatrous rebellion. She is a nation of phosheiym (from pasha) rebels. The word means refuse subjection to rightful authority. The only solution to rebellion and sin is to remember who God is! Remember how He has dealt with man and sin in the past; punishment for the incorrigible rebel and forgiveness for the penitent believer. God is omnipotent and omniscient. He not only knows and predicts the future, He controls it and uses it for His redemptive purposes. What He has said about Cyrus will surely come to pass. God will certainly call an Ayit (ravenous bird) from the east. The Hebrew word means, to be angry with; to rush or fall upon with fury. Cyrus will come from a far country to carry out the counsels of God. This is the servant of Jehovah-this bird of prey. He hasnt even been born yet, but his birth, crowning and service to God is as certain as if it had already been done because it is the will of the sovereign Jehovah! Cyrus is not merely another conqueror-he is the divinely commissioned executioner of Babylon and her gods. More sovereign control of the events of history and the destinies of men could not be visualized than is described in these chapters by the prophet Isaiah! When God speaks His word never fails of completion! When God purposes, it is as good as done!
The word abbiyrey (stout-hearted) literally means, strong but is probably synonymous with strong-minded or stubborn-hearted. The context would indicate this usage. They are stubborn-hearted and far from righteousness. Righteousness in this instance must mean the righteous purposes of Jehovah in what He has been announcing concerning Israels captivity, release by Cyrus and Cyrus destruction of the Babylonian gods Israel had grown so enamored of. Israel was stubbornly staying away from those conclusions. She refused to accept these decrees of the sovereign Jehovah. But Jehovah is about to bring near His righteous goal. Its beginning is not far off. In a little over a century it will all begin just as the prophet is predicting it. Jehovahs salvation for all mankind (including the goiyim) will come without fail. Zion will be the location of Gods salvation (see Oba 1:17; Joe 2:28 to Joe 3:21). Zion is the N.T. church (cf. Heb 12:22). Of course, the climax of this salvation will not come for some 600 years after Cyrus-but what is 600 years viewed from Jehovahs perspective? Less than a day! For the believer who by faith sees all things from Gods perspective redemption draweth nigh. Not only salvation, but glory!
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Remember: Isa 44:18-21, Deu 32:29, Psa 115:8, Psa 135:18, Jer 10:8, 1Co 14:20
bring: Isa 47:7, Eze 18:28, Hag 1:5, Hag 1:7, Luk 15:17, Eph 5:14
Reciprocal: Deu 30:1 – thou shalt call Psa 22:27 – All the ends Isa 40:21 – General Isa 43:10 – that ye Isa 44:19 – considereth in his heart Isa 44:21 – Remember Jer 3:23 – in vain Jer 10:14 – man Eze 1:10 – the face of a man Hos 13:2 – according Mic 7:18 – a God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
46:8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to {h} mind, O ye transgressors.
(h) Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
God as righteous 46:8-13
The last segment of this section (Isa 45:14 to Isa 46:13) returns to the subject of God as the righteous deliverer (cf. Isa 45:14-19).
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
God admonished the transgressing Israelites to remember what He was about to say, which would summarize the point being made in this section. It would give them confidence whenever they recalled it in the future. Again, remembering is the antidote to unbelief. Israel needed much encouragement, as well as stern warnings, because she was only a small island of monotheists in a sea of polytheists.