Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 51:15
But I [am] the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.
15. that divided the sea &c. ] Render with R.V. which stirreth up (see on Isa 51:4) the sea so that the waves thereof roar (cf. Job 26:12).
The idea is parallel with that of Isa 51:9 f., being an illustration of Jehovah’s power over the elements. He can, as it were, play with the sea, for His stirring it up to fury implies that He is able to restrain it, and at the right time to still it again.
the Lord of hosts is his name ] Chs. Isa 47:4, Isa 48:2, Isa 54:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
15, 16. These verses contain a remarkable number of resemblances to other passages (see below). Isa 51:15, apart from the introductory words, occurs in Jer 31:35, though it is doubtful to which passage it originally belongs. Giesebrecht (on Jeremiah) unhesitatingly pronounces it a citation from this verse.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But I am the Lord thy God – In order to show them that he was able to save them, God again refers to the fact that he had divided the sea, and delivered their fathers from bondage and oppression.
That divided the sea – The Red Sea. The Chaldee renders this, That rebuked the sea. The Septuagint, ho tarasson – Who disturbs the sea. or, who excites a tempest. Lowth renders it, Who stilleth at once the sea. The Hebrew word is the same which occurs in Isa 51:4, where it is rendered, I will make my judgment to rest ( raga). Probably the idea here is, that he restrains the raging of the sea as if by fear; that is, makes it tranquil or still by rebuking it. He had this power over all raging seas, and he had shown it in a special manner by his rebuking the Red Sea and making it rest, and causing a way to be made through it, when the children of Israel came out of Egypt.
The Lord of hosts is his name – (See the notes at Isa 1:9; compare the notes at Isa 42:8).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
15. divided . . . seathe RedSea. The same Hebrew word as “make to rest” (Isa51:4). Rather, “that terrify the sea,” that is,restrain it by My rebuke, “when its waves roar” [GESENIUS].The Hebrew favors MAURER,”that terrify the sea so that the waves roar.” The sensefavors GESENIUS (Jer 5:22;Jer 31:35), or English Version(Isa 51:9; Isa 51:10,which favors the special reference to the exodus from Egypt).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But I am the Lord thy God that divided the sea, whose waves roared,…. Referring to the dividing of the Red sea by a violent wind, at which time the waves of it doubtless roared till they were made to stand quietly, as a wall on the right and left, for the Israelites to pass through, as in Isa 51:10. Or this is to be understood of the power of God at any time in stilling and quieting the sea when it rages; which signification the word s here used has, as Aben Ezra observes; which power is expressed by a rebuke or reproof of it. And so the Targum,
“I am the Lord thy God, that rebuketh the sea:”
and in like manner the Syriac version; see Ps 106:9 with which compare Mt 8:26. Now he that can do, and oftentimes has done this, can rebuke, restrain, and still the fury of the oppressors, the rage of the persecutors, Rome Pagan or Papal, and deliver out of their hands, Ps 65:7:
the Lord of hosts is his name: the Lord of armies in heaven and earth, and therefore is able to do these things in a natural, civil, and religious sense.
s “qui tranquillat” Gakater; “faciens quiescere”, so some in Vitringa; and the word has the signification of rest and quietness in ver 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. And I am Jehovah thy God. Again the Lord declares his power; for so great is the unbelief and sluggishness of men, that, although it is frequently declared, yet the very smallest temptation shews that they are not fully convinced of it. They quickly fall back upon themselves, when they are hard pressed by afflictions; and when they hear that anything is in the power of God, they do not think that it belongs to them.
Who divide the sea. He does not speak in general terms, but brings forward the instance which he had often mentioned before; for, by once redeeming the fathers, he held out to posterity the hope of eternal salvation. Justly, therefore, does he exclaim that he is the same God who long ago “divided the sea;” and next he magnifies the miracle by saying that its roaring billows were stilled at his command. (Exo 14:21.) We ought to know, therefore, that there are no raging billows which God cannot allay and calm in order to deliver his Church. “It is he who,” by his power, “stills the sea and makes it calm,” (Job 26:12,) though it rage furiously; and he likewise drives and swells its waves, when he thinks fit; though literally, as I have remarked, the Prophet alludes to the history of the deliverance from Egypt. (30)
Jehovah of hosts. The Lord is adorned with this title, that we may know how extensive is his power; and he exhibits that power as often as he is pleased to render assistance to his Church.
(30) “ A l’histoire de la deliverance d’Egypte.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) But I am . . .Better, Seeing that I am. The fact which follows is not contrasted with that which precedes, but given as its ground. The might of Jehovah is seen in the storm-waves of the sea. It is seen not less in the fall and rise of empires.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 51:15 But I [am] the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.
Ver. 15. For I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea. ] Or, I the Lord thy God am he that stilleth the sea when the waves of it roar; how much more then can I curb and control the rage of man! “Surely,” saith David, “the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain”; where the Septuagint have it, It shall keep holiday to thee, .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
divided the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 14:21).
The LORD of hosts. See note on 1Sa 1:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
that divided: Isa 51:10, Neh 9:11, Job 26:12, Psa 74:13, Psa 114:3-5, Psa 136:13, Jer 31:35, Amo 9:5, Amo 9:6
The Lord: Isa 47:4, Isa 48:2, Isa 54:5, Jer 10:16
Reciprocal: Exo 14:21 – the Lord Isa 43:16 – maketh Isa 44:27 – Be dry Luk 21:25 – the sea
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
The Israelites would not perish because of who their God was. He is Yahweh Almighty, who causes movements among nations just as surely as He causes the waves of the sea to move.