Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? [are] ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
4. On the contemptuous attitude of the Samaritans towards the Jews, see Neh 4:1-4, and comp. ch. Isa 66:5.
sport yourselves ] Lit. “take your delight” (ch. Isa 55:2, Isa 58:14, Isa 66:11); only here used of malevolent satisfaction.
make a wide mouth ] Psa 35:21.
are ye not &c. ] Are you not yourselves the proper objects of derision and abhorrence?
5 ff. Description of the varied idolatries to which they were devoted.
Inflaming yourselves with idols ] Rather, as R.V., Ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks (or “terebinths,” the same word in ch. Isa 1:29, Isa 61:3). The A.V. follows the chief ancient Versions in taking the last word to be the plural of that for “god”; but it is never used expressly of an idol or false god (not even in Exo 15:11 or Dan 11:36). The reference is, if not to the actual primitive tree-worship (traces of which are still found in Palestine), at least to that modification of it in which the sacred tree became a place of sacrifice and the scene of the licentious rites indicated by the expression “inflame yourselves.” Comp. Hos 4:13.
under every green (i.e. evergreen) tree ] Cf. Deu 12:2; Jer 2:20; Jer 3:6; Eze 6:13; 1Ki 14:23; 2Ki 17:10 &c.
slaying the children (Eze 16:21)] i.e. sacrificing them either to Jehovah or some false deity (Baal or Molech). On the subject of human sacrifice in Israel consult the notes in Davidson’s Ezekiel ( Camb. Bible for Schools, &c.), pp. 107 f., 143. Cf. Jer 7:31; Jer 19:5; Eze 20:25; Eze 23:39 ; 2Ki 3:27; 2Ki 16:3 ; 2Ki 21:6; Mic 6:7; Lev 18:21; Deu 12:31, &c., and 2Ki 17:31.
in the valleys (or wadis, dry watercourses) under the clifts of the rocks ] Probably weird and desolate places were chosen by preference for these revolting rites, although this is the only passage where such a thing is suggested.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? – The word here rendered sport ( anag) means properly to live delicately and tenderly; then to rejoice, to take pleasure or delight. Here, however, it is evidently used in the sense of to sport oneself over anyone, that is, to deride; and the idea is, probably, that they made a sport or mockery of God, and of the institutions of religion. The prophet asks, with deep indignation and emotion, against whom they did this. Were they aware of the majesty and glory of that Being whom they thus derided?
Against whom make yea wide mouth? – That is, in derision or contempt Psa 35:21 : Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me.
And draw out the tongue? – Lowth, Loll the tongue; or, as we would say, run out the tongue. Perhaps it was done with a rapid motion, as in mockery of the true prophets when they delivered the message of God (compare 2Ch 36:16). Contempt was sometimes shown also by protruding the lips Psa 22:7 : They shoot out the lip; and also by gaping upon a person Psa 22:13; They gaped upon me with their mouths.
Are ye not children of transgression? – That is, in view of the fact that you make a sport of sacred things, and deride the laws and the prophets of God.
A seed of false-hood – A generation that is unfaithful to God and to his cause.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? consider whom it is that you mock and scoff when you deride Gods prophets, as they did, Isa 28:14,22, and know that it is not so much men that you abuse as God, whose cause they plead, and in whose name they speak.
Make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue: these are the known and common gestures of mockers, of which see Job 16:10; Psa 22:7; 35:21.
Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood? either an adulterous brood, as was said before; or a generation of liars, whose practices grossly contradict your principles and professions, who deal deceitfully and perfidiously both with God and with men.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. sport yourselvesmake amock (Isa 66:5). Are ye awareof the glory of Him whom you mock, by mocking His servants (“therighteous,” Isa 57:1)?(2Ch 36:16).
make . . . wide mouth(Psa 22:7; Psa 22:13;Psa 35:21; Lam 2:16).
children of transgression,&c.not merely children of transgressors, and a seedof false parents, but of transgression and falsehooditself, utterly unfaithful to God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Against whom do ye sport yourselves?…. Is it against the ministers of the Gospel, the prophets of the Lord, the true and faithful witnesses, over whose dead bodies you triumph? know that it is not so much against them, as against the Lord himself, whose ministers, prophets, and witnesses they are; see 1Th 4:8: “against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue?” gestures used by way of scorn and derision; see Ps 22:7. So the Papists open their mouths, and draw out their tongues, in gibes and jeers, reproaches and calumnies, against the true Christians, calling and despising them as heretics and schismatics; which abuse and ill usage of them will be resented another day. The Targum is,
“before whom do ye open your mouth, and multiply to speak things?”
as antichrist is said to have a mouth open, speaking great things and blasphemy against God, his name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, Re 13:5:
are ye not children of transgression; given up to all manner of sin and wickedness; or children of the wicked one, as the Targum, either of Satan, or of the man of sin; or, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “children of perdition”; of the same character, complexion, and religion, as the son of perdition is: “a seed of falsehood”; or a lie, given to lying; to believe a lie, and to speak lies in hypocrisy; professing a false religion; embracing false doctrines; a spurious breed, and not the sons of the true church of Christ.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. On whom have ye made sport? The Prophet shows that there is no reason why the Jews should boast so proudly on the pretense of their birth, seeing that they mocked at God and the prophets. They thought that they had to deal with men, when they rejected the word; as we see that wicked men in the present day, while they fearlessly despise the doctrine of God and laugh at ministers, nevertheless shelter themselves, and falsely glory in the name of God. This is the reason why the Prophet bears hard upon them and censures with severity.
On whom have ye opened the mouth? The meaning of the words is, “When ye put forth the tongue against God, and mock his word, do ye think that ye have to deal with a mortal man?” The question (“On whom?“) means that they resorted to disguises and concealments, in order to conceal their impiety; for wicked men do not confess that they are rebels against God, and even complain that they are very unjustly treated. But they must be dragged to the light and convicted of their wickedness; for if there be a God in heaven, they carry on war with him, by attacking and rejecting his word and treating it as a fable.
To “open the mouth” and to “put forth the tongue” mean the same thing, except that by these expressions he has more fully described their wickedness, in not only rejecting God, but also mocking him. The inward contempt of the heart had driven them to open jeers and blasphemies, so that they were not moved by any fear of disgrace.
Seed of the adulterer and the whore. At length he concludes that they are treacherous children, a lying seed, and that he has justly reproached them with being “the children of the whore;” for such contempt of God could not be found in the children of Abraham. Hence we learn in what manner wicked men ought to be treated, and with what severity they ought to be reproved, that they may not flatter themselves; and the more they despise everything that is held out in the name of God, the more ought their sacrilegious wickedness to be exposed and dragged forth to public view.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Against whom do ye sport yourselves?The question, as in Isa. 37:23, is one of indignant scorn, the implied answer being that the mockers were deriding the servants of Jehovah. (Comp. Wisdom 2), and, in so doing, mocking Jehovah himself. The wide mouth, and the drawn-out tongue, are the natural symbols of derision.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 57:4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, [and] draw out the tongue? [are] ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
Ver. 4. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? ] You that are the wits, the merry Greeks of the times, that, instead of “trembling at God’s word,” and humbling before him, hold it a goodly thing to gibe and jeer at it, to mock and scoff at those that preach it. 2Ch 36:16 Isa 5:18-19 ; Isa 22:13 ; Isa 28:14 ; Isa 28:22 These were their game stocks, and the matter of their mad mirth. Neither is it any otherwise to this day; for the world ever was, and will be still, beside itself in point of salvation. a Not the sinful Sodomites only, but Lot’s sons-in-law, who should have learned better, laughed him to scorn for his good counsel. Gen 19:14 Ridetur cum suo Iehova. Lot is counted but a lob, and bid to keep his breath to cool his broth. Erasmus is blamed for his dry scoffs at Capito and other reformers; but Parsons, the Jesuit, is able to put Rabshakeh, Thersites, and Lucian himself to school for railing, deriding, and scurrilous language.
Against whom make yea wide mouth, and draw out the tongue?
a Mundus antiquum obtinet ridendo verbum Dei.
b Y , in theatrum producti pro spectaculo.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = offspring.
transgression: i.e. inborn transgression. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.
seed of falsehood = false seed. Figure of speech Enallage.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Against: Isa 10:15, Isa 37:23, Isa 37:29, Exo 9:17, Exo 16:7, Exo 16:8, Num 16:11, Luk 10:16, Act 9:4
sport: Jdg 16:25-27, Psa 69:12, Mat 27:29, Mat 27:39-44, 2Pe 2:13
make: Psa 35:21
draw: Jos 10:21, Job 16:9, Job 16:10, Psa 22:7, Psa 22:13, Psa 22:17, Lam 2:15, Lam 2:16
are ye: Isa 1:4, Isa 30:1, Isa 30:9, Eze 2:4, Hos 10:9, Mat 13:38, Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3, Eph 5:6, Col 3:6
Reciprocal: Num 32:14 – an increase 2Ki 2:23 – mocked Isa 3:8 – because Isa 58:9 – the putting Mat 3:7 – O generation Mat 23:33 – serpents Luk 11:29 – This is
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Evidently the people these wicked Israelites mocked were the righteous minority among them. Like children, they ridiculed the righteous for being different from themselves. They were rebellious and deceitful in their relationship to the Lord.