Bible Commentary

As [when] the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, [that] the nations may tremble at thy presence! 2. Render: As fire kindleth brushwood, as fire maketh water boil, &c. to make thy name known to thine adversaries &c. ] the purpose of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 64:2”

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, 1. O that thou wouldest rend &c. ] Lit. “hadst rent.” So “hadst come down,” “had quaked.” This use of the perf. in the expression of a real wish, whose realisation is contemplated, is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 64:1”

We are [thine]: thou never didst bear rule over them; they were not called by thy name. 19. Render: We are become (as those) over whom from of old Thou hast not borne rule, over whom Thy name has not been called. The visible splendours of Jehovah’s kingship have been absent throughout the later period … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:19”

The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. 18. The people while ] The want of an acc. to the verb excites suspicion, for it is hardly possible to take “thy sanctuary” as the obj. common to the two clauses. The text of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:18”

O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 17. Render: Why shouldest Thou leave us to wander, O Jehovah, from Thy ways; and harden our heart so that we fear Thee not? etc. Israel … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:17”

Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting. 16. The verse reads: For thou art our Father; for Abraham knoweth us not and Israel doth not recognise us; Thou Jehovah art our Father; our … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:16”

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? 15, 16. A piteous appeal to the Divine clemency, based on Israel’s filial relation to Jehovah. Look down … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:15”

As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name. 14. As the cattle that go down into the valley (R.V.). It is doubtful whether this clause does not continue Isa 63:13, adding a second image … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:14”

That led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, [that] they should not stumble? 13. the deep ] R.V. the depths; Hebr. thmth, see on ch. Isa 51:10. as a horse in the wilderness ] treading as firmly and securely as the horse on the open pasture. Comp. the parallelism Psa 106:9: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:13”

That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 12. Render with R.V. That caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses &c.; accompanying him with its wonder-working power symbolized by the “rod of God” (Exo … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:12”