Bible Commentary

I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. 12, 13. But Jehovah will no longer be silent; He will proceed to judgement (cf. again Psa 50:21). I will declare thy righteousness ] must be spoken ironically: “I will expose thy (pretended) righteousness.” This might be said of the Samaritans, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:12”

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? 11. Most critics detect in this verse a milder tone on the part of the Divine speaker, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:11”

Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; [yet] saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. 10, 11. Although wearied by these idolatries they have persisted in them with an infatuation which has blinded them to their desperate situation, and rendered … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:10”

And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase [thyself even] unto hell. 9. Pilgrimages and deputations to the shrines of foreign deities form a fitting conclusion to the enumeration of their idolatries. Another view taken of the verse is that … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:9”

Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered [thyself to another] than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee [a covenant] with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest [it]. 8. The first part of the verse seems to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:8”

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 7. As in the valleys, so on the hill-tops, the people had sacrificed to strange gods. Cf. Hos 4:13; Jer 2:20; Eze 6:13. hast thou set thy bed ] The image is suggested by the frequent … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:7”

Among the smooth [stones] of the stream [is] thy portion; they, they [are] thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 6. As commonly explained, the verse refers to the worship of stone fetishes; but this is very doubtful. It … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:6”

Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks? Inflaming yourselves – Burning, that is, with lust. The whole language here is derived from adulterous intercourse. The sense is, that they were greatly addicted to idolatry, and that they used every means to increase … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:5”

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. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:4”

But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. 3, 4. Indignant summons to the apostate community. But draw near hither ] Better, But as for you, draw near hither &c. to hear your doom (cf. Isa 41:1, Isa 45:20, Isa 48:16). ye sons of a sorceress … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 57:3”