Bible Commentary

Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 27. My way ] i.e. my circumstances, my lot (Psa 37:5). Israel feels that its hard lot is overlooked or ignored by Jehovah; far harder is the complaint of Job … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:27”

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these [things], that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that [he is] strong in power; not one faileth. 26. and behold who hath created ] Better as R.V. marg.: and see: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:26”

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 25. To whom then ] Exactly as in Isa 40:18, and following a similar idea. or shall I be equal? ] Or, as R.V., “that I should be equal to him?” the Holy One ] Qdsh, without the art., … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:25”

Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 24. Yea, they shall not be ] Render: Scarcely have they been planted, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:24”

That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 23, 24. The majesty of God displayed in Providence. princes ] dignitaries (a poetic word), “potent, grave and reverend signiors.” as vanity ] “as nothingness,” lit. “chaos”; see on Isa 40:17. For he maketh, render who maketh. Fuente: The Cambridge … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:23”

[It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: 22, 23. The majesty of the God who reveals Himself in Creation and Providence is described in interjectional participial … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:22”

Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? 21. The next section (21 26) again commences with a series of questions driving home the force of the whole previous argument. The appeal seems to be still … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:21”

He that [is] so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree [that] will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, [that] shall not be moved. 20. He that is so oblation ] R.V. He that is too impoverished for such an oblation (lit. impoverished with respect … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:20”

The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. 19. melteth a graven image ] R.V. The graven image, a workman melted it. The word pel means strictly a “graven image,” but is used several times as here of an image in general. overlayeth it with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:19”

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? 18 20. “To whom will ye liken God?” This question introduces the second distinct theme of the argument, the folly of idolatry. Although the prophet has in his mind the difficulties of Jews impressed by the fascinations of idolatry, his … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:18”