---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 54"
description: "CHAPTER 54   :-. THE FRUIT
OF MESSIAH"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/54"
---

CHAPTER 54

. THE FRUIT
OF MESSIAH'S
SUFFERINGS, AND OF
ISRAEL'S FINAL
PENITENCE AT HER
PAST UNBELIEF
([Isaiah 53:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/6)): HER
JOYFUL RESTORATION
AND ENLARGEMENT BY
JEHOVAH, WHOSE
WRATH WAS
MOMENTARY, BUT HIS
KINDNESS EVERLASTING.
Israel converted is compared to a
wife ([Isaiah 54:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/5); [Isaiah 62:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/5))
put away for unfaithfulness, but now forgiven and taken home again.
The converted Gentiles are represented as a new progeny of the
long-forsaken but now restored wife. The pre-eminence of the Hebrew
Church as the mother Church of Christendom is the leading idea; the
conversion of the Gentiles is mentioned only as part of her felicity
[HORSLEY].

**1. Sing**—for joy ().
**barren**—the Jewish
Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute
of spiritual children ([Isaiah 54:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/6)).
**didst not bear**—during
the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during
Israel's present dispersion.
**the children**—the
Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church ([Isaiah 54:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/3);
[Isaiah 49:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/20); [Isaiah 49:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/21)).
**than . . . married wife**—than
were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife
(under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away
[MAURER]. So Paul
contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church
of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage
([Galatians 4:27](../../../kjv/galatians/4/27)). But the full
accomplishment of it is yet future.

**2.** ([Isaiah 49:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/19);
[Isaiah 49:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/20); [Jeremiah 31:31-36](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/31-36);
[Jeremiah 31:38](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/38); [Jeremiah 31:39](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/39)).
Thy children shall be so many that thy borders must be extended to
contain them.
**curtains**—the cloth
forming the covering of the tent.
**spare not**—give
abundantly the means for the enlargement of the Church ([Jeremiah 31:39](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/39)).
**cords . . . stakes**—The
more the tent is enlarged by lengthening the cords by which the cloth
covering is fastened to the ground, the more the stakes supporting
the tent need to be strengthened; the Church is not merely to seek
new converts, but to strengthen those she has in the faith. The image
is appropriate, as the tabernacle was the symbol of the old
Israelitish Church (see on [Jeremiah 31:39](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/39)).

**3. break forth**—rather, "burst
forth" with increase; thy offspring shall grow, answering to
"thy seed" in the parallel clause.
**thy seed**—Israel and her
children, as distinguished from "the Gentiles."
**desolate cities**—of
Israel ([Isaiah 44:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/26)).

**4.** ([Isaiah 41:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/10);
[Isaiah 41:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/14)).
**shame of thy youth**—Israel's
*unfaithfulness* as wife of Jehovah, almost from her *earliest*
history.
**reproach of
widowhood**—Israel's punishment in her consequent dismissal from
God and barrenness of spiritual children in Babylon and her present
dispersion ([Isaiah 54:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/1); [Isaiah 49:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/21);
[Jeremiah 3:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/24); [Jeremiah 3:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/25);
[Jeremiah 31:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/19); [Hosea 2:2-5](../../../kjv/hosea/2/2-5)).

**5.** ([Isaiah 62:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/5);
[Jeremiah 3:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/14)). That God was Israel's
"Maker," both as individuals and as the theocratic kingdom,
is the pledge of assurance that He will be her Redeemer ([Jeremiah 3:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/14)). *Hebrew,* "*makers . . . husbands*";
*plural* for *singular,* to denote excellency.
**of Israel . . . whole
earth**—Not until He manifests Himself as God *of Israel*
shall He appear as God *of the whole earth* ([Psalms 102:13](../../../kjv/psalms/102/13);
[Psalms 102:15](../../../kjv/psalms/102/15); [Psalms 102:16](../../../kjv/psalms/102/16);
[Zechariah 14:5](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/5); [Zechariah 14:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/9)).

**6. called**—that is, recalled:
the prophetic past for the future.
**forsaken**—that *had
been* forsaken.
**when thou**—or, "when
*she* was rejected"; one who had been a wife of youth
([Ezekiel 16:8](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/8); [Ezekiel 16:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/22);
[Ezekiel 16:60](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/60); [Jeremiah 2:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/2))
at the time when (*thou,* or) she was rejected for infidelity
[MAURER]. "A wife of
youth *but afterwards* rejected" [LOWTH].

**7. small moment**—as compared
with Israel's coming *long* prosperity ([Isaiah 26:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/20);
[Isaiah 60:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/10)). So the spiritual
Israel ([Psalms 30:5](../../../kjv/psalms/30/5); [2 Corinthians 4:17](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/4/17)).
**gather thee**—to Myself
from thy dispersions.

**8. In a little wrath**—rather,
"In the overflowing of wrath"; as , *Margin,* [GESENIUS].
The wrath, though but "for a moment," was overflowing while
it lasted.
**hid . . . face**—
([Isaiah 8:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/17); [Psalms 30:7](../../../kjv/psalms/30/7)).
**everlasting**—in contrast
to "for a moment."

**9.** I am about to do the same in
this instance as in Noah's flood. As I swore then that it should not
return ([Genesis 8:21](../../../kjv/genesis/8/21); [Genesis 9:11](../../../kjv/genesis/9/11)),
and I kept that promise, so I swear now to My people, and will
perform My promise, that there shall be no return of the deluge of My
wrath upon them. LOWTH, on
insufficient authority, reads (the same will I do now as), "in
the days of Noah."

**10.** ([Isaiah 51:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/6);
[Psalms 89:33](../../../kjv/psalms/89/33); [Psalms 89:34](../../../kjv/psalms/89/34);
[Romans 11:29](../../../kjv/romans/11/29)).
**covenant of my peace**—
([2 Samuel 23:5](../../../kjv/2-samuel/23/5)). The covenant
whereby I have made thee at peace with Me.

**11. not comforted**—by anyone;
none gave her help or comfort.
**lay . . . with fair
colours**—rather, "lay . . . in cement of *vermilion*"
[LOWTH]. The *Hebrew*
for "fair colors" means *stibium,* the paint with
which Eastern women painted their eyelids and eyelashes (). The very cement shall be of the most beautiful color ().

**12. windows**—rather,
"battlements"; literally, "suns"; applied to
battlements from their *radiated* appearance.
**agates**—rather,
"rubies."
**carbuncles**—literally,
"sparkling gems"; the carbuncle when held to the sun
becomes like a burning coal.
**all thy borders**—rather,
"thy whole circuit," consisting of *precious stones.*
The glory of the Church on earth, when the Hebrew Church, according
to the original design, shall be the metropolis of Christendom.

**13.** Quoted by the Saviour (), to prove that in order to come to Him, men must be "drawn"
by the Father. So [Jeremiah 31:34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/34);
[Micah 4:2](../../../kjv/micah/4/2); [1 Corinthians 2:10](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/2/10);
[Hebrews 8:10](../../../kjv/hebrews/8/10); [Hebrews 10:16](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/16);
[1 John 2:20](../../../kjv/1-john/2/20).
**great . . . peace**—generally
([Psalms 119:165](../../../kjv/psalms/119/165)). Specially
referring to the *peaceful prosperity* which shall prevail under
Messiah in the latter days ([Isaiah 2:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/4);
[Isaiah 9:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/6)).

**14. righteousness**—the
characteristic of the reign of Messiah ([Isaiah 11:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/4);
[Isaiah 11:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/5); [Psalms 72:2](../../../kjv/psalms/72/2);
[Psalms 72:4](../../../kjv/psalms/72/4); [Revelation 19:11](../../../kjv/revelation/19/11)).
**far from oppression,**
c.—far from *suffering oppression* "for thou shall have
nothing to fear."

**15. gather together,** c.—that
is, If it should happen that enemies "gather together"
against thee ([Psalms 2:2](../../../kjv/psalms/2/2)), they will
*not* have been sent *by Me* (compare [Psalms 2:2](../../../kjv/psalms/2/2)) as instruments of My wrath (nay, it *will* be with My
disapproval) for "whosoever shall gather together," c. ([Psalms 2:2](../../../kjv/psalms/2/2)).
**fall for thy sake**—rather,
"shall come over to thy side" [LOWTH].
Literally, "*fall* to thee" ([Jeremiah 21:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/9)
[Jeremiah 39:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/9)). To be *fully*
fulfilled to Jerusalem hereafter ([Jeremiah 39:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/9)).

**16.** The workman that forms
"weapons against thee" () is wholly in My power, therefore thou needest not fear,
having Me on thy side.
**for his work**—rather,
"by his labor [HORSLEY].
"According to the exigencies of his work" [MAURER].
**waster to destroy**—
([Isaiah 10:5-7](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/5-7); [Isaiah 37:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/26);
[Isaiah 37:27](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/27); [Isaiah 45:1-6](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/1-6)).
Desolating conquerors who use the "instruments" framed by
"the smith." The repetition of the "I" implies,
however, something in the latter half of the verse contrasted with
the former understand it, therefore, thus: "I have in My power
both him who frames arms and him who destroys *them* (arms)"
[ROSENMULLER].

**17. tongue . . . condemn**—image
from a court of justice. Those who desire to "condemn" thee
*thou* shalt "condemn" ([Exodus 11:7](../../../kjv/exodus/11/7);
[Joshua 10:21](../../../kjv/joshua/10/21); [Psalms 64:8](../../../kjv/psalms/64/8);
[Romans 8:1](../../../kjv/romans/8/1); [Romans 8:33](../../../kjv/romans/8/33)).
**righteousness . . . of me**—
([Isaiah 45:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/24); [Isaiah 46:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/13)).
Rather, "(this is) their justification from Me." Their
enemies would "condemn" them, but I justify and vindicate
them, and so they condemn their enemies.

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