---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 57"
description: "CHAPTER 57   :-. THE PEACEFUL
DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
FEW: THE UNGODLINESS
OF THE MANY: A
BELIEVING REMNANT
SHALL SURVIVE
THE GENERAL
JUDGMENTS OF THE NATI"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/57"
---

CHAPTER 57

. THE PEACEFUL
DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
FEW: THE UNGODLINESS
OF THE MANY: A
BELIEVING REMNANT
SHALL SURVIVE
THE GENERAL
JUDGMENTS OF THE NATION,
AND BE RESTORED
BY HIM WHO
CREATES PEACE.
In the midst of the excesses of
the unfaithful watchmen ([Isaiah 56:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/10);
[Isaiah 56:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/11); [Isaiah 56:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/12)),
most of the few that are godly perish: partly by vexation at the
prevailing ungodliness; partly by violent death in persecution:
prophetical of the persecuting times of Manasseh, before God's
judgments in causing the captivity in Babylon; and again those in the
last age of the Church, before the final judgments on the apostasy
([2 Kings 21:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/21/16); [Matthew 23:29-35](../../../kjv/matthew/23/29-35);
[Matthew 23:37](../../../kjv/matthew/23/37); [Revelation 11:17](../../../kjv/revelation/11/17)).
The *Hebrew* for "perisheth," and "is taken
away," expresses a *violent death* ([Revelation 11:17](../../../kjv/revelation/11/17)).

**1. no man layeth it to heart**—as
a public calamity.
**merciful men**—rather,
*godly men;* the subjects of mercy.
**none considering**—namely,
what was the design of Providence in removing the godly.
**from the evil**—*Hebrew,*
from the face of the evil, that is, both from the moral evil on every
side ([Isaiah 56:10-12](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/10-12)),
and from the evils about to come in punishment of the national sins,
foreign invasions, c. ([Isaiah 56:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/9)
[Isaiah 57:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/13)). So Ahijah's death is
represented as a blessing conferred on him by God for his piety ([Isaiah 57:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/13); see also [2 Kings 22:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/22/20)).

**2.** Or, "he *entereth*
into peace"; in contrast to the *persecutions* which he
suffered in this world ([Job 3:13](../../../kjv/job/3/13);
[Job 3:17](../../../kjv/job/3/17)). The *Margin* not
so well translates, "he shall go in peace" ([Psalms 37:37](../../../kjv/psalms/37/37);
[Luke 2:29](../../../kjv/luke/2/29)).
**rest**—the calm rest of
their bodies in their graves (called "beds," [Luke 2:29](../../../kjv/luke/2/29); compare [Isaiah 14:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/18);
because they "sleep" in them, with the certainty of
awakening at the resurrection, [Isaiah 14:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/18)) is the emblem of the eternal "rest" ([Hebrews 4:9](../../../kjv/hebrews/4/9);
[Revelation 14:13](../../../kjv/revelation/14/13)).
**each one walking in . . .
uprightness**—This clause defines the character of those who at
death "rest in their beds," namely, all who walk uprightly.

**3. But . . . ye**—In contrast to
"the righteous" and their end, he announces to the
unbelieving Jews their doom.
**sons of the sorceress**—that
is, ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the
worship of false gods ([2 Kings 21:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/21/6)).
No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his *mother*
([1 Samuel 20:30](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/30); [Job 30:8](../../../kjv/job/30/8)).
**seed of the
adulterer**—*Spiritual* adultery is meant: idolatry and
apostasy ([Matthew 16:4](../../../kjv/matthew/16/4)).

**4. sport yourselves**—make a
mock ([Isaiah 66:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/5)). Are ye aware
of the glory of Him whom you mock, by mocking His servants ("the
righteous," [Isaiah 57:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/1))?
([2 Chronicles 36:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/16)).
**make . . . wide mouth**—
([Psalms 22:7](../../../kjv/psalms/22/7); [Psalms 22:13](../../../kjv/psalms/22/13);
[Psalms 35:21](../../../kjv/psalms/35/21); [Lamentations 2:16](../../../kjv/lamentations/2/16)).
**children of transgression,**
&c.—not merely *children of transgressors,* and a *seed
of false parents,* but of *transgression* and *falsehood*
itself, utterly unfaithful to God.

**5. Enflaming yourselves**—burning
with lust *towards idols* [GESENIUS];
or else (compare *Margin*), *in the terebinth groves,*
which the *Hebrew* and the parallelism favor (see on ) [MAURER].
**under . . . tree**— (). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably
made an idolatrous symbol of *the heavenly hosts.*
**slaying . . . children**—as
a sacrifice to Molech, c. ([2 Kings 17:31](../../../kjv/2-kings/17/31)
[2 Chronicles 28:3](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/3); [2 Chronicles 33:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/33/6)).
**in . . . valleys**—the
valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen
statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums
(*Hebrew, toph*) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence
the valley was called Tophet ([2 Chronicles 33:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/33/6);
[Jeremiah 7:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/3)).
**under . . . clifts**—the
gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.

**6.** The smooth stones, shaped as
idols, are the gods chosen by thee as thy portion ().
**meat offering**—not a
bloody sacrifice, but one of meal and flour mingled with oil. "Meat"
in Old English meant *food,* not *flesh,* as it means now
([Leviticus 14:10](../../../kjv/leviticus/14/10)).
**Should I receive
comfort**—rather, "Shall I bear these things with patience?"
[HORSLEY].

**7. Upon . . . high mountain . . .
bed**—image from adultery, *open and shameless* (); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous *altar,*
the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband
([Ezekiel 16:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/16); [Ezekiel 16:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/25);
[Ezekiel 23:41](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/41)).

**8.** "Remembrance," that
is, memorials of thy idolatry: the objects which thou holdest in
remembrance. *They hung up household tutelary gods* "behind
the doors"; the very place where God has directed them to write
His laws "on the posts and gates" ([Deuteronomy 6:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/6/9);
[Deuteronomy 11:20](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/20)); a curse, too, was
pronounced on putting up an image "in a secret place" ([Deuteronomy 11:20](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/20)).
**discovered thyself**—image
from an adulteress.
**enlarged . . . bed**—so
as to receive the more paramours.
**made . . . covenant**—with
idols: in open violation of thy "covenant" with *God*
([Exodus 19:5](../../../kjv/exodus/19/5); [Exodus 23:32](../../../kjv/exodus/23/32)).
Or, "hast made assignations with them for thyself"
[HORSLEY].
**thy bed . . . their bed**—The
Jews' sin was twofold; they resorted to places of idolatry ("*their*
bed"), and they received idols into the temple of God ("*thy*
bed").
**where**—rather, "ever
since that" [HORSLEY].
The *Hebrew* for "*where*" means "*room*"
(*Margin*), a place; therefore, translate, "thou hast
provided a place for it" (for "their bed"), namely, by
admitting idolatrous altars in thy land [BARNES];
or "thou choosest a (convenient) place for thyself" in
their bed [MAURER] ([Exodus 23:32](../../../kjv/exodus/23/32)).

**9. the king**—*the idol*
which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots ([Jeremiah 4:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/30);
[Ezekiel 23:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/16); [Ezekiel 23:40](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/40)).
So "king" means idol ([Amos 5:26](../../../kjv/amos/5/26);
[Zephaniah 1:5](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/5)); (*malcham* meaning
"king") [ROSENMULLER].
Rather, *the king of Assyria* or *Egypt,* and other foreign
princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment"
will thus refer to the presents ([Zephaniah 1:5](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/5)), and perhaps the compliances with foreigners' idolatries,
whereby Israel sought to gain their favor [LOWTH]
([Isaiah 30:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/6); [Ezekiel 16:33](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/33);
[Ezekiel 23:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/16); [Hosea 7:11](../../../kjv/hosea/7/11)).
**send . . . messengers far
off**—not merely to neighboring nations, but to those "far
off," in search of new idols, or else alliances.
**even unto hell**—the
lowest possible degradation.

**10. greatness of . . . way**—the
*length* of thy journey in seeking strange gods, or else foreign
aid ([Jeremiah 2:23](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/23); [Jeremiah 2:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/24)).
Notwithstanding thy deriving no good from these long journeys (so,
"send . . . *far off,*" [Jeremiah 2:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/24)), thou dost not still give up hope ([Jeremiah 2:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/25);
[Jeremiah 18:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/18/12)).
**hast found . . . life of . .
. hand**—for "thou still findest life (that is, vigor)
enough in thy hand" to make new idols [MAURER],
or to seek new alliance ("hand" being then taken for
*strength* in general).
**grieved**—rather,
"therefore thou art not *weak*" [MAURER];
inasmuch as having "life in thy hand," thou art still
strong in hope.

**11.** Israel wished not to seem
*altogether* to have denied God. Therefore they "lied"
to Him. God asks, Why dost thou do so? "Whom dost thou fear?
Certainly not *Me; for* thou hast not remembered Me."
Translate, "*seeing that* thou hast not remembered Me."
**laid it to . . .
heart**—rather, "nor hast Me at heart"; hast no regard
for Me; and that, because I have been long silent and have not
punished thee. Literally, "Have I not held My peace, and that
for long? and so thou fearest Me not" ([Psalms 50:21](../../../kjv/psalms/50/21);
[Ecclesiastes 8:11](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/11)). It would be better
openly to renounce God, than to "flatter Him" with lies of
false professions ([Psalms 78:36](../../../kjv/psalms/78/36))
[LUDOVICUS DE
DIEU]. However, [Isaiah 51:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/12);
[Isaiah 51:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/13) favors *English
Version* of the whole verse; God's "silent"
long-suffering, which was intended to lead them to repentance, caused
them "not to fear Him" ([Romans 2:4](../../../kjv/romans/2/4);
[Romans 2:5](../../../kjv/romans/2/5)).

**12. declare**—I will expose
publicly thy (hypocritical) righteousness. I will show openly how
vain thy works, in having recourse to idols, or foreign alliances,
shall prove ([Isaiah 57:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/3)).

**13. When thou criest**—In the
time of thy trouble.
**companies**—namely, of
idols, collected by thee from every quarter; or else, of foreigners,
summoned to thy aid.
**wind . . . carry . . . away**—
([Job 21:18](../../../kjv/job/21/18); [Matthew 7:27](../../../kjv/matthew/7/27)).
**vanity**—rather, "a
breath" [LOWTH].
**possess . . . land . . .
inherit**—that is, the literal land of Judea and Mount Zion; the
believing remnant of Israel shall return and inherit the land.
Secondarily, the heavenly inheritance, and the spiritual Zion
([Isaiah 49:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/8); [Psalms 37:9](../../../kjv/psalms/37/9);
[Psalms 37:11](../../../kjv/psalms/37/11); [Psalms 69:35](../../../kjv/psalms/69/35);
[Psalms 69:36](../../../kjv/psalms/69/36); [Matthew 5:5](../../../kjv/matthew/5/5);
[Hebrews 12:22](../../../kjv/hebrews/12/22)). "He that putteth
his trust in Me," of whatever extraction, shall succeed to the
spiritual patrimony of the apostate Jew [HORSLEY].

**14. shall say**—The *nominative*
is, "He that trusteth in Me" (). The believing remnant shall have every obstacle to their
return cleared out of the way, at the coming restoration of Israel,
the antitype to the return from Babylon ([Isaiah 35:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/35/8);
[Isaiah 40:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/3); [Isaiah 40:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/4);
[Isaiah 62:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/10); [Isaiah 62:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/11)).
**Cast . . . up**—a high
road before the returning Jews.
**stumbling-block**—Jesus
had been so to the Jews, but will not be so *then* any longer
([1 Corinthians 1:23](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/1/23)); their *prejudices*
shall then be taken out of the way.

**15.** The pride and
self-righteousness of the Jews were the stumbling block in the way of
their acknowledging Christ. The *contrition* of Israel in the
last days shall be attended with God's interposition in their behalf.
So their self-humiliation, in [Isaiah 66:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/2);
[Isaiah 66:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/5); [Isaiah 66:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/10),
c., precedes their final prosperity ([Zechariah 12:6](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/6)
[Zechariah 12:10-14](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/10-14)); there will,
probably, be a previous period of unbelief even after their return
([Zechariah 12:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/8); [Zechariah 12:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/9)).

**16. For**—referring to the
promise in [Isaiah 57:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/14); [Isaiah 57:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/15),
of restoring Israel when "contrite" ([Genesis 6:3](../../../kjv/genesis/6/3);
[Genesis 8:21](../../../kjv/genesis/8/21); [Psalms 78:38](../../../kjv/psalms/78/38);
[Psalms 78:39](../../../kjv/psalms/78/39); [Psalms 85:5](../../../kjv/psalms/85/5);
[Psalms 103:9](../../../kjv/psalms/103/9); [Psalms 103:13](../../../kjv/psalms/103/13);
[Psalms 103:14](../../../kjv/psalms/103/14); [Micah 7:18](../../../kjv/micah/7/18)).
God "will not contend for ever" *with His people,* for
their human spirit would thereby be utterly crushed, whereas God's
object is to chasten, not to destroy *them* ([Lamentations 3:33](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/33);
[Lamentations 3:34](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/34); [Micah 7:8](../../../kjv/micah/7/8);
[Micah 7:9](../../../kjv/micah/7/9)). *With the ungodly*
He is "angry *every day*" ([Psalms 7:11](../../../kjv/psalms/7/11);
[Revelation 14:11](../../../kjv/revelation/14/11)).
**spirit . . . before me**—that
is, the human spirit which *went forth from Me* ([Revelation 14:11](../../../kjv/revelation/14/11)), answering to "which I have made" in the
parallel clause.

**17. covetousness**—akin to
idolatry; and, like it, having drawn off Israel's heart from God
([Isaiah 2:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/7); [Isaiah 56:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/11);
[Isaiah 58:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/58/3); [Jeremiah 6:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/13);
[Colossians 3:5](../../../kjv/colossians/3/5)).
**hid me**— ([Isaiah 8:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/17);
[Isaiah 45:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/15)).
**went on frowardly**—the
result of God's hiding His face ([Psalms 81:12](../../../kjv/psalms/81/12);
[Romans 1:24](../../../kjv/romans/1/24); [Romans 1:26](../../../kjv/romans/1/26)).

**18.** Rather, "I have seen
his ways (in sin), *yet* will I heal him," that is, restore
Israel spiritually and temporally ([Jeremiah 33:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/6);
[Jeremiah 3:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/22); [Hosea 14:4](../../../kjv/hosea/14/4);
[Hosea 14:5](../../../kjv/hosea/14/5)) [HORSLEY].
**I will . . . restore comforts
unto him and to his mourners**—However, the phrase, "his
mourners," favors *English Version;* "his ways"
will thus be his ways *of repentance;* and God's pardon on
"seeing" them answers to the like promise ([Isaiah 61:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/2);
[Isaiah 61:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/3); [Jeremiah 31:18](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/18);
[Jeremiah 31:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/20)).

**19. fruit of . . . lips**—that
is, thanksgivings which flow from the lips. I make men to return
thanks to Me ([Hosea 14:2](../../../kjv/hosea/14/2); [Hebrews 13:15](../../../kjv/hebrews/13/15)).
**Peace, peace**—"*perfect*
peace" (see [Isaiah 26:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/3),
*Margin;* [John 14:27](../../../kjv/john/14/27)).
Primarily, the cessation of the troubles now afflicting the *Jews,*
as formerly, under the Babylonian exile. More generally, the peace
which the Gospel proclaims both to Israel "that is near,"
and to the Gentiles who are "far off" ([Acts 2:39](../../../kjv/acts/2/39);
[Ephesians 2:17](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/17)).

**20. when it cannot rest**—rather,
"*for* it can have no rest" ([Job 15:20](../../../kjv/job/15/20);
[Proverbs 4:16](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/16); [Proverbs 4:17](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/17)).
*English Version* represents the sea as *occasionally*
agitated; but the *Hebrew* expresses that it can *never* be
at rest.

**21.** ([Isaiah 48:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/48/22);
[2 Kings 9:22](../../../kjv/2-kings/9/22)).
**my God**—The prophet,
having God as *his* God, speaks in the person of Israel,
prophetically regarded as having now *appropriated* God and His
"peace" ([2 Kings 9:22](../../../kjv/2-kings/9/22)), warning the impenitent that, while they continue so,
they can have no peace.

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