---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 59"
description: "CHAPTER 59   :-. THE PEOPLE"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/59"
---

CHAPTER 59

. THE PEOPLE'S
SIN THE CAUSE
OF JUDGMENTS: THEY
AT LAST OWN
IT THEMSELVES:
THE REDEEMER'S
FUTURE INTERPOSITION
IN THEIR EXTREMITY.
The reason why Jehovah does not
deliver His people, notwithstanding their religious services (), is not want of power on His part, but because of their
sins ([Isaiah 59:1-8](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/1-8)); [Isaiah 59:1-23](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/1-23) contain their confession; [Isaiah 59:1-23](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/1-23), the consequent promise of the Messiah.

**1. hand . . . shortened**—(See
on [Isaiah 59:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/5)).
**ear heavy**— ([Isaiah 59:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/5)).

**2. hid**—*Hebrew,* "caused
Him to hide" ([Lamentations 3:44](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/44)).

**3.** ([Isaiah 1:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/15);
[Romans 3:13-15](../../../kjv/romans/3/13-15)).
**hands . . . fingers**—Not
merely the "hands" perpetrate deeds of *grosser*
enormity ("blood"), but the "fingers" commit more
*minute* acts of "iniquity."
**lips . . . tongue**—The
*lips* "speak" *openly* "lies," the
*tongue* "mutters" malicious *insinuations*
("perverseness"; perverse misrepresentations of others)
([Jeremiah 6:28](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/28); [Jeremiah 9:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/9/4)).

**4.** Rather, "No one calleth
an adversary into court with justice," that is, None bringeth a
just suit: "No one pleadeth *with* truth."
**they trust . . . iniquity**—(So
[Job 15:35](../../../kjv/job/15/35); [Psalms 7:14](../../../kjv/psalms/7/14)).

**5. cockatrice**—probably the
basilisk serpent, *cerastes.* Instead of crushing evil in the
egg, they foster it.
**spider's web**—This
refers not to the spider's web being made to *entrap,* but to
its *thinness,* as contrasted with substantial "garments,"
as [Isaiah 59:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/6) shows. Their works
are vain and transitory ([Job 8:14](../../../kjv/job/8/14);
[Proverbs 11:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/11/18)).
**eateth . . . their eggs**—he
who *partakes in their plans,* or *has anything to do with
them,* finds them pestiferous.
**that which is crushed**—The
*egg, when it is broken,* breaketh out as a viper; their plans,
however specious in their undeveloped form like the egg, when
developed, are found pernicious. Though the viper is viviparous (from
which "vi-per" is derived), yet during gestation, the young
are included in eggs, which break at the birth [BOCHART];
however, metaphors often combine things without representing
everything to the life.

**6. not . . . garments**—like the
"fig leaves" wherewith Adam and Eve vainly tried to cover
their shame, as contrasted with "the coats of skins" which
the Lord God made to clothe them with ([Isaiah 64:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/64/6);
[Romans 13:14](../../../kjv/romans/13/14); [Galatians 3:27](../../../kjv/galatians/3/27);
[Philippians 3:9](../../../kjv/philippians/3/9)). The artificial
self-deceiving sophisms of human philosophy ([1 Timothy 6:5](../../../kjv/1-timothy/6/5);
[2 Timothy 2:16](../../../kjv/2-timothy/2/16); [2 Timothy 2:23](../../../kjv/2-timothy/2/23)).

**7. feet**—*All* their
members are *active* in evil; in , the "hands, fingers, lips, and tongue," are
specified.
**run . . . haste**— (). Contrast David's "running and hasting" in the
ways of God ([Psalms 119:32](../../../kjv/psalms/119/32); [Psalms 119:60](../../../kjv/psalms/119/60)).
**thoughts**—not merely
their acts, but their whole *thoughts.*

**8. peace**—whether in relation
to God, to their own conscience, or to their fellow men ([Isaiah 57:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/20);
[Isaiah 57:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/21)).
**judgment**—justice.
**crooked**—the opposite of
"straightforward" ([Proverbs 2:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/2/15);
[Proverbs 28:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/28/18)).

**9. judgment far**—retribution in
kind because *they* had shown "no *judgment* in their
goings" ([Isaiah 59:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/8)). "*The
vindication of our just rights* by God is withheld by Him from
us."
**us**—In [Isaiah 59:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/8) and previous verses, it was "they," the third
person; here, "us . . . we," the first person. The nation
here speaks: God thus making *them* out of their own mouth
condemn themselves; just as *He* by His prophet had condemned
them before. Isaiah includes himself with his people and speaks in
their name.
**justice**—God's *justice*
bringing salvation ([Isaiah 46:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/13)).
**light**—the dawn of
returning prosperity.
**obscurity**—adversity
([Jeremiah 8:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/8/15)).

**10. grope**—fulfilling Moses'
threat ([Deuteronomy 28:29](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/29)).
**stumble at noon . . . as . .
. night**—There is no relaxation of our evils; at the time when
we might look for the noon of relief, there is still the night of our
calamity.
**in desolate places**—rather,
to suit the parallel words "at noonday," in fertile
(literally, "fat"; [Deuteronomy 28:29](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/29)) fields [GESENIUS]
(where all is promising) *we are like the dead* (who have no
hope left them); or, where *others* are prosperous, *we*
wander about as dead men; true of all unbelievers ([Isaiah 26:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/10);
[Luke 15:17](../../../kjv/luke/15/17)).

**11. roar**—moan plaintively,
like a hungry bear which growls for food.
**doves**— ([Isaiah 38:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/14);
[Ezekiel 7:16](../../../kjv/ezekiel/7/16)).
**salvation**—retribution
in kind: because not salvation, but "destruction" was "in
their paths" ([Isaiah 59:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/7)).

**12.** (, c.).
**thee . . . us**—antithesis.
**with us**—that is, we are
*conscious* of them ([Job 12:3](../../../kjv/job/12/3),
*Margin* [Job 15:9](../../../kjv/job/15/9)).
**know**—acknowledge they
are *our* iniquities.

**13.** The *particulars* of
the sins *generally* confessed in ([Isaiah 48:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/48/8); [Jeremiah 2:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/19);
[Jeremiah 2:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/20)). The act, the word, and
the thought of apostasy, are all here marked: *transgression*
and *departing,* c. *lying* (compare [Jeremiah 2:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/20)), and *speaking,* c. *conceiving* and uttering
*from the heart.*

**14.** Justice and righteousness
are put away from our legal courts.
**in the street**—in the
forum, the place of judicature, usually at the gate of the city ().
**cannot enter**—is shut
out from the forum, or courts of justice.

**15. faileth**—is not to be
found.
**he that departeth . . .
prey**—He that will not fall in with the prevailing iniquity
exposes himself as a prey to the wicked ([Psalms 10:8](../../../kjv/psalms/10/8);
[Psalms 10:9](../../../kjv/psalms/10/9)).
**Lord saw it**—The
iniquity of Israel, so desperate as to require nothing short of
Jehovah's interposition to mend it, typifies the same necessity for a
Divine Mediator existing in the deep corruption of man; Israel, the
model nation, was chosen to illustrate his awful fact.

**16. no man**—namely, to atone by
his righteousness for the unrighteousness of the people. "Man"
is emphatic, as in [1 Kings 2:2](../../../kjv/1-kings/2/2); no
representative man able to retrieve the cause of fallen men ([Isaiah 41:28](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/28);
[Isaiah 63:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/5); [Isaiah 63:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/6);
[Jeremiah 5:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/1); [Ezekiel 22:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/30)).
**no intercessor**—no one
to interpose, "to help . . . uphold" ([Ezekiel 22:30](../../../kjv/ezekiel/22/30)).
**his arm**— ([Isaiah 40:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/10);
[Isaiah 51:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/5)). Not *man's* arm,
but *His* alone ([Psalms 98:1](../../../kjv/psalms/98/1);
[Psalms 44:3](../../../kjv/psalms/44/3)).
**his righteousness**—the
"arm" of Messiah. He won the victory for us, not by mere
*might* as God, but by His invincible *righteousness,* as
man having "the Spirit without measure" ([Isaiah 11:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/5);
[Isaiah 42:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/6); [Isaiah 42:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/21);
[Isaiah 51:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/8); [Isaiah 53:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/11);
[1 John 2:1](../../../kjv/1-john/2/1)).

**17.** Messiah is represented as a
warrior armed at all points, going forth to vindicate His people.
Owing to the unity of Christ and His people, their armor is like His,
except that they have no "garments of *vengeance*"
(which is God's prerogative, ), or "cloak of *zeal*" (in the sense of
*judicial fury* punishing the wicked; this zeal belongs properly
to God, [2 Kings 10:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/10/16); [Romans 10:2](../../../kjv/romans/10/2);
[Philippians 3:6](../../../kjv/philippians/3/6); "zeal," in the
sense of *anxiety for the Lord's honor,* they have, [Numbers 25:11](../../../kjv/numbers/25/11);
[Numbers 25:13](../../../kjv/numbers/25/13); [Psalms 69:9](../../../kjv/psalms/69/9);
[2 Corinthians 7:11](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/7/11); [2 Corinthians 9:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/2));
and for "salvation," which is of God alone ([2 Corinthians 9:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/9/2)), they have as their *helmet,* "the *hope* of
salvation" ([1 Thessalonians 5:8](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/5/8)). The
"helmet of salvation" is attributed to them ([Ephesians 6:14](../../../kjv/ephesians/6/14);
[Ephesians 6:17](../../../kjv/ephesians/6/17)) in a secondary sense;
namely, derived from Him, and as yet only in *hope,* not
fruition ([Romans 8:24](../../../kjv/romans/8/24)). The *second*
coming here, as often, is included in this representation of Messiah.
His "zeal" ([Romans 8:24](../../../kjv/romans/8/24)) at His first coming was but a type of His zeal and
vengeance against the foes of God at His second coming ([2 Thessalonians 1:8-10](../../../kjv/2-thessalonians/1/8-10);
[Revelation 19:11-21](../../../kjv/revelation/19/11-21)).

**18. deeds**—*Hebrew,*
"recompenses"; "according as their *deeds demand*"
[MAURER]. This verse
predicts the judgments at the Lord's second coming, which shall
precede the final redemption of His people ([Isaiah 66:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/18);
[Isaiah 66:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/15); [Isaiah 66:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/16)).
**islands**—(See on [Isaiah 66:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/16)). Distant countries.

**19.** ([Isaiah 45:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/6);
[Malachi 1:11](../../../kjv/malachi/1/11)). The result of God's
judgments ([Isaiah 26:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/9); [Isaiah 66:18-20](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/18-20)).
**like a flood**— ([Jeremiah 46:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/7);
[Jeremiah 46:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/46/8); [Revelation 12:15](../../../kjv/revelation/12/15)).
**lift up a standard**—rather,
from a different *Hebrew* root, "shall put him to flight,"
"drive him away" [MAURER].
LOWTH, giving a different
sense to the *Hebrew* for "enemy" from that in [Revelation 12:15](../../../kjv/revelation/12/15), and a forced meaning to the *Hebrew* for "Spirit
of the Lord," translates, "When He shall come as a river
*straitened* in its course, which a *mighty wind* drives
along."

**20. to Zion**— quotes it, "*out of* Zion." Thus Paul, by
inspiration, supplements the sense from : He was, and is come to *Zion,* first with redemption,
being sprung as man *out of* Zion. The *Septuagint*
translates "*for the sake of Zion.*" Paul applies this
verse to the coming restoration of Israel spiritually.
**them that turn from**—
([Romans 11:26](../../../kjv/romans/11/26)). "shall turn
away ungodliness from Jacob"; so the *Septuagint,* Paul
herein gives the full sense under inspiration. *They* turn from
transgression, because He first turns them from it, and it from them
([Psalms 130:4](../../../kjv/psalms/130/4); [Lamentations 5:21](../../../kjv/lamentations/5/21)).

**21. covenant with them . . .
thee**—The covenant is with *Christ,* and with *them*
only as united to Him ([Hebrews 2:13](../../../kjv/hebrews/2/13)).
Jehovah addresses Messiah the representative and ideal Israel. The
literal and spiritual Israel are His seed, to whom the promise is to
be fulfilled ([Psalms 22:30](../../../kjv/psalms/22/30)).
**spirit . . . not depart . . .
for ever**— ([Jeremiah 31:31-37](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/31-37);
[Matthew 28:20](../../../kjv/matthew/28/20)).

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