Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
Sing = Shout in triumph (Isaiah 52:8 , Isaiah 52:9 . Zephaniah 3:14 ). Quoted in Galatians 1:4 , Gal 1:27 .
barren. Refers to Sarah.
break forth into singing. See note on Isaiah 14:7 .
children = sons.
desolate. See note on Isaiah 1:7 .
married wife = the husbanded one.
the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
stakes = tent-pegs.
For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Gentiles = nations.
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Fear not. ashamed. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:6 ). Compare Isaiah 44:16 , Isaiah 44:17 .
the shame of thy youth. Reference to Israel's days of idolatry. Compare Jeremiah 3:24 , Jeremiah 3:25 .
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Maker. Hebrew, plural. Reference to the triune Jehovah.
the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 . thy Redeemer = thy kinsman-Redeemer. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 48:16 . Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 15:13 ). App-92 .
the Holy One of Israel. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .
The God of the whole earth. This is-the title connecting Jehovah with universal dominion. Compare "The Lord of the whole earth" in Joshua 3:11 , Joshua 3:13 .Zechariah 6:5 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
forsaken. See note on Isaiah 1:4 .
spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
gather thee = gather thee out.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
a little wrath = in an overflow of wrath.
I hid My face. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 31:17 , Deuteronomy 31:18 ). Compare Isaiah 8:17 ; Isaiah 53:3 ; Isaiah 64:7 . See App-92 .
everlasting kindness. See note on "ancient", Isaiah 44:7 .
For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
the waters of Noah. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis Chapters 6-9). See App-92 .
thee. Supply Ellipsis , "thee [for ever]". Some codices, reading one word instead of two,with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate read "the days of Noah. . . .when [I sware, &c.]".
I have sworn = when I sware. Reference to Pentateuch. (Genesis 8-9). Noah is nowhere else mentioned in the O.T. except in lCh 1:4.Ezekiel 14:14-20 . See App-92 . thee. Supply Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "thee [for ever]".
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
windows = battlements. borders = boundaries.
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
all thy children, &c. Quoted in John 6:45 .
of = by. Genitive (of Origin). App-17 .
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
not. See note on "no" (Isaiah 5:8 ).
Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
they: i.e. the enemies of Israel (Psalms 56:7 ; Psalms 59:4 ).
shall fall = shall be overthrown (Compare Isaiah 8:14 ).
Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
I have created. Compare Isaiah 45:7 , Isaiah 45:8 .
instrument = weapon.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
weapon. Same word as instrument (Isaiah 54:16 ).