1.
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
not shortened. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 11:23 ). Compare Isaiah 50:2 . The phrase occurs nowhere else in the O.T.
2.
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 . Same word as in verses: Isaiah 59:3 , Isaiah 59:12 . Not the same as in verses: Isaiah 59:6 , Isaiah 59:7 .
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
sins. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .
have hid His face. Compare Isaiah 45:15 ; Isaiah 54:8 ; Isaiah 57:17 .
3.
For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
defiled. Hebrew. ga'al, to redeem, put for ga'al, to pollute, here, and Ezra 2:62 .Nehemiah 7:64 .Lamentations 4:14 .Daniel 1:8 , Daniel 1:8 . Zephaniah 3:1 .Malachi 1:7 , Malachi 1:12 .
4.
None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
calleth for justice = sueth in righteousness.
for truth = in truth.
trust = confide. Hebrew. b a t a h . App-69 .
vanity = confusion. Hebrew. tohu, as in Genesis 1:2 ("without form"). See note on Isaiah 24:10 .
lies = vanity.
iniquity. Hebrew. 'aven. App-44 . Same word as in verses: Isa 59:59 , Isaiah 59:6 , Isaiah 59:7 . Not the same as in verses: Isaiah 59:2 , Isaiah 59:3 , Isaiah 59:12 .
5.
They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
cockatrice = adders', or vipers'. See note on Isaiah 11:8 .
eggs . . . web. Note the Alternation in verses: Isaiah 5:6 .
weave. See note on Isaiah 19:9 .
viper. Occurs in Isaiah only here, and in the "former" portion (Isaiah 30:6 ). See App-79 .
6.
Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.
7.
Their feet run to evil, and they make hast to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Their feet = They. Feet being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), for the whole person. Quoted in Romans 3:15 , Romans 3:16 .
evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
innocent blood. Reference to Pentateuch. Only here in Isaiah; five times in Deuteronomy (Isaiah 19:10 , Isaiah 19:13 ; Isaiah 19:21 , Isaiah 19:8 , Isaiah 19:9 ).
paths = highways. See note on Isaiah 7:3 .
8.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
The way, &c. See Romans 3:17 .
Judgment = righteousness.
9.
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
justice = righteousness. Same as "judgment", Isaiah 59:8 .
10.
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
We grope, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:29 ). Idea the same, but word different. The word in Deuteronomy is the same as in Genesis 27:12 , Genesis 27:22 ; Genesis 31:34 , Genesis 31:37 . Exodus 10:21 .Job 5:14 ; Job 12:25 . The word in Isaiah occurs nowhere else. App-92 .
night. Hebrew. nesheph. A Homonym, with two meanings: (1) darkness, as here; Job 24:15 .Proverbs 7:9 . 2Ki 7:5 , 2 Kings 7:7 . 2Ki 5:11 ; 2 Kings 21:4 .Jeremiah 13:16 ; (2) daylight, 1 Samuel 30:17 . Job 7:4 .Psalms 119:147 .
11.
We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.
12.
For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
transgressions. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
sins. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 . Note that these three words occur together in Leviticus 16:21 .
13.
In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
14.
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15.
Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
truth faileth = the truth is found missing,
maketh himself a prey: i.e. is liable to be despoiled, or outlawed. Rashi says, "is considered mad", as Authorized Version margin
16.
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
arm. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ). Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the power put forth by it.
17.
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
He put on. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia . Note that all the armour is for defense.
breastplate = a coat of mail.
of vengeance for clothing = of avenging for clothing. Compare Isaiah 61:2 ; Isaiah 63:4 . The Oxf. Gesenius explains it as "of Jehovah as champion of Israel" (p. 528 b).
zeal = jealousy.
18.
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
islands = maritime countries. See note on Isaiah 11:11 .
19.
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
enemy. Hebrew. tzar, as in Isaiah 59:18 .
like a flood = like the flood: the Nile in its overflow.
Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
lift up. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia .
standard: or, banner. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 17:15 ). Hebrew. nasas . App-92 .
20.
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
the. Redeemer = a Redeemer: i.e. the Messiah. Quoted in Romans 11:26 , Romans 11:27 , showing that the fullness of the Gentiles must be the fullness of the Gentile times.
to = for: i.e. on behalf of. See note on Romans 11:26 .
21.
As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
for ever. This coming deliverance for Israel will be final, and cannot therefore as yet have taken place.