1HöretH8085 auf mich, dieH7291 ihr der GerechtigkeitH6664 nachjaget, die ihr JehovaH3068 suchetH1245! Blicket hin auf den FelsenH6697, ausH2672 dem ihr gehauen, und auf die Höhlung der GrubeH953, aus welcher ihr gegraben seidH5365. 2Blicket hin auf AbrahamH85, euren VaterH1, und auf SaraH8283, die euch geborenH2342 hat; denn ich riefH7121 ihn, den einenH259, und ich segneteH1288 ihn und mehrteH7235 ihn. 3Denn Jehova tröstetH5162 ZionH6726, tröstetH5162 alle ihre Trümmer; undH3068 er macht ihre WüsteH4057 gleich EdenH5731, undH2723 ihre Steppe gleich dem GartenH1588 Jehovas. WonneH8057 undH7760 FreudeH8342 werden darin gefundenH4672 werden, Danklied undH3068 StimmeH6963 des Gesanges. 4MerketH238 aufH7181 michH5971, mein VolkH5971, und meine Nation, horchet auf mich! Denn ein GesetzH8451 wirdH216 vonH3318 mir ausgehen, und mein RechtH4941 werde ich aufstellen zum Lichte der VölkerH3816. 5NaheH7138 ist meine GerechtigkeitH6664, mein HeilH3468 ist ausgezogenH3318, und meine ArmeH2220 werden die VölkerH5971 richtenH8199. Auf mich werden die InselnH339 hoffen, und sie werden harrenH6960 auf meinen ArmH2220. 6Hebet eure AugenH5869 auf gen HimmelH8064 undH5375 blicket auf dieH3427 ErdeH776 unten! Denn die HimmelH8064 werden zergehen wieH3644 RauchH6227, und die ErdeH776 wird zerfallen wie ein KleidH899, und ihre Bewohner werden dahinsterbenH4191. Aber mein HeilH3444 wird in EwigkeitH5769 sein, und meine GerechtigkeitH6666 wird nichtH5027 zerschmettert werden. 7HöretH8085 auf mich, die ihrH3045 GerechtigkeitH6664 kennet, du VolkH5971, in dessen HerzenH3820 mein GesetzH8451 ist: FürchtetH3372 nichtH2865 der MenschenH582 HohnH2781, und erschrecket nicht vor ihren Schmähungen! 8Denn wie ein KleidH899 wird sie verzehrenH398 die MotteH6211, und wie WolleH6785 sie verzehren die Schabe; aber meine GerechtigkeitH6666 wird in EwigkeitH5769 seinH398, und mein HeilH3444 durch alle GeschlechterH1755 hindurch. 9Wache aufH5782, wache aufH5782; kleideH3847 dich in MachtH5797, du ArmH2220 JehovasH3068! Wache aufH5782 wie in den TagenH3117 der Vorzeit, in den GeschlechternH1755 vorH6924 alters! Bist du es nicht, der RahabH7294 zerhauenH2672, das Seeungeheuer durchbohrt hatH2490? 10Bist du es nicht, der das MeerH3220, dieH5674 WasserH4325 der großenH7227 Flut, trockenH2717 gelegt, der die TiefenH8415 des MeeresH3220 zu einem WegeH1870 gemacht hatH7760, damit die ErlöstenH1350 hindurchzögen? 11Und die Befreiten JehovasH3068 werdenH7725 zurückkehren und nach ZionH6726 kommenH935 mit Jubel, und ewigeH5769 FreudeH8057 wird über ihrem HaupteH7218 sein; sieH5381 werden WonneH8057 und FreudeH8342 erlangen, Kummer und SeufzenH585 werden entfliehenH5127. 12Ich, ich bin esH5162, der euchH3372 tröstet. Wer bist duH5414, daß du dich vor dem MenschenH582 fürchtest, der hinstirbt, und vor dem Menschenkinde, welches wie GrasH2682 dahingegeben wird? 13Und daß du JehovaH3068 vergissestH7911, der dichH8548 gemachtH6213, der die HimmelH8064 ausgespannt und die ErdeH776 gegründet hat; und dich beständig, denH834 ganzen TagH3117, vorH6440 dem Grimme des Bedrängers fürchtestH6342, wenn er sichH5186 rüstet, um zuH3559 verderbenH7843? Wo istH3245 denn der GrimmH2534 des Bedrängers? 14Der in Fesseln Gekrümmte wird alsbald losgelassen werden und wird nichtH4191 hinsterben in die GrubeH7845, und sein BrotH3899 wird ihmH6605 nicht mangelnH2637. 15Denn ich bin JehovaH3068, dein GottH430, der das MeerH3220 erregt, und seine Wogen brausenH1993; JehovaH3068 der HeerscharenH6635 ist sein NameH8034. - 16Und ich habeH7760 meine Worte in deinen MundH6310 gelegt und dich bedecktH3680 mit dem SchattenH6738 meiner HandH3027, umH1697 die HimmelH8064 aufzuschlagen und die ErdeH776 zu gründen, und zu ZionH6726 zu sagenH559 : Du bist mein VolkH5971! 17Erwache, erwache; stehe aufH5782, JerusalemH3389, die duH5782 aus der HandH3027 JehovasH3068 den BecherH3563 seines GrimmesH2534 getrunkenH8354! Den Kelchbecher des Taumels hast du getrunkenH8354, hast ihnH6965 ausgeschlürft. 18Da war niemand, der sieH2388 leiteteH5095, von allen KindernH1121, die sie geborenH3205; und niemand, der sie bei der HandH3027 nahm von allen KindernH1121, die sie großgezogen. 19ZweierleiH8147 war es, was dir begegneteH7122 -wer sollte dir Beileid bezeigen? - -: die Verheerung und die Zerschmetterung, und die Hungersnot und das SchwertH2719. Wie könnte ich dich tröstenH5162? 20Deine KinderH1121 sind ohnmächtig hingesunken, sie lagenH7901 an allen Straßenecken wie eine Antilope im NetzeH4364; sie waren vollH4392 des GrimmesH2534 JehovasH3068, des ScheltensH1606 deines GottesH430. 21Darum höreH8085 doch dieses, du ElendeH6041 und TrunkeneH7937, aber nicht von WeinH3196! 22So spricht JehovaH3068, dein HerrH113, und dein GottH430, der die Rechtssache seines VolkesH5971 führt: Siehe, ichH7378 nehmeH3947 aus deiner HandH3027 den Taumelbecher, den Kelchbecher meines GrimmesH2534; duH559 wirst ihn hinfort nichtH3254 mehr trinkenH8354. 23UndH7760 ich gebeH7760 ihn inH5674 dieH5674 HandH3027 deiner Peiniger, die zu deiner SeeleH5315 sprachenH559 : Bücke dichH7812, daß wir darüber hinschreiten! Und du machtest deinen RückenH1460 der ErdeH776 gleich, und gleich einer Straße für die darüber Schreitenden.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FAITHFUL REMNANT OF ISRAEL TO TRUST IN GOD FOR DELIVERANCE, BOTH FROM THEIR LONG BABYLONIAN EXILE, AND FROM THEIR PRESENT DISPERSION. (Isa. 51:1-23)
me--the God of your fathers.
ye . . . follow after righteousness--the godly portion of the nation;
Isa 51:7 shows this (
Pro 15:9;
1Tim 6:11). "Ye follow righteousness," seek it therefore from Me, who "bring it near," and that a righteousness "not about to be abolished" (
Isa 51:6-
Isa 51:7); look to Abraham, your father (
Isa 51:2), as a sample of how righteousness before Me is to be obtained; I, the same God who blessed him, will bless you at last (
Isa 51:3); therefore trust in Me, and fear not man's opposition (
Isa 51:7-
Isa 51:8,
Isa 51:12-
Isa 51:13). The mistake of the Jews, heretofore, has been, not in that they "followed after righteousness," but in that they followed it "by the works of the law," instead of "by faith," as Abraham did (
Rom 9:31-
Rom 9:32;
Rom 10:3-
Rom 10:4;
Rom 4:2-
Rom 4:5).
hole of . . . pit--The idea is not, as it is often quoted, the inculcation of humility, by reminding men of the fallen state from which they have been taken, but that as Abraham, the quarry, as it were (compare
Isa 48:1), whence their nation was hewn, had been called out of a strange land to the inheritance of Canaan, and blessed by God, the same God is able to deliver and restore them also (compare
Matt 3:9).
2 alone--translate, "I called him when he was but one" (
Ezek 33:24). The argument is: the same God who had so blessed "one" individual, as to become a mighty nation (
Gen 12:1;
Gen 22:7), can also increase and bless the small remnant of Israel, both that left in the Babylonish captivity, and that left in the present and latter days (
Zech 14:2); "the residue" (
Isa 13:8-
Isa 13:9).
3 For--See for the argument, see on
Isa 51:2.
the garden of the Lord--restoration of the primeval paradise (
Gen 2:8;
Ezek 28:13;
Rev 2:7).
melody--Hebrew, "psalm." God's praises shall again be heard.
4 my people--the Jews. This reading is better than that of GESENIUS: "O peoples . . . nations," namely, the Gentiles. The Jews are called on to hear and rejoice in the extension of the true religion to the nations; for, at the first preaching of the Gospel, as in the final age to come, it was from Jerusalem that the gospel law was, and is, to go forth (
Isa 2:3).
law . . . judgment--the gospel dispensation and institutions (
Isa 42:1, "judgment").
make . . . to rest--establish firmly; found.
light, &c.-- (
Isa 42:6).
5 righteousness . . . near--that is, faithful fulfilment of the promised deliverance, answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause (
Isa 46:13;
Isa 56:1;
Rom 10:8-
Rom 10:9). Ye follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it (
Isa 51:1).
arms--put for Himself; I by My might.
judge-- (
Isa 2:3-
Isa 2:4;
Ps 98:9).
isles, &c.-- (
Isa 60:9).
arm-- (
Rom 1:16), "the power of God unto (the Gentiles as well as the Jews) salvation."
6 (
Isa 40:6,
Isa 40:8;
Ps 102:26;
Heb 1:11-
Heb 1:12).
vanish away--literally, "shall be torn asunder," as a garment [MAURER]; which accords with the context.
in like manner--But GESENIUS, "Like a gnat"; like the smallest and vilest insect. JEROME translates, as English Version, and infers that "in like manner" as man, the heavens (that is, the sky) and earth are not to be annihilated, but changed for the better (
Isa 65:17).
righteousness--My faithfully fulfilled promise (see on
Isa 51:5).
7 know righteousness--(See on
Isa 51:1).
8 (See on
Isa 50:9;
Job 4:18-
Job 4:20). Not that the moth eats men up, but they shall be destroyed by as insignificant instrumentality as the moth that eats a garment.
9 Impassioned prayer of the exiled Jews.
ancient days-- (
Ps 44:1).
Rahab--poetical name for Egypt (see on
Isa 30:7).
dragon--Hebrew, tannin. The crocodile, an emblem of Egypt, as represented on coins struck after the conquest of Egypt by Augustus; or rather here, "its king," Pharaoh (see on
Isa 27:1;
Ps 74:13-
Ps 74:14;
Ezek 32:2, Margin;
Ezek 29:3).
10 it--the arm.
Art not Thou the same Almighty power that . . . ? dried the sea--the Red Sea (
Isa 43:16;
Exod 14:21).
11 (
Isa 35:10).
Therefore--assurance of faith; or else the answer of Jehovah corresponding to their prayer. As surely as God redeemed Israel out of Egypt, He shall redeem them from Babylon, both the literal in the age following, and mystical in the last ages (
Rev 18:20-
Rev 18:21). There shall be a second exodus (
Isa 11:11-
Isa 11:16;
Isa 27:12-
Isa 27:13).
singing--image from the custom of singing on a journey when a caravan is passing along the extended plains in the East.
everlasting joy-- (
Jude 1:24).
sorrow . . . flee away-- (
Rev 21:4).
12 comforteth-- (
Isa 51:3;
Isa 40:1).
thou--Zion.
son of man--frail and dying as his parent Adam.
be made as grass--wither as grass (
Isa 40:6-
Isa 40:7).
13 (
Isa 40:12,
Isa 40:26,
Isa 40:28), the same argument of comfort drawn from the omnipotence of the Creator.
as if . . . ready, &c.--literally, "when he directs," namely, his arrow, to destroy (
Ps 21:12;
Ps 7:13;
Ps 11:2) [MAURER].
14 captive exile--literally, one bowed down as a captive (
Isa 10:4) [MAURER]. The scene is primarily Babylon, and the time near the close of the captivity. Secondarily, and antitypically, the mystical Babylon, the last enemy of Israel and the Church, in which they have long suffered, but from which they are to be gloriously delivered.
pit--such as were many of the ancient dungeons (compare
Jer 38:6,
Jer 38:11,
Jer 38:13;
Gen 37:20).
nor . . . bread . . . fail-- (
Isa 33:16;
Jer 37:21).
15 divided . . . sea--the Red Sea. The same Hebrew word as "make to rest" (
Isa 51:4). Rather, "that terrify the sea," that is, restrain it by My rebuke, "when its waves roar" [GESENIUS]. The Hebrew favors MAURER, "that terrify the sea so that the waves roar." The sense favors GESENIUS (
Jer 5:22;
Jer 31:35), or English Version (
Isa 51:9-
Isa 51:10, which favors the special reference to the exodus from Egypt).
16 Addressed to Israel, embodied in "the servant of Jehovah" (
Isa 42:1), Messiah, its ideal and representative Head, through whom the elect remnant is to be restored.
put my words in thy mouth--true of Israel, the depository of true religion, but fully realized only in Israel's Head and antitype, Messiah (
Isa 49:2;
Isa 50:4-
Isa 50:5;
Isa 59:21;
Deut 18:18;
John 3:34).
covered . . . in . . . shadow of . . . hand--protected thee (see on
Isa 49:2).
plant--rather, "fix" as a tabernacle; so it ought to be rendered (
Dan 11:45). The "new creation," now going on in the spiritual world by the Gospel (
Eph 2:10), and hereafter to be extended to the visible world, is meant (
Isa 65:17;
Isa 66:22; compare
Isa 13:13;
2Pet 3:10-13).
Zion--Its restoration is a leading part in the new creation to come (
Isa 65:17,
Isa 65:19).
17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, &c.-- (
Isa 52:1).
drunk--Jehovah's wrath is compared to an intoxicating draught because it confounds the sufferer under it, and makes him fall (
Job 21:20;
Ps 60:3;
Ps 75:8;
Jer 25:15-
Jer 25:16;
Jer 49:12;
Zech 12:2;
Rev 14:10); ("poured out without mixture"; rather, "the pure wine juice mixed with intoxicating drugs").
of trembling--which produced trembling or intoxication.
wrung . . . out--drained the last drop out; the dregs were the sediments from various substances, as honey, dates, and drugs, put into the wine to increase the strength and sweetness.
18 Following up the image in
Isa 51:17, intoxicated and confused by the cup of God's anger, she has none to guide her in her helpless state; she has not yet awakened out of the sleep caused by that draught. This cannot apply to the Babylonish captivity; for in it they had Ezekiel and Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, as "guides," and soon awoke out of that sleep; but it applies to the Jews now, and will be still more applicable in their coming oppression by Antichrist.
19 two--classes of evils, for he enumerates four, namely, desolation and destruction to the land and state; famine and the sword to the people.
who shall be sorry for thee--so as to give thee effectual relief: as the parallel clause, "By whom shall I comfort thee?" shows (
Lam 2:11-
Lam 2:13).
20 head of all . . . streets-- (
Lam 2:19;
Lam 4:1).
wild bull--rather, "oryx" [JEROME], or gazelle [GESENIUS], or wild goat [BOCHART]; commonly in the East taken in a net, of a wide sweep, into which the beasts were hunted together. The streets of cities in the East often have gates, which are closed at night; a person wishing to escape would be stopped by them and caught, as a wild animal in a net.
21 drunken . . . not with wine-- (
Isa 29:9; compare
Isa 51:17,
Isa 51:20, here;
Lam 3:15).
22 pleadeth . . . cause-- (
Ps 35:1;
Jer 50:34;
Mic 7:9).
no more drink it-- (
Isa 54:7-
Isa 54:9). This cannot apply to Israel after the return from Babylon, but only to them after their final restoration.
23 (
Isa 49:26;
Jer 25:15-
Jer 25:29;
Zech 12:2).
Bow down that . . . go over--Conquerors often literally trod on the necks of conquered kings, as Sapor of Persia did to the Roman emperor Valerian (
Josh 10:24;
Ps 18:40;
Ps 66:11-
Ps 66:12).
Zion long in bondage (
Isa 51:17-
Isa 51:20) is called to put on beautiful garments appropriate to its future prosperity.