1God sendeth comfort to his people in the remission of sins. 3The preaching of John the Baptist. 9The glad tidings of the gospel. 12God's infinite power and wisdom; 18the vanity of likening him to any other being. 26An exhortation to trust in God's power and providence without desponding.
1COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, 1saith 2your God.
1 Namely, to the apostles, and to all them whom He shall send forth to preach the Gospel.
2 Namely, Christ, true God manifest in the flesh.
23Speak ye 4comfortably 5to Jerusalem, and 6cry unto her, that 7her warfare is accomplished, that her 8iniquity is 9pardoned: 10for she hath received of the LORD’S hand 11double for all her sins.
3 Namely, in the time of Christ’s appearance in the flesh.
4 That is, friendly and comfortably. See Gen. 34 on verse 3.
5 That is, of the citizens of Jerusalem and of the church of God in general.
6 Or, preach unto her.
7 Thus He calls all kinds of misery and trouble wherewith they had to combat when God had visited them with the same. In particular one may hereby understand the grievous wars wherewith the people of the Jews were visited for many years before the time of Christ, and understand further especially the enmity between God and us, which is taken away by Christ, the Mediator. Other, her appointed time. See the annotation at Job 7 on verse 1.
8 That is, all her sins.
9 Hebr. is become acceptable or well pleasing, namely, to God the Lord, that is, penitent sinners are received into grace and favor by the satisfaction of our Lord Christ and the remission of their sins. Compare Isa. 27:9.
10 Or, that she hath received, etc. When God chastens His people and they then humble themselves under His correcting hand, His bowels of mercy (as Scripture speaks of God after the manner of men) are presently troubled for them, and it repents Him that He has smitten them sorely. See Jer. 16:18.
11 That is, abundantly, sufficiently. Compare Jer. 16:18; 17:18. Also Isa. 61:7.
3 ¶ 12Thea voice of him 13that crieth in the wilderness, 14Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight 15in the desert 16a highway for our God.
12 Namely, at the time of Christ’s coming.
a Mat. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23.
13 Or, of the preacher, namely, John the Baptist. See Mal. 3:1; Mat. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23.
14 That is, put away all wickedness and corruption out of your hearts, and seek for the pardon of sins by Christ, that He may come in unto you, and dwell in your hearts.
15 Such he calls the sinful world, or the wickedness of men in it. Or, these words may relate to the place where John the Baptist has preached.
16 Or, an elevated path, street.
417Every valley shall be exalted, and 18every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the 19crooked shall be made straight, and the 20rough places 21plain:
17 That is, he will make all things straight and even. The hearts of the elect shall be converted unto God, namely, by the preaching of John the Baptist. See Luke 1:16, 17.
18 That is, proud and hypocritical persons shall be humbled, and be brought to the knowledge of their sins.
19 That is, craftiness and wickedness shall be turned into simplicity and uprightness.
20 Or, rugged.
21 That is, an even or a smooth country.
5And 22theb glory of the LORD 23shall be revealed, and all 24flesh shall 25see it together: 26for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
22 That is, the great mercy and goodness of the Lord toward His people, and the glory of His truth, performing that which He had formerly promised.
b John 1:14.
23 Namely, in the Person of the Messiah, by His incarnation and Divine miracles, John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16.
24 That is, all the elect, of what state so ever they be, as Isa. 66:23.
25 That is, believe and confess.
26 That is, that the Lord is true in all His promises. Or thus: and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Or thus: all flesh shall see together that the mouth of the Lord (namely, the mouth of Christ) speaketh, namely, teaching in the land of the Jews. See verse 9.
627The voice said, 28Cry. And 29he said, What shall I cry? 30Allc flesh 31is grass, and 32all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
27 Namely, the voice of God, Who instructs the prophets, apostles, evangelists and all faithful teachers in the doctrine of truth, which they are to hold forth unto men.
28 Or, Preach. Also later on.
29 Namely, every one of God’s ministers.
30 That is, all men, such as they are by nature, Psalm 102:11; 103:15. See also Psalm 56 on verse 4; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24.
c Job 14:2; Psalm 90:5, 6; 102:11; 103:15; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24.
31 That is, as fading and perishing as grass, and of no value at all, so that they must seek their salvation outside of themselves.
32 That is, all the good it is able to effect touching this temporal life and managing of it. See 1 Peter 1:24.
7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely 33the people is grass.
33 Not only the common heap of sinful people, but even also the people of God.
8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the wordd of our God 34shall stand for ever.
d 1 Peter 1:25.
34 For it is an incorruptible seed, whereby we are born again unto life eternal, 1 Peter 1:23, 25.
9 ¶ 35O Zion, 36that bringest 37good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O 38Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold 39your God!
35 Where the apostle would be endued with power from on high, and from where the Gospel would go forth to be dispersed throughout the entire world. See Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2; Acts 2; 8.
36 Others render these words thus: O thou soul that bringest good tidings unto Zion. Or, O thou preacher or publisher of good tidings unto Zion. And so in the following clause.
37 Understand here by the good tidings, salvation by Christ.
38 Where the apostle would be endued with power from on high, and from where the Gospel would go forth to be dispersed throughout the entire world. See Isa. 2:3; Micah 4:2; Acts 2; 8.
39 Namely, Jesus Christ. See Acts 2; 3; 4; 5.
10Behold, 40the Lord GOD will come 41with strong hand, and his arm 42shall rule for him: behold, 43hise reward is 44with him, and 45his work before him.
40 Namely, Christ. These are the words of the prophet.
41 Or, against the strong. By the strong one is meant here the devil of hell, Mat. 12:29; John 12:31; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8. Other, with a strong hand.
42 Other, shall rule over him, namely, over Satan; that is, Christ shall conquer the devil, (thus ruling is taken for conquering, Isa. 41:2), He shall strip him of his armor, and rob him of his power. Compare Luke 11:21; John 12:31; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14.
43 That is, the punishment which He shall give to that strong one and his adherents, namely, unto Satan and wicked men, to them He shall give eternal damnation, and a gracious reward unto His elect. Compare Rom. 2:6; Rev. 22:12.
e Isa. 62:11.
44 Namely, with the Lord, as Isa. 62:11.
45 Hebr. his work, that is, the wages or reward, which He shall give unto men according to their works. Compare Jer. 22:13, with the annotation.
11He shall 46feed 47hisf flock like a shepherd: he shall gather 48the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gentlyg lead those 49that are with young.
46 That is, teach and instruct by the preaching of His Word.
47 That is, His sheep, the believers. See Ezek. 34:23, 24; John 10:11.
f Ezek. 34:23, 24; Micah 7:14; John 10:11.
48 That is, He shall kindly accept and comfort the humble and dejected in spirit, Mat. 11:28.
g Isa. 49:10.
49 Or, that give milk.
12 ¶ 50Who hath measured the waters 51in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span,h and comprehended the dust of the earth in 52a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
50 As if he said: Has Jesus Christ not done it as an almighty God? Whose power, wisdom and majesty are infinite and incomprehensible.
51 Or, with his hollow hand.
h (Heb. zereth) distance from extended little finger to thumb, 3 handbreadths; 9 inches or 229 millimeters
52 See the annotation at Psalm 80 on verse 5.
13Whoi hath 53directed 54the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath 55taught him?
i Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor. 2:16.
53 Or, measured, or, weighed, that is, perfectly known.
54 Compare Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor. 2:16.
55 Or, instructed. Hebr. given knowledge, or, made knowing.
1456With whom took he counsel, and 57who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way 58of understanding?
56 As if he said: Who dares to boast that he has shown God the way that He must enter and keep to govern His creatures wisely and justly?
57 Or, who should make him understanding.
58 Or, of manifold understanding. Hebr. of understandings.
15Behold, the nations 59are 60as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust 61of the balance: behold, he 62taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
59 Namely, are considered by God and being compared with Him.
60 Namely, as a drop which hangs on a bucket full of water, or, as a small drop of water that remains in the pail after the water is poured out.
61 That is, that remains in the balance, namely, when powder or beaten spice, or something similar that has been weighed in it.
62 Or, heaveth, lifteth up, namely, to cast away.
16And 63Lebanon 64is not sufficient 65to burn, nor 66the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
63 That is, the trees of Lebanon.
64 That is, would not be able to afford wood enough, namely, when they would honor God according to His dignity and highness with a sufficient number of burnt offerings.
65 Other, to burn the burnt offering.
66 Namely, of Lebanon, that is, the animals that feed in Mount Lebanon.
17All nations before him 67are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing,j and 68vanity.
67 Namely, being compared to the great and almighty God, Dan. 4:35.
j Dan. 4:35.
68 Or, waste. See the annotation at Gen. 1 on verse 2.
18¶Tok whom 69then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
k Isa. 46:5; Acts 17:29.
69 Namely, while He is such a great and mighty God, and so full of majesty.
1970The workman melteth 71a graven image, and 72the goldsmith 73spreadeth it over with gold, and 74casteth silver chains.
70 The Hebrew word signifies properly an artisan, who works in copper, or in iron, or in wood; here it signifies a caster of copper; for it follows later that the goldsmith gilds it over; in verse 20 it signifies a carver in wood or stone.
71 The Hebrew word signifies properly a carved or graven image; but it is taken here for a cast image.
72 The Hebrew word rendered goldsmith properly signifies here a founder or caster.
73 Hebr. stretcheth or spreadeth it out. The same Hebrew word is in Gen. 1:6. Here the sense is: the goldsmith first spreads out the gold, namely, when he beats it out into thin plates or sheets, and thereafter he overlays the image therewith.
74 Hebr. he casteth or melteth silver chains, namely, to secure the image therewith, that it may not fall down; or to adorn or beautify it therewith.
20He that is so impoverished 75that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, 76that shall not be moved.
75 That is, that he has no copper to bring to the founder, nor gold, nor silver to bring to the goldsmith. The sense is: he who is so poor that he cannot spare much to have made a costly image. Other, he that is poor, he chooseth out a tree that will not rot for an oblation. Other, is one in danger; an oblation, that is, he vows. How does he pay for it? He chooses out a tree that will not rot, and this he offers instead of gold or silver.
76 Or, that cannot move itself, or, is not moved.
2177Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you 78from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
77 As if he said: Ye people of Israel, to whom God has revealed Himself from the beginning, and to whom He has given His law, would ye not know and understand that images are nothing but vanity, and that God neither can nor may be represented by an image, and that there is no other God than the only eternal, true God, Who has created all things, and still preserves, guides and governs the same by His wisdom?
78 Hebr. from the head, that is, from the very time that the foundation of the earth was laid. Some likewise take the words following thus: have ye not understood it from the foundations of the earth?
22It is 79he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are 80as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out thel heavens as a curtain, and 81spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
79 Namely, God.
80 Namely, being compared to God. See this similitude also Num. 13:33.
l Job 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isa. 44:24.
81 Namely, the heavens. See Psalm 104:2.
23That 82bringeth the princesm to nothing; he 83maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
82 Hebr. giveth to nothing. Compare Psalm 2:9.
m Job 12:21; Psalm 107:40.
83 That is, He makes them to be as nothing before Him; or, He makes them to perish quickly and come to nothing.
24Yea, 84they 85shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away 86as stubble.
84 Namely, those rulers and judges of the earth.
85 They cannot or shall not be, or subsist, if God would be pleased to show His power on them.
86 That is, as if they were stubble.
25To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith 87the Holy One.
87 Namely, God.
26Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created 88these things, that 89bringeth out 90their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; 91not one faileth.
88 Namely, those things which are on high, namely, the heaven, and all that is in it, and on it.
89 Or, bringeth forth.
90 That is, the stars, which He has placed each in their several ranks and orders, and as an army causes everyone to appear in their turns, and they are all obedient to Him. See Psalm 147:4.
91 Namely, of all those soldiers in His army, that is, of all the stars.
27Why sayest thou, 92O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, 93My way is hid from the LORD, and 94my judgment is passed over from my God?
92 O My people, My church.
93 That is, my condition, namely, in what misery I am. As if he said: The Lord does not know how it fares with me, whereas He does not deliver me out of my misery.
94 That is, God does not execute judgment for me upon mine enemies who persecute me wrongfully.
28¶Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, 95fainteth not, neither is weary? there is non searching of his understanding.
95 Namely, of governing the world, and His church in it.
n Psalm 147:5.
29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30Even 96the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
96 That is, the young and nimble persons, who rely upon their youth and strength.
31But they that wait upon the LORD shall 97renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings 98as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
97 Hebr. alter, or change, namely, by the working of the Holy Ghost, Who dwells in them. Also Isa. 41:1.
98 This bird lifts up itself in the air higher than any other bird. See Job 39:27; Psalm 103:5; Jer. 49:16; Obadiah verse 4.