1A sharp reproof of Jerusalem for various sins. 8An exhortation to wait for the restoration of Israel, 14and to rejoice for their salvation by God.
1WOE to her 1that is filthy and 2polluted, to 3the oppressing city!
1 Or, corrupt, vicious, or greedy. Other, Woe to the crop, that is, the city, which has a great crop, that swallows up all, like unto birds of prey which swallow all they find, either course or raw.
2 Or, city of prey. The Hebrew word signifies to prey and to oppress. Other, the stained city, namely, with all manner of abominable sins. Some read here the city of pigeon, that sort of fowl having a great crop, and devouring up much food.
3 Understand the city of Jerusalem, whose kings, princes and other mighty and insolent citizens and inhabitants were wont to oppress with much inconvenience to many. Compare this verse with Isaiah 1; 5.
2She obeyed not the 4voice; 5she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she 6drew not near to her God.
4 The exhortations of the Lord by His prophets.
5 She refuses to be instructed, which is a sign of folly, Prov. 1:7. Compare Jer. 2:30; 5:3; 7:28.
6 Namely, with all her heart. Compare Isa. 29:13, but Hosea 6:1 there the godly call one upon another to turn unto the Lord.
3Hera princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are 7evening wolves; 8they gnaw not the bones 9till the morrow.
a Prov. 28:15. Compare Ezek. 22:27.
7 That steal about in the evening, to lie in wait for the sheep. See Hab. 1:8. The word evening may also be understood as night, as Zeph. 2:7.
8 But eat their prey right away, flesh and bones together, not leaving so much as the bare bones behind to the next morning. Hebr. that do not denude the bones till the morning. See Num. 24 on verse 8, and compare Jer. 5:6.
9 Or, on the morrow, or, until on the morrow.
4Herb prophets are light and 10treacherous persons: her priests 11have polluted the sanctuary, 12they have done violence to the law.
b Jer. 23:11, 32; Hosea 9:7.
10 Hebr. men of faithlessness, who are faithful neither to God nor man.
11 That is, they profane or defile the sanctuary, or that which is hallowed and consecrated to the Lord. Or, they do not preach the Word of God sincerely, and do not explain the true meaning.
12 See the annotation at Ezek. 22 on verse 26. Compare Mat. 23:16; Mark 7:9, 10, etc.
513The just LORD 14is in the midst 15thereof; he willc not do iniquity: 16every morning 17doth he bring his judgment to light, 18he faileth not; but the unjust 19knoweth no shame.
13 Or, The LORD that is righteous, etc.
14 Whereas He had set up His worship at Jerusalem. Some perceive that these are the words of the Jews, objecting to the prophet upon his words in verse 4.
15 Namely, of the city of Jerusalem.
c Deut. 32:4.
16 Hebr. morning by morning, that is, daily. See 2 Chron. 36:15; Jer. 7:13, 25; 11:7; 25:3.
17 That is, He causes His judgment to be publicly taught, namely, by His prophets, who doubtless did what Paul commends to his disciple Timothy, 1 Tim. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:2.
18 Namely, what may be wanting unto the instruction of this people, Isa. 5:4.
19 That is, he does not ask for honor or dishonor. Compare Jer. 3:3, etc.; 5:3.
6I have cut off the nations: 20their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, 21so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
20 See Zeph. 1 on verse 16. Yet some do here understand by towers as corners, namely, the uttermost borders or boundaries of their country.
21 That is, there is not a man to be found in them. Compare Zeph. 2:5, 6, 14, 15.
722I said, 23Surely 24thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so 25their dwelling should not be cut off, 26howsoever I punished them: 27but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
22 That is, I thought by Myself.
23 Namely, in consideration of the judgments which were executed upon the heathen. Other, Fear me nevertheless, receive instruction, etc.
24 O Jerusalem, wilt fear me, taking example and warning from the heathen.
25 That is, the city Jerusalem. Others understand here by their dwelling the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem; or, their dwelling for their dwellings.
26 Or, by all wherewith I visited them; by them some understand the heathen, others the Jews.
27 Or, nevertheless they made haste, etc.; that is, early they willfully brought on their own destruction; or, from the morning early have they spoil all their works; or, nevertheless they did spoil all their works. See of the like joining of two verbs Psalm 45 on verse 4.
8¶Therefore 28wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: 29for my determination is to gather 30the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, 31to pour 32upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for 33all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
28 He still addresses the wicked among the Jews. The sense is: Do ye but attend. I will surely come and visit you by the Chaldeans and other nations.
29 That is, the decree of My purpose.
30 Namely, the Chaldeans and other nations. See Ezek. 16:37.
31 See Psalm 79 on verse 6, and compare Ezek. 22:31.
32 Namely, upon the Jews, to wit, upon the stubborn Jews. See Zeph. 1:18.
33 Namely, the entire land of the Jews, as Zeph. 1:18. Understand thereby the major part of its inhabitants of the land of the Jews. Likewise Gen. 41:57 states: And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph …, that is, many inhabitants of the neighboring countries.
9For 34then 35will I turn to the people a pure 36language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him 37with one consent.
34 Namely, after that I also shall have visited these nations and the Jews. Others conceive that by then is here to be understood the time of the Messiah’s appearance.
35 Or, then will I change the lips of the nations into pure lips, that is, I will then regenerate Mine elect among the Gentiles by the Holy Spirit, that their mouth and heart shall be pure, considering and speaking of God pure thoughts, serving Him holily. See Isa. 57:19.
36 Hebr. lip.
37 Or, with one shoulder; that is, with one accord. This phrase is borrowed from men or beasts bearing burdens. See the annotation at Hosea 6 on verse 9. Compare Jer. 32:39, and see the fulfillment in Acts 1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:32. See also John 10:16; Eph. 2:14, etc.
10From beyond the rivers 38of Ethiopia my 39suppliants, 40even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring 41mine offering.
38 That is, from the land of the Moors. Nevertheless understand among the Moors other remote people and nations. Isa. 18:2, 7; 60:4.
39 See the annotations on Gen. 25 on verse 21; Ezek. 35 on verse 13. Understand here those, being converted to the true God, who are daily addressing their prayers to God.
40 That is, together with the Jews, who were dispersed in the Babylonian captivity, who are as dear unto Me as a daughter to her mother. Compare John 11:52. Some translators insert here namely instead of even in this sense: The present which one shall bring unto Me, shall be the Jews who were dispersed in the countries situated on the side of the rivers of the Moors.
41 Namely, spiritual sacrifices or presents, that is, they shall serve and obey Me. Compare Isa. 18:7; Mal. 1:11; Rom. 12:1. Other, from the other side of the river of the Moors shall my serious worshippers be brought unto me for a present. See the fulfillment of this prophecy Acts 8:27, 35, 36.
11In that day shalt 42thou 43not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy 44pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty 45because of my holy mountain.
42 O My people, O My church.
43 The sense is: Since ye shall be sanctified and cleansed from all your sins by the blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, ye shall not be made ashamed for the same before God’s tribunal.
44 Other, glory; for, the Hebrew word is sometimes taken in a good and sometimes in a bad sense. The meaning here seems to be this: Henceforth there shall be no one found anymore among you who shall exalt themselves about the outward ceremonies and that glorious structure of the temple (Jer. 7:4), for, the Kingdom of God and His church shall from that time onward be dispersed over the entire world, John 4:21, 23.
45 Or, upon mine holy mountain. Hebr. upon the mountain of my holiness, that is, therefore that ye come and offer in My Temple upon the mountain of the Lord, or, on account of your vain confidence in the outward ceremonies, without heeding how your conscience may be sanctified.
12I will also leave in the midst of thee 46an afflicted and 47poor people, and they shall trust 48in the name of the LORD.
46 With respect that I shall have sufficiently chastised and humbled it.
47 That is, small and contemptible in the eyes of the world, and yet through the grace of God made rich in faith and other spiritual gifts.
48 That is, in the Lord, not in any outward thing, whether it be the city or the temple at Jerusalem, or any other thing, but only in the Lord. See Jer. 9:23, 24.
1349The remnant of Israel 50shall not do iniquity, 51nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for 52they shall feed and lie down, and 53none shall make them afraid.
49 Hebr. The remnant of Israel shall do no wrong, namely, those whom the Lord has elected from the heap of the rejected and forlorn Jews.
50 Namely, with swelled wantonness, or, against their consciences. See 1 John 3:9.
51 That is, they shall not resort to or accustom themselves to lying and deceit, but rather unto all which is holy, upright and honest.
52 That is, God the Lord shall protect and keep them from all the evil which wicked men shall seek to bring upon them. Compare Micah 4:4.
53 That is, they shall live quietly and safely. The sense is: The wicked rogues shall not dare to molest or annoy them at their pleasure.
14¶Sing, Od daughter of Zion; 54shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, 55O daughter of Jerusalem.
d Zech. 9:9.
54 The Hebrew verb is plural, and Israel, singular.
55 That is, ye Israelites. It is in the same sense as O daughter of Zion, namely, in this place, the congregation of believers of the New Testament.
15The LORD hath taken away thy 56judgments, he hath 57cast out 58thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, 59is in the midst of thee: thou 60shalt not see evil any more.
56 That is, the chastisements or punishments for sins. This is the cause of that rejoicing spoken of before in verse 14.
57 Or, removed, kept out of the way. See Gen. 24 on verse 31.
58 Namely, the Assyrians, Chaldeans, etc., as also and especially thy spiritual enemies, the devil and hell, hath He laid under thy feet. 1 Cor. 15:25, 26, 56, 57.
59 Namely, for to defend and to protect thee.
60 That is, thou shalt not need to stand in fear of any evil again. For there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. 8:39. See Lev. 14:36; Job 7 on verse 7; Psalm 80:9; Isa. 40:3; 57:14; 62:10; Mal. 3:1.
16In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: 61and to Zion, 62Let not thine hands be slack.
61 Other, O Zion.
62 That is, be not discouraged, do not grow remiss and backward in the zeal of godliness; the reason is given in verse 15, namely because the Lord is in the midst of her. See of this phrase 2 Sam. 4:1, and there the annotation.
17The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is 63mighty; he will save, he will rejoice 64over thee with joy; 65he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
63 In and through Christ alone we are able to overcome, Rom. 8:37; 1 Cor. 15:57; 1 John 5:4, 5.
64 By reason of that singular love, which He beareth unto thee.
65 Or, be still, or, at rest, that is, He shall have satisfaction in the affection which He shall bear thee, 1 Peter 2:5; or, He shall no more afflict thee as He did before, because He loves you now in Christ, and forgives you your sins.
18I will gather them that are 66sorrowful for the solemn assembly, 67who are of thee, 68to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
66 That is, those who are sad and sorrowful for not being able to meet in the temple for God’s worship and service. Compare Psalm 42:1, 2, 4.
67 Because they are also God’s people, or, out of thee, O Jerusalem, that is, out of the people of God.
68 Namely, the sad congregation, when they must associate with and be among these scoffing companions who make but a mock of God and His Word. See the Psalm 42 throughout.
19Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that 69halteth, and gather her that was 70driven out; and 71I will get them praise and 72fame 73in every land where they have been put to shame.
69 That is, My church, which now suffer hostile treatment. See the annotation at Micah 4 on verse 6, and compare Ezek. 34:16; Micah 4:7.
70 Some understand the ones, who were driven out, to be some of the heathen, as also Micah 4:6. Others, those who were carried away and dispersed into banishment.
71 Namely, My people, the church, whom He had called just now the halting and the one who was driven out.
72 Namely, unto honor, as verse 20.
73 Hebr. in all the land of their shame. Other, whose shame hath been all over the land, that is, even there where they were the common object of everyone’s scorn and reproach, especially among the Assyrians and Chaldeans, that made a mock of God’s people.
20At that time will I bring 74you 75again, even in the time that I gather you: 76for I will make you a name and a praise 77among all people of the earth, when I turn back 78your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
74 O, ye Jews.
75 Namely, into this land of yours, which ye so greatly long for.
76 Or, surely, or, then.
77 This is to be understood in respect of the church which shall spread all over the world at the appearance of the Messiah.
78 That is, the exceeding great number of your captives. Compare Amos 9:14.