Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59:1

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.

Isaiah 59:2

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.

Isaiah 59:3

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.

Isaiah 59:4

calleth for justice = sueth in righteousness.

for truth = in truth.

trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. 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: Isaiah 59:59, Isaiah 59:6, Isaiah 59:7. Not the same as in verses: Isaiah 59:2, Isaiah 59:3, Isaiah 59:12.

Isaiah 59:5

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.

Isaiah 59:7

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.

Isaiah 59:8

The way, &c. See Romans 3:17.

Judgment = righteousness.

Isaiah 59:9

justice = righteousness. Same as “judgment”, Isaiah 59:8.

Isaiah 59:10

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. 2 Kings 7:5, 2 Kings 7:7. 2 Kings 5:11; 2 Kings 21:4. Jeremiah 13:16; (2) daylight, 1 Samuel 30:17. Job 7:4. Psalms 119:147.

Isaiah 59:12

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha’. App-44.

sins. Hebrew. chata’. App-44. Note that these three words occur together in Leviticus 16:21.

Isaiah 59:15

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

Isaiah 59:16

arm. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia (App-6). Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the power put forth by it.

Isaiah 59:17

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.

Isaiah 59:18

islands = maritime countries. See note on Isaiah 11:11.

Isaiah 59:19

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.

Isaiah 59:20

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.

Isaiah 59:21

for ever. This coming deliverance for Israel will be final, and cannot therefore as yet have taken place.