Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 57:3-12

We have here a high charge, but a just one no doubt, drawn up against that wicked generation out of which God's righteous ones were removed, because the world was not worthy of them. Observe, I. The general character here given of them, or the name and title by which they stand indicted, Isa. 57:3. They are told to draw near and hear the charge, are set to the bar, and arraigned there as sons of the sorceress, or of a witch, the seed of an adulterer and a whore, that is, they were such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:3

But draw near hither ,.... The death of the righteous, and their happiness after it, being observed: the wicked, who thought themselves safe from danger, and the happier that they were rid of the righteous, those witnesses and prophets which had tormented them, and therefore rejoiced on that account, are here summoned to the divine tribunal, to hear their character, and receive their doom, as follows: ye sons of the sorceress ; the children of Jezebel, the witch, and the prophetess that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:4

Against whom do ye sport yourselves ?.... Is it against the ministers of the Gospel, the prophets of the Lord, the true and faithful witnesses, over whose dead bodies you triumph? know that it is not so much against them, as against the Lord himself, whose ministers, prophets, and witnesses they are; see 1 Thessalonians 4:8 , "against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue?" gestures used by way of scorn and derision; see Psalm 22:7 . So the Papists open their mouths, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:5

Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree ,.... Or, "inflamed with or among oaks" F8 הנחמים באלים "inflammati inter quercus", Gataker; "incalescentes, vel incalescitis inter quercus, vel ulmos", Vatablus. ; with images made of oaken wood, such as the Papists worship, Revelation 9:20 expressing a burning zeal for their idols, and being as hot upon them, as impure persons burn in lust one towards another: or "with mighty ones" F9 "In potentibus", Cocceius. ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:6

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion ,.... Or thy god; but the portion of Jacob is not like them, stocks and stones, Jeremiah 10:16 . Whenever they could pick up smooth stones, and such as were fit for their purpose, whether in the stream of a brook, or in a valley, as the word also signifies, they polished and formed them into an image, and made gods of them; and these were their portion and inheritance, and which they left to their children. There is an elegant play on... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 57:6

Among the smooth stones of the stream "Among the smooth stones of the valley" - The Jews were extremely addicted to the practice of many superstitious and idolatrous rites, which the prophet here inveighs against with great vehemence. Of the worship of rude stones consecrated, there are many testimonials of the ancients. They were called βαιτυλοι and βαιτυλια· probably from the stone which Jacob erected at Beth-el, pouring oil upon the top of it. This practice was very common in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:3

Draw near hither . Approach, to hear the reprimand which ye so well deserve. Ye sons of the sorceress; rather, of a sorceress. Judah herself, the nation, is the" sorceress" and "adulteress," whose individual children are summoned to draw near. She is an adulteress; for she has transgressed against the mystic marriage-tie which bound her to Jehovah (see Isaiah 54:5 , and the comment ad lot. ) . She is also a " sorceress ," since she has bewitched her children, and given... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:3-10

Pictures of idolatry. The idolaters are summoned to hear the judgment upon them. They are characterized as "sons of a sorceress, seed of an adulterer." The source of all idolatry is unfaithfulness to God regarded as the Husband of his people ( Ezekiel 16:44 , Ezekiel 16:45 ). Yet, in their pride, these idolaters make sport of and scoff at the true servants of God. I. THE RITES OF IDOLATRY . There were enthusiastic orgies in the sacred groves of oak and in the gardens ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:3-14

ISRAEL SEVERELY REBUKED FOR IDOLATRY . Though Hezekiah had made a great reformation of religion when he ascended the throne( 2 Kings 18:4 ; 2 Chronicles 29:3-19 ), and had done his best to put down idolatry, yet it was still dear to large numbers among the people, and was easily revived by Manasseh in the earlier portion of his reign ( 2 Chronicles 33:2-9 ). Isaiah now rebukes various kinds of idolatrous practices, and shows the vanity of them. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:4

Against whom do ye sport yourselves? The idolatrous Israelites here addressed, no doubt, made a mock of the few righteous who were still living among them, and vexed their souls, as his fellow-towns-men did the soul of "just Lot" ( 2 Peter 2:7 ). They "made wide the mouth" at them, and "drew out the tongue" in derision (comp. Psalms 22:7 ; Psalms 35:21 ). The prophet asks, "Against whom do ye do this? Is it not rather against God, whose servants these men are, than against them?" Are ... read more

Group of Brands