Isaiah 44

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:1

Yet now hear - This should be read in immediate connection with the previous chapter. ‘Notwithstanding you have sinned, yet now hear the gracious promise which is made in regard to your deliverance.’ read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:2

Thus saith the Lord that made thee - (See the note at Isaiah 43:1).And formed thee from the womb - This is equivalent to the declaration that he was their Maker, or Creator. It means, that from the very beginning of their history as a people, he had formed and moulded all their institutions, and directed all things in regard to them - as much as he is the former of the body from the commencement of its existence. It may be observed that the words, ‘from the womb,’ are joined by some... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:3

For I will pour water - Floods, rivers, streams, and waters, are often used in the Scriptures, and especially in Isaiah, to denote plenteous divine blessings, particularly the abundant influences of the Holy Spirit (see the note at Isaiah 35:6-7). That it here refers to the Holy Spirit and his influences, is proved by the parallel expressions in the subsequent part of the verse.Upon him that is thirsty - Or rather, ‘on the thirsty land.’ The word צמא tsâmē' refers here rather to land, and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:4

And they shall spring up - The idea is, that as plants and trees planted by water-courses, and in well-watered fields, grow and flourish, so should their children grow in virtue, hope, piety, and zeal.As among the grass - They shall spring up and flourish as the grass does when abundantly watered from heaven. On the meaning of the unusual form of the word בבים bebēyn, in the Hebrew (“in among”), see Vitringa and Rosenmuller. The ב (b) here is undoubtedly an error of the transcriber for כ (k)... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:5

One shall say - It shall be common to say this, or a profession of religion shall be common. The various expressions in this verse mean substantially the same thing - that there should prevail among the people a disposition to make a profession of attachment to Yahweh in every proper public manner. It is in immediate connection with what is said in the previous verses, that he would pour his Spirit upon them, and especially on their children. The effect would be, that many would make a public... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:6

Thus saith the Lord - This commences, as I suppose (see Analysis), the argument to prove that Yahweh is the only true God, and that the idols were vanity. The object is, to show to the Jews, that he who had made to them such promises of protection and deliverance was able to perform what he had pledged himself to do.The King of Israel - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:21).And his Redeemer - (See the notes at Isaiah 43:1).The Lord of hosts - (See the notes at Isaiah 1:9).I am the first - (See the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:7

And who, as I - This verse contains an argument to prove that he is God. In proof of this, he appeals to the fact that he alone can predict future events, and certainly declare the order, and the time in which they will come to pass (see the notes at Isaiah 41:21-23; Isaiah 44:9-10).Shall call - That is, call forth the event, or command that to happen which he wills - one of the highest possible exhibitions of power. See a similar use of the word call in Isaiah 46:2; Isaiah 48:15.And shall... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:8

Fear ye not, neither be afraid - (see the notes at Isaiah 41:10). The word rendered here ‘be afraid,’ occurs nowhere else in the Bible. There can be no doubt, however, in regard to its meaning. The Septuagint renders it, Μηδέ πλανᾶσθε Mēde planasthe - ‘Neither be deceived.’ All the other ancient versions express the sense to fear, to be afraid (Gesenius’ Lexicon on the word ירה yârahh).Have not I told thee from that time - Have I not fully declared from the very commencement of your history... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:9

They that make a graven image - A graven image is one that is cut, or sculptured out of wood or stone, in contradistinction from one that is molten, which is made by being cast. Here it is used to denote an image, or an idol-god in general. God had asserted in the previous verses his own divinity, and he now proceeds to show, at length, the vanity of idols, and of idol-worship. This same topic was introduced in Isaiah 40:18-20 (see the notes at that passage), but it is here pursued at greater... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:10

Who hath formed a god - The Septuagint reads this verse in connection with the close of the previous verse, ‘But they shall be ashamed who make a god, and all who sculpture unprofitable things.’ This interpretation also, Lowth, by a change in the Hebrew text on the authority of a manuscript in the Bodleian library, has adopted. This change is made by reading כי kı̂y instead of מי mı̂y in the beginning of the verse. But the authority of the change, being that of a single MS. and the Septuagint,... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:10

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