11. not comforted—by anyone; none gave her help or comfort. lay . . . with fair colours—rather, "lay . . . in cement of vermilion" [LOWTH]. The Hebrew for "fair colors" means stibium, the paint with which Eastern women painted their eyelids and eyelashes ( :-). The very cement shall be of the most beautiful color ( :-). read more
Presently God’s people were wretched, but they would be redeemed. They were bereft of support, without stability, and in despair, all of which God in His compassion noted. They would enjoy richness, abundance, completeness, and variety. Antimony was a black powder that masons added to mortar that held stones in place. It set off the beauty of the stones by providing a dark edging for them. Women also used this powder as mascara to color their eyes (cf. 2 Kings 9:30). Foundations of sapphires... read more
The rebuilt city 54:11-17Isaiah changed his illustration from a restored wife to a rebuilt city, but the point remains the same. The contrast between the city of man and the city of God is one that Isaiah developed quite fully (cf. Isaiah 1:26-27; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 4:2-6; Isaiah 12:1-6; Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 25:1-9; Isaiah 26:1-6; Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 47:1; Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 66:10-14). The people of God can anticipate a glorious future. The prophet was not describing the rebuilding of... read more
1. Married wife] referring to the days of Jerusalem’s prosperity. 2. The figure is that of a tent which must be enlarged to take in increasing numbers (Isaiah 33:20). The ultimate fulfilment is seen in the extension of the religion of Zion so as to embrace the nations in the Christian dispensation. 3. Break forth] RV ’spread abroad.’ Make the desolate cities, etc.] (cp. Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 58:12; Isaiah 61:4) i.e. reoccupy cities which had suffered from Babylonian invasions.4. Shame of thy... read more
(11) I will lay thy stones with fair colours.—The first germ of the idealising symbolism of the new Jerusalem. The language of Tob. 13:16-17, shows the impression which it made on the Jews of the captivity. It takes its highest form, excluding all thoughts of a literal fulfilment, in Revelation 21:19-21. The Hebrew word for “fair colours” indicates the kohl, the black powder of antimony, or manganese, used by women in the East on eyelids and eyebrows, so as to enhance the brilliancy of the... read more
Lengthening the Cords and Strengthening the Stakes ( A Sermon to Clergymen ) Isaiah 54:2 My subject is steadfastness and then extension. We have the same connexion of thought in that pair of parables which ought never to be separated the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Entrusted Talents the connexion between secret faith in the heart and the life of active obedience life in Christ and life for Christ. I shall consider the subject in two aspects: I. As to our individual... read more
, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8CHAPTER XXIION THE EVE OF RETURNIsaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8ONE of the difficult problems of our prophecy is the relation and grouping of chapters 54-59. It is among them that the unity of "Second Isaiah," which up to this point we have seen no reason to doubt, gives way. Isaiah 56:9-12 is evidently pre-exilic, and so is Isaiah 59:1-21. But in chapters 54, 55, and Isaiah 56:1-8 we have three addresses, evidently dating from the Eve of the Return.... read more
CHAPTER 54 Israel Called to Sing 1. The blessings of restoration (Isaiah 54:1-6 ) 2. Mercy bestowed (Isaiah 54:7-10 ) 3. The earthly glory of Jerusalem (Isaiah 54:11-14 ) 4. Jehovah keeps and defends His people (Isaiah 54:15-17 ) After the cross the singing. What singing there will be in the earth when at last “they will look upon Him, whom they have pierced.” Israel will some day know the full meaning ofIsaiah 53:1-12 2 , and when He is owned at last the glories and blessings of... read more
54:11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with {k} fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.(k) By this he declares the excellent estate of the Church under Christ. read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 54:11-12
Isaiah 54:11-12. O, thou afflicted, &c.— O, thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, void of comfort; behold, I range thy stones in paint, and found thee upon sapphires: Isaiah 54:12. And I make thy turrets of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and the whole circuit of thy walls of precious stones. The Almighty preserver and protector of the church, here, in elegantly figurative terms, proceeds to assure her of his care towards her, as well in adorning and furnishing her with every spiritual... read more