Isaiah 57:2-3 NIV

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 57:2

He shall enter into peace - Lowth, ‘He shall go in peace.’ So the margin. Vulgate, ‘Peace shall come.’ Septuagint, ‘His sepulture (ἡ ταφὴ αὐτοῦ hē taphē autou) shall be in peace.’ The idea is, that by his death the righteous man shall enter into rest. He shall get away from conflict, strife, agitation, and distress. This may either refer to the peaceful rest of the grave, or to that which awaits the just in a better world. The direct meaning here intended is probably the former, since the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 57:3

But draw near hither - That is, come near to hear the solemn sentence which God pronounces in regard to your character and doom. This is addressed to the impenitent and unbelieving part of the nation, and is designed to set before them the greatness of their sin, and the certainty that they would be punished.Ye sons of the sorceress - You who are addicted to sorcery and enchantments; who consult the oracles of the pagan rather than the only true God. On the meaning of the word used here, see... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 57:1-2

Isaiah 57:1-2. These two verses “contain a kind of prelude to the distressful scene which is opened immediately after: for the prophet, designing to describe the melancholy state of the adulterous church, to be chastised by the severe judgments of God, beholds, as it were in an ecstasy, the few pious and good men yet remaining in the church gradually falling off, and taken away, either by an immature or violent death: while there were but few who laid this matter to heart, and observed it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 57:3-4

Isaiah 57:3-4. But draw near hither, &c. “The prophet proceeds to exhibit the church, totally corrupt as it was, the good men being extinct or dispersed; so that they who remained of the pure seed of the church lay hid in solitary places, while the body of the church appeared like a dead carcass; not the true, but the idolatrous church.” Thus Vitringa, who understands this paragraph as describing the state of the church in the dark ages of popery. It seems, however, by many of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:1-21

Corruption and idolatry (56:9-57:21)The Assyrian captivity of the northerners and the Babylonian captivity of the southerners did not include the whole populations. Those who were of no use to the conquerors were left behind, along with scattered country people who escaped the enemy. These and their descendants soon followed the old religious practices of the Canaanite people. They worshipped idols, offered human sacrifices to the god Molech, and practised fertility rites with religious... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 57:2

He: i.e. the righteous man. they: i.e. the men of grace. in = upon, beds = couches. his uprightness = his straight path. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 57:3

sorceress. See note on Isaiah 2:6 ("soothsayer"). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Isaiah 57:3

"But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of adulterers and the harlot. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make yea wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood?"This is a reference to the mocking behavior of the unbelieving Jews who made up the majority of that pre-exilic generation, and back to the times of Isaiah who wrote these words. As McGuiggan wrote: "This looks exactly like the times of Manasseh. There is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 57:1-2

Isaiah 57:1-2. The righteous perisheth, &c.— These words contain a kind of prelude to the distressful scene which is opened immediately after; for the prophet designing to describe the melancholy state of the adulterous church, to be chastised by the severe judgments of God, he beholds the few pious and good men yet remaining in the church, gradually falling off and taken away, either by an immature or a violent death; while there were but few who laid this matter to heart, and observed it... read more