she brought forth. This is the birth of the new nation. These are the "birth pangs" (or "sorrows") of Matthew 24:8 . In Revelation 12:1 , Revelation 12:2 we have one part of the type in the person of Messiah. Here is the other part of the type a man child = a male, as in Revelation 12:5 . read more
who. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and who". a nation: i.e. the righteous nation of Isaiah 26:2 . Referred to in Isaiah 66:7 . Matthew 21:43 . at once = at a stroke. children = sons. read more
"Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith God."The student should not be confused with the profusion of Old Testament... read more
Isaiah 66:7. Before she travailed, &c.— Another consolatory argument is here urged, to those who reverence the word of Jehovah, who form the true Sion, taken from the sudden and wonderful increase of the church among the Gentiles, superior to all human thoughts and expectation; for from the 9th and 11th verses it appears abundantly, that these words are thus connected with the context. Isaiah in the former section had done two things; first, predicted the call of the Gentiles; and then the... read more
7. she—Zion. Before . . . travailed . . . brought forth—The accession of numbers, and of prosperity to her, shall be sudden beyond all expectation and unattended with painful effort (Isaiah 54:1; Isaiah 54:4; Isaiah 54:5). Contrast with this case of the future Jewish Church the travail-pains of the Christian Church in bringing forth "a man child" (Revelation 12:2; Revelation 12:5). A man child's birth is in the East a matter of special joy, while that of a female is not so; therefore, it here... read more
8. earth—rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [LOWTH]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day ( :-). at once—In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once. for—rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [MAURER]. read more
The subject of this prophecy is Zion (Isaiah 66:8). Isaiah pictured Zion as a pregnant woman giving birth to a baby, without any pain. She would give birth to a boy before she began experiencing labor pains. This is, of course, the opposite of what usually happens. This may be a prophecy of Messiah’s appearing (the Rapture) before the Tribulation (the pain), the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7; cf. Genesis 3:16). [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 768.] It may also be a prediction of joy... read more
The future glories of Jerusalem 66:7-14The mood now reverts back to hope (cf. Isaiah 65:17-25). In contrast to all the bereavement and deprivation that Jerusalem had experienced and would yet experience (cf. Isaiah 26:16-18; Isaiah 37:3; Isaiah 51:18-20), the ultimate future of the city and its inhabitants remained bright. read more
Such a reverse order of things seems incredible. Nevertheless, Israel would come (back) into existence quickly and painlessly. This would be a supernatural work of God. It will happen at Messiah’s second advent. He will recreate Israel as a nation after Antichrist and the combined Gentile nations of the world have sought to destroy her (cf. Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 12). However, the whole rebirth of Israel from the Exile to the Millennium may have been in the prophet’s vision. Similarly, he... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:7-24
New people and a new age (66:7-24)Usually there is a long period of development before a group of people becomes a nation, but the new nation Israel will appear suddenly and unexpectedly, like a baby born before the due date (7-9). As with the birth of a baby, there is much rejoicing over the birth of the new nation (10-11). The ‘baby’ grows strong and active because God is the one who nourishes it. Under the controlling hand of God, Israel prospers (12-14).While Israel enjoys God’s blessings,... read more