Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:4

Thus saith the Lord God - יהוה אדני Adonai Jehovah ; but Adonai is wanting in twelve of Kennicott's, five of De Rossi's, and two of my own MSS.; and by the Septuagint and Arabic. Some MSS. have צבאות יהוה Jehovah tsebaoth , "Lord of hosts;" and others have אלהים יהוה Yehovah Elohim , "Lord God." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:5

They that rule over them "They that are lords over them" - For משלו moshelo , singular, in the text, more than a hundred and twenty MSS. (De Rossi says, codices innumeri , "numberless copies") have משליו moshelaiv plural, according to the Masoretical correction in the margin; which shows that the Masoretes often superstitiously retained apparent mistakes in the text, even when they had sufficient evidence to authorize the introduction of the true reading. Make them to howl "Make... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:6

Therefore my people shall know - The word לכן lachen , occurring the second time in this verse, seems to be repeated by mistake. It has no force nor emphasis as a repetition; it only embarrasses the construction and the sense. It was not in the copies from which the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate were translated; it was not in the copy of the Septuagint from which the Arabic was translated; but in the Aldine and Complutensian editions δια τουτο is repeated; probably so corrected, in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful - The watchmen discover afar off, on the mountains, the messenger bringing the expected and much-wished-for news of the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity. They immediately spread the joyful tidings, Isaiah 52:8 , and with a loud voice proclaim that Jehovah is returning to Zion, to resume his residence on his holy mountain, which for some time he seemed to have deserted. This is the literal sense of the place. "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:8

Thy watchmen lift up the voice "All thy watchmen lift up their voice" - There is a difficulty in the construction of this place which, I think, none of the ancient versions or modern interpreters have cleared up satisfactorily. Rendered word for word it stands thus: "The voice of thy watchmen: they lift up their voice." The sense of the first member, considered as elliptical, is variously supplied by various expositors; by none, as it seems to me, in any way that is easy and natural. I am... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:9

He hath redeemed Jerusalem "He hath redeemed Israel" - For the word ירושלם yerushalaim , which occurs the second time in this verse, MS. Bodleian and another read ישראל yisrael . It is upon a rasure in a third; and left unpointed at first, as suspected, in a fourth. It was an easy mistake, by the transcriber casting his eye on the line above: and the propriety of the correction, both in regard to sense and elegance, is evident. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:11

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence - The Prophet Jeremiah seems to have had his eye on this passage of Isaiah, and to have applied it to a subject directly opposite. It is here addressed by the prophet in a way of encouragement and exhortation to the Jews coming out of Babylon. Jeremiah has given it a different turn, and has thrown it out, as a reproach of the heathen upon the Jews when they were driven from Jerusalem into captivity: - "Depart; ye are polluted, depart; depart ye,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:13

My servant shall deal prudently - ישכיל yaskil , shall prosper, or act prosperously. The subject of Isaiah's prophecy, from the fortieth chapter inclusive, has hitherto been, in general, the deliverance of the people of God. This includes in it three distinct parts; which, however, have a close connection with one another; that is, The deliverance of the Jews from the captivity of Babylon; The deliverance of the Gentiles from their miserable state of ignorance and idolatry; and, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:14

As many were astonished at thee "As many were astonished at him" - For עליך aleicha read עליו alaiv . So the Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate in a MS.; and so likewise two ancient MSS. His visage was so marred more than any man - Most interpreters understand this of the indignities offered to our blessed Lord: but Kimchi gives it another turn, and says, "It means the Jewish people, whom are considered by most nations as having an appearance different from all the people of the earth.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 52:15

So shall he sprinkle many nations - I retain the common rendering, though I am by no means satisfied with it. " יזה yazzeh , frequent in the law, means only to sprinkle: but the water sprinkled is the accusative case; the thing on which has על al or אל el . Θαυμασονται, ό , makes the best apodosis. ינהג yenahag would do. ינהרו yinharu is used Isaiah 2:2 ; Jeremiah 31:12 ; Jeremiah 51:14 , but is unlike. 'Kings shall shut,' etc., is good, but seems to want a first... read more

Group of Brands