Isaiah 64

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64

For an analysis of this chapter, see the Analysis prefixed to Isaiah 63:0. This chapter is closely connected with that in its design, and should not have been separated from it. This is one of the many instances where the division seems to have been made without any intelligent view of the scope of the sacred writer. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:1

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens - That is, in view of the considerations urged in the previous chapter. In view of the fact that the temple is burned up Isaiah 64:11; that the city is desolate; that the land lies waste, and that thine own people are carried captive to a distant land. The phrase ‘rend the heavens,’ implies a sudden and sublime descent of Yahweh to execute vengeance on his foes, as if his heart was full of vengeance, and the firmament were violently rent asunder at his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:2

As when the melting fire burneth - Margin, ‘The fire of meltings.’ Lowth renders it, ‘As when the fire kindleth the dry fuel.’ So Noyes, ‘As fire kindleth the dry stubble.’ The Septuagint render it: Ὡς κηρὸς ἀπὸ προσώπου πυρὸς τήκεται Hōs kēros apo prosōpou puros tēketai - ‘As wax is melted before the fire.’ So the Syriac renders it. The Hebrew word rendered here in the margin ‘meltings’ (המסים hămâsı̂ym), properly means, according to Gesenius, brushwood, twigs. So Saddias renders... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:3

When thou didst terrible things - In delivering the people from Egypt, and in conducting them to the promised land.Which we looked not for - Which we had never before witnessed, and which we had no right to expect.Thou camest down - As on Mount Sinai.The mountains flowed down - (See the notes above). The reference is to the manifestations of smoke and fire when Yahweh descended on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19:18). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:4

For since the beginning of the world - This verse is quoted, though not literally, by the apostle Paul, as illustrating the effects of the gospel in producing happiness and salvation (see the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:9). The meaning here is, that nowhere else among people had there been such blessings imparted, and such happiness enjoyed; or so many proofs of love and protection, as among those who were the people of God, and who feared him.Men have not heard - In no nation in all past time... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:5

Thou meetest him - Perhaps there are few verses in the Bible that have given more perplexity to interpreters than this; and after all that has been done, the general impression seems to be, that it is wholly inexplicable, or without meaning - as it certainly is in our translation. Noyes says of his own translation of the last member of the verse, ‘I am not satisfied with this or any other translation of the line which I have seen.’ Lowth says, ‘I am fully persuaded that these words as they... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing - We are all polluted and defiled. The word used here (טמא ṭâmē'), means properly that which is polluted and defiled in a Levitical sense; that is, which was regarded as polluted and abominable by the law of Moses Leviticus 5:2; Deuteronomy 14:19, and may refer to animals, people, or things; also in a moral sense Job 14:4. The sense is, that they regarded themselves as wholly polluted and depraved.And all our righteousnesses - The plural form is used to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:7

And there is none that calleth upon thy name - The nation is corrupt and degenerate. None worship God in sincerity.That stirreth up himself - The word used here (מתעורר mite‛ôrēr) refers to the effort which is requisite to rouse oneself when oppressed by a spirit of heavy slumber; and the idea here is, that the nation was sunk in spiritual torpor, and that the same effort was needful to excite it which was requisite to rouse one who had sunk down to deep sleep. How aptly this describes the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord, thou art our Father - (See the notes at Isaiah 63:16).We are the clay - The idea seems to be, that their condition then had been produced by him as clay is moulded by the potter, and that they were to be returned and restored entirely by him - as they had no more power to do it than the clay had to shape itself. The sense is, that they were wholly in his hand and at his disposal (see the notes at Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:9).And thou our potter - Thou hast power to mould us as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities are a wilderness - It is to be remembered that this is supposed to be spoken near the close of the exile in Babylon. In accordance with the usual custom in this book, Isaiah throws himself forward by prophetic anticipation into that future period, and describes the scene as if it were passing before his eyes (see the Introduction, Section 7). He uses language such as the exiles would use; he puts arguments into their mouths which it would be proper for them to use; he describes... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:10

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