Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:2

For thou hast made - This is supposed to be uttered by the Jews who should return from Babylon, and therefore refers to what would have been seen by them. In their time it would have occurred that God had made of the city an heap.Of a city - I suppose the whole scope of the passage requires us to understand this of Babylon. There has been, however, a great variety of interpretation of this passage. Grotius supposed that Samaria was intended. Calvin that the word is used collectively, and that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:3

The strong people - The reference here is not probably to the Babylonians, but to the surrounding nations. The deliverance of the Jews, and the destruction of Babylon, would be such striking events that they would lead the surrounding nations to acknowledge that it was the hand of God.The city of the terrible nations - The word ‘city’ here is taken probably in a collective sense, to denote the cities or the strong places of the surrounding nations which would be brought thus to tremble before... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:4

For thou hast been a strength to the poor - Thou hast sustained and upheld them in their trials, and hast delivered them. God is often spoken of as the strength of his people. Isaiah 26:4 : ‘In the Lord Yahweh is everlasting strength.’ Psalms 27:1 : ‘The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?’ Psalms 28:8; Psalms 29:11; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 46:1; Isaiah 45:24. By the ‘poor’ and the ‘needy’ here undoubtedly are mean; the captive Jews who had been stripped of their wealth, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:5

Thou shalt bring down the noise - The tumult; the sound which they make in entering into battle; or the note of triumph, and the sound of revelry. The phrase may refer either to their shout of exultation over their vanquished foes; or to the usual sound of revelry; or to the hum of business in a vast city.Of strangers - Of foreigners (see the note at Isaiah 25:2).As the heat in a dry place - The parallelism here requires that we should suppose the phrase ‘with the shadow of a cloud’ to be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:6

And in this mountain - In mount Zion, that is, in Jerusalem. The following verses undoubtedly refer to the times of the Messiah. Several of the expressions used here are quoted in the New Testament, showing that the reference is to the Messiah, and to the fact that his kingdom would commence in Jerusalem. and then extend to all people.Shall the Lord of hosts - (See the note at Isaiah 1:9.)Make unto all people - Provide for all people. He shall adapt the provisions of salvation not only to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:7

And he will destroy - Hebrew, ‘He will swallow up,’ that is, he will abolish, remove, or take away.In this mountain the face of the covering - In mount Zion, or in Jerusalem. This would be done in Jerusalem, or on the mountains of which Jerusalem was a part, where the great transactions of the plan of redemption would be accomplished. The word ‘face’ here is used as it is frequently among the Hebrews, where the face of a thing denotes its aspect. or appearance, and then the thing itself. Thus... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up - This image is probably taken from a whirlpool or maelstrom in the ocean that absorbs all that comes near it. It is, therefore, equivalent to saying he will destroy or remove Isaiah 25:7. In this place it means that be will abolish death; that is, he will cause it to cease from its ravages and triumphs. This passage is quoted by Paul in his argument respecting the resurrection of the dead 1 Corinthians 15:54. He does not, however, quote directly from the Hebrew, or from the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:9

And it shall be said in that day - By the people of God. This shall be the language of exultation and joy which they shall use.Lo, this is our God - This is the language of those who now see and hail their Deliverer. It implies that such deliverance, and such mercy could be bestowed only by God, and that the fact that such mercies had been bestowed was proof that he was their God.We have waited for him - Amidst many trials, persecutions, and calamities, we have looked for the coming of our God... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:10

For in this mountain - In mount Zion.Shall the land of the Lord rest - “The hand” in the Scriptures is often used as the symbol of protection and defense. By the expression that the hand of Yahweh should REST on mount Zion, is meant probably that be would be its defender; his protection would not be withdrawn, but would be permanent there. For an illustration of the phrase, see a similar use of the word hand as denoting protection, in Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:28; Ezra 8:18, Ezra 8:22, Ezra 8:31;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 25:11

And he shall spread forth his hands - The sense is, that Yahweh would stretch out his hands everywhere, prostrating his enemies, and the enemies of his people. Lowth, however, applies this to Moab, and supposes that it is designed to represent the action of one who is in danger of sinking, and who, in swimming, stretches out his hands to sustain himself. In order to this, he supposes that there should be a slight alteration of a single letter in the Hebrew. His main reason for suggesting this... read more

Group of Brands