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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 56:3-8

The prophet is here, in God's name, encouraging those that were hearty in joining themselves to God and yet laboured under great discouragements. 1. Some were discouraged because they were not of the seed of Abraham. They had joined themselves to the Lord, and bound their souls with a bond to be his for ever (this is the root and life of religion, to break off from the world and the flesh, and devote ourselves entirely to the service and honour of God); but they questioned whether God would... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 56:9-12

From words of comfort the prophet here, by a very sudden change of his style, passes to words of reproof and conviction, and goes on in that strain, for the most part, in the three following chapters; and therefore some here begin a new sermon. He had assured the people that in due time God would deliver them out of captivity, which was designed for the comfort of those that should live when God would do this. Now here he shows what their sins and provocations were, for which God would send... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:6

Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord ,.... Having answered the objection and removed the discouragement of the eunuch, he now returns to the sons of the stranger, who also join themselves to the Lord, as the eunuch had done; see Isaiah 56:4 and who do this, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants ; who give up themselves to him, not only to be saved by him, but to serve him in righteousness and holiness, with reverence and godly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:7

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain ,.... The church, called a "mountain" for its height, visibility, and immovableness; see Isaiah 2:2 , especially for the latter; the true members of it being such who are interested in the unchangeable love of God, in the immovable grace of election, in the unalterable covenant of grace, are on the Rock Christ Jesus, and are secured by the favour and power of God; and it is called a "Holy One", because in it holy men are, holy doctrines are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:8

The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith ,.... Not the outcasts of literal Israel, the captives in Babylon, and elsewhere; but of spiritual Israel, and who are cast out, not by the Lord, but by the men of the world; who cast out their names as evil, who call them outcasts, and account them the offscouring of all things, Jeremiah 30:17 or rather this character of them may represent what they appear to be in a state of nature, when they seem to be neglected, and not taken... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:9

All ye beasts of the field, come to devour ,.... Which may be understood either literally of savage beasts being called to devour the slain, signifying a great slaughter that should be made, like that in Revelation 19:17 to which the fowls of the heaven are invited, as to a supper; and so Kimchi interprets it of such creatures being called to feed upon the carcasses in the camp of Gog and Magog, agreeably to Ezekiel 39:17 , but it seems better to understand it figuratively of people and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:10

His watchmen are blind ,.... A sad character of watchmen; who, of all men, ought to have good sight, to see who is coming, to discover an enemy, to discern approaching danger, and so be capable of giving notice thereof. This some apply to the Scribes and Pharisees, who are often called blind guides, and blind leaders of the blind, Matthew 15:14 and well suits the character of the Popish clergy, bishops, and priests, those ecclesiastical watchmen, whose business should be to look after the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 56:6

The sons of the stranger - The Gentiles. That join themselves to the Lord - Who shall enter into the Christian covenant by baptism and faith in Christ, as the Jews and proselytes did by circumcision. To serve him - To live according to the Gospel, and ever do that which is right in the sight of the Lord. To love the name of the Lord - The name of Jesus, the Christ, the Savior of sinners, the Anointed of God, and the Giver of the Holy Spirit to his followers. To be his servants... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 56:7

Shall be accepted - A word is here lost out of the text: it is supplied from the Septuagint, יהיו yihyu , εσονται , "they shall be." - Houbigant. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 56:9

All ye beasts of the field - Here manifestly begins a new section. The prophet in the foregoing chapters, having comforted the faithful Jews with many great promises of God's favor to be extended to them, in the restoration of their ruined state, and in the enlargement of his Church by the admission of the Gentiles; here on a sudden makes a transition to the more disagreeable part of the prospect, and to a sharp reproof of the wicked and unbelievers; and especially of the negligent and... read more

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