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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 66:5-14

The prophet, having denounced God's judgments against a hypocritical nation, that made a jest of God's word and would not answer him when he called to them, here turns his speech to those that trembled at his word, to comfort and encourage them; they shall not be involved in the judgments that are coming upon their unbelieving nation. Ministers must distinguish thus, that, when they speak terror to the wicked, they may not make the hearts of the righteous sad. Bone Christiane, hoc nihil ad... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 66:15-24

These verses, like the pillar of cloud and fire, have a dark side towards the enemies of God's kingdom and all that are rebels against his crown, and a bright side towards his faithful loyal subjects. Probably they refer to the Jews in captivity in Babylon, of whom some are said to have been sent thither for their hurt, and with them God here threatens to proceed in his controversy; they hated to be reformed, and therefore should be ruined by the calamity (Jer. 24:9); others were sent thither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:10

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her ,.... The church; she bringing forth so many spiritual children to Christ; just as, when a woman is delivered of a child, her friends and neighbours congratulate her upon it, and rejoice with her on that account; as Elisabeth's neighbours and relations did, at the birth of John the Baptist, Luke 1:57 , so the church's friends here are called together to rejoice with her, at the numerous birth and conversion of souls in her, than which nothing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:11

That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breast of her consolations ,.... This, according to our version, expresses the end of the church's friends being called together to rejoice with her, that they might partake of her joys and comforts, delights and pleasures: but the words may be better rendered, either, according to Kimchi's sense, "therefore shall ye suck" F20 למען תינקו "pro eo quod, vel quia sugetis", Gataker. , &c.; because ye have mourned for her, and because ye... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:12

For thus saith the Lord, behold, I will extend peace to her like a river ,.... As the river Euphrates, so the Targum; or as the Nile, which overflowed Egypt, and made it fruitful; or as any flowing river, large and spreading, continuing to flow, and brings blessings with it where it comes; and so denotes the abundance of this peace, the perpetuity of it, and its blessed effects. This respects not the first times of the Gospel; for though Christ the peacemaker came and made peace by his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:13

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you ,.... Though ordinances are means, and ministers are instruments of comfort, God is the sole efficient cause of it; and very wonderful it is that he should condescend to administer it, since he is an immense and infinite Being, the high and lofty One, possessed of all perfections, and yet deigns to revive the spirit of the humble and contrite; since he is the Maker of heaven and earth, and all things, and those he comforts are dust and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:14

And when ye see this ,.... All the above things prophesied of come to pass; the conversion of the Jews; the peaceable and prosperous condition of the church of Christ; and perceive, feel, and enjoy the comforts of God in an experimental manner: your heart shall rejoice ; for nothing can be matter of greater joy than these; these cause an inward, hearty, and sincere joy, and not mere outward expressions of it: and your bones shall flourish like an herb ; in a well watered garden, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:15

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire ,.... Either with material fire, with which mystical Babylon or Rome shall be burnt, Revelation 18:8 , or with indignation and wrath, which shall be poured out like fire, and be as intolerable and consuming as that: and with his chariots like a whirlwind ; making a great noise, and striking great terror; alluding to chariots in which men used formerly to fight: to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire ; a heap of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 66:16

For by fire, and by his sword, will the Lord plead with all flesh ,.... With the Mahometans, the Turks, the Ottoman empire, against whom he will call for a sword, and will rain upon them fire and brimstone, signified by Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 38:22 and with the other antichristian powers at the battle of Armageddon; and when the fourth vial will be poured upon the sun, and men will be scorched with fire; see Revelation 16:8 , and the slain of the Lord shall be many ; that is, those... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 66:11

With the abundance of her glory "From her abundant stores" - For מזיז mizziz , from the splendor, two MSS. and the old edition of 1488, have מזיו mizziv ; and the latter ז zain is upon a rasure in three other MSS. It is remarkable that Kimchi and Sal. ben Melec, not being able to make any thing of the word as it stands in the text, say it means the same with מזיו mizziv ; that is, in effect, they admit of a various reading, or an error in the text. But as Vitringa observes,... read more

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