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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-9

That particular instance of God's care for his people Israel in raising up Cyrus to be their deliverer is here insisted upon as a great proof both of his sovereignty above all idols and of his power to protect his people. Here is, I. A general challenge to the worshippers and admirers of idols to make good their pretensions, in competition with God and opposition to him, Isa. 41:1. Isa. is renewed (Isa. 41:21): Produce your cause. The court is set, summonses are sent to the islands that lay... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:5

The isles saw it, and feared ,.... Not the victory which Abraham got over the kings; nor Cyrus's expedition against Babylon, and other nations, and his deliverance of the Jews; but the progress of the Gospel, through the ministry of the Apostle Paul: the idolatrous inhabitants of the Gentile nations saw great multitudes embracing and professing the Gospel; they saw their idols neglected, and their temples abandoned; they feared what would be the consequence of all this, that their old... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:6

They helped everyone his neighbour ,.... By advice and counsel, by the best arguments they could make use of, to withstand the new religion, and defend the old one; to prevent the embracing the one, and relinquishing the other: and everyone said to his brother, be of good courage : or, "be strong" F13 חזק "fortis esto, vel sis strenuus", Vatablus. ; they strengthened one another's hands in their idolatrous worship, encouraged each other to oppose the prevailing doctrine; urging,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 41:7

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith ,.... The carpenter, when he had made a wooden image, encouraged and hastened the goldsmith, or the "finer", as some render it, to do his part, in covering it with plates of gold or silver: and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil ; he that beat out thin plates of gold and silver with the hammer, in order to decorate the wooden god, encouraged the smith at the forge, that smote on the anvil, there making nails for the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 41:5

Were afraid "And they were terrified" - Three MSS. have ויחרדו vaiyecheridu , adding the conjunction ו vau , which restores the second member of the sentence to its true poetical form. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 41:7

That it should not be moved "That it shall not move" - Five MSS., (two ancient), and the ancient Versions, add the conjunction ו vau , "and, "reading ולא velo , "and not, "which seems to be right. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DELIVERER , AND EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING NATIONS . Isaiah returns to the standpoint of Isaiah 40:9-11 . A deliverer of Israel is about to appear. The nations are therefore summoned to attend, and consider the facts ( Isaiah 40:1 ). He will carry all before him ( Isaiah 40:2 , Isaiah 40:3 ), being raised up by God ( Isaiah 40:4 ). The nations will tremble, and seek the protection of their idol-deities ( Isaiah 40:5-7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

Argument with the nations. Jehovah calls the countries to "come silently" unto him. Let the people pluck up what strength they may have, and let the cause between them and Jehovah come to the tribunal of reason. Have the idols any spiritual power? or is Jehovah only the true God? 1. THE VICTORIOUS CAREER OF CYRUS . This great man has, in the prophet's thought, a vocation from God. He is the minister of the Divine righteousness ( Isaiah 42:6 ; Isaiah 45:13 ). Cyrus is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:1-7

The false refuge and the true. In the regulation of his life, a wise man will give a large place to the consideration of what resources he will have in the times of great emergency. For he knows that such times must come to him as they come to all men, and when they come there is urgent and even terrible need of a refuge to which the stricken soul may flee. We are here reminded of— I. THE REFUGE WHICH IS FALSE , AND WHICH WILL FAIL US . ( Isaiah 41:5-7 .) We smile... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 41:5

The isles saw it, and feared . A general terror seized the nations on the conquest of the Medes by Cyrus. Croesus of Lydia, Nabonidus of Babylon, and Amasis of Egypt, were at once drawn together by the common danger, and made alliance offensive and defensive (Herod; 1.77). The weaker tribes and peoples gave themselves up for lost. Scarcely any resistance seems to have been offered to the Persian arms by the tribes between the Halys and Indus, the Jaxartes and the Indian Ocean. Lydia and... read more

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