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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 7:10-16

Here, I. God, by the prophet, makes a gracious offer to Ahaz, to confirm the foregoing predictions, and his faith in them, by such sign or miracle as he should choose (Isa. 7:10, 11): Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; See here the divine faithfulness and veracity. God tells us nothing but what he is able and ready to prove. See his wonderful condescension to the children of men, in that he is so willing to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, Heb. 6:17. He considers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 7:15

Butter and honey shall he eat ..... As the Messiah Jesus no doubt did; since he was born in a land flowing with milk and honey, and in a time of plenty, being a time of general peace; so that this phrase points at the place where, and the time when, the Messiah should be born, as well as expresses the truth of his human nature, and the manner of his bringing up, which was in common with that of other children. חמאה signifies the "cream of milk", as well as "butter", as Jarchi, in Genesis... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good ,.... This may be understood of Isaiah's child, Shearjashub, he had along with him, he was bid to take with him; and who therefore must be supposed to bear some part, or answer some end or other, in this prophecy; which it is very probable may be this, viz. to assure Ahaz and the house of David that the land which was abhorred by them should be forsaken of both its kings, before the child that was with him was grown to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 7:15

That he may know "When he shall know" - "Though so much has been written on this important passage, there is an obscurity and inconsequence which still attends it, in the general run of all the interpretations given to it by the most learned. And this obscure incoherence is given to it by the false rendering of a Hebrew particle, viz., ל le , in לדעתו ledato . This has been generally rendered, either 'that he may know,' or 'till he know.' It is capable of either version, without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:10-16

THE SIGN OF IMMANUEL . The supposition that there was a considerable interval between Isaiah 7:9 and Isaiah 7:10 (Cheyne) is quite gratuitous. Nothing in the text marks any such interval. God had sent Ahaz one message by his prophet ( Isaiah 7:4-9 ). It had apparently been received in silence, at any rate without acknowledgment. The faith had seemed to be lacking which should have embraced with gladness the promise given (see the last clause of Isaiah 7:9 ). God, however, will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:10-17

Faith triumphing over doubt. Faith in the Eternal personified in the prophet, to whom all things desirable are to be hoped for, all things to be hoped for are possible; and distrust, the weakness of mere flesh and blood, represented in the timid Ahaz. Such is the illusion of appearances. The outwardly kingly man is the coward; the real king of men is the plain-looking prophet. I. THE CHALLENGE OF FAITH . In the Name of Jehovah, Isaiah bids the king ask a sign from above—a sign... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:14-16

The nature of the Messianic prophecies. This being the first in the Book of Isaiah recognized as Messianic, the general subject may be illustrated in connection with it. Isaiah here gives a sign. Looking upon some woman in the king's presence who at the time was a virgin, he, in effect, says, "You shall know that Jehovah is the living God, and the all-sufficient Helper of his people, by this.—Before this woman can bear a son, and that son grow old enough to know good from evil, your land... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:15

Butter and honey shall he eat . His fare shall be of the simplest kind (comp. Isaiah 7:22 ). That he may know ; rather, till he shall know (Rosenmüller); i.e. till he come to years of discretion. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The land , etc. Translate, The land shall be desolate , before whose two kings thou art afraid . The "land" must certainly be that of the two confederate kings, Rezin and Pekah, the Syro-Ephraim-itic land, or Syria and Samaria. "Desolate" may be used physically or politically. A land is "desolate" politically when it loses the last vestige of independence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The culture of conscience. "Before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." Some take this expression as referring to pleasant or unpleasant food; but it probably is used in a general moral sense. Compare the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, in Genesis 2:9 ; Genesis 3:5 . For the expression as used in reference to children, see Deuteronomy 1:39 . Isaiah evidently intends, by a figure of speech, to indicate two or three years, the time when a child may be... read more

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