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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:4-8

Both these proclamations, as I may call them, end alike with an assurance of the perpetuity of God's righteousness and his salvation; and therefore we put them together, both being designed for the comfort of God's people. Observe, I. Who they are to whom this comfort belongs: ?My people, and my nation, that I have set apart for myself, that own me and are owned by me.? Those are God's people and his nation who are subject to him as their King and their God, pay allegiance to him, and put... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people ,.... His special people, whether Jews or Gentiles, chosen by him, taken into covenant with him; given to Christ, redeemed by him as a peculiar people, and called by his grace; these are exhorted to hearken to him; to his word, as the Targum; see Isaiah 51:1 , and give ear unto me, O my nation ; not the nation of the Jews only, but the Gentiles; a nation taken out of a nation, even out of all nations; a chosen and a holy nation. The Septuagint and Arabic... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:4

By people - O my nation "O ye peoples - O ye nations" - For עמי ammi , my people, the Bodleian MS. and another read עמים ammim , ye peoples; and for לאומי leumi , my nation, the Bodleian MS. and eight others, (two of them ancient), and four of De Rossi's, read לאמים leummim , ye nations; and so the Syriac in both words. The difference is very material; for in this case the address is made not to the Jews, but to the Gentiles, as in all reason it ought to be; for this and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-8

AN ADDRESS TO FAITHFUL ISRAEL , SUGGESTING TOPICS OF COMFORT . The address consists of three nearly equal strophes or stanzas, each commencing with a call, Shim'u elai , "Hearken unto me," or Haqshibu elai , "Attend to me." The prophet appears to be the speaker, and to address himself to the more faithful portion of the people. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-8

Instructions to the spiritual Israel. The people are described as "possessing righteousness," i.e. following a way of life in accordance with the Divine commands; and "seeking Jehovah," i.e. attending to all that his mind approves and his will commands. I. THE LESSON OF THEIR ORIGIN . They had been, as it were, hewn from a rock and dug out of a pit. The allusion is to Abraham. They had sprung from one, and him as good as dead ( Hebrews 11:12 ). They had been as rough as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me ; rather, attend to me—a stronger term than "hearken"—attend, and hear of a greater blessing than the restoration of the land of Judah to cultivation and fruitfulness. God, enthroned anew in Zion, will from thence send forth his light and his truth to the nations, will make his Law known to them, and allow them to partake of his salvation. O my nation . Some manuscripts have "O ye nations." But the reading is undoubtedly a wrong one. A law shall proceed from me . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:4

God's revelation a light. "I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people." The terms "law" and "judgment" are designed to include all forms of Divine revelation—the various ways in which the Divine will is made known to man. Revelation means light. It is a mistake to assume that there are things revealed which are not intended for our comprehension; they are revealed precisely with the purpose of unfolding so that we might understand them. There are hidden and secret things,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people - Lowth reads this;Attend unto me, O ye people,And give ear unto me, O ye nations.The reason why he proposes this change is, that he supposes the address here is made to the Gentiles and not to the Jews, and in favor of the change he observes, that two manuscripts read it in this manner. Gesenius (Commentary) says that three codices read עמים ‛ammiym (“peoples”), instead of עמי ‛amiy (“my people”); and that thirteen MSS. read לאוּמים le'ûmiym (“nations”), instead of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 51:4-5

Isaiah 51:4-5. Hearken unto me, my people Ye Jews, whom I chose to be my peculiar people, do not reject my counsel, which, I have told you, even the Gentiles will receive, nor forsake the mercies of which even they will partake. For a law shall proceed from me A new law, even the doctrine of the gospel. I will make my judgment to rest for a light Judgment is here the same thing with law in the former clause, the word of God, or the evangelical doctrine, of which he saith, that he will... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-23

God of the impossible (51:1-23)To the captive Jews it must have seemed almost impossible to escape from the powerful grip of the tyrant Babylon, make the long journey over harsh territory and then rebuild their ruined country. God encourages them with reminders of the apparently impossible things he has done for them in the past. The very origin of Israel was something of a miracle. God built a nation out of one couple, even though the man and his wife were past the age when they might normally... read more

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