Isaiah 1:4-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 1:2-9

We will hope to meet with a brighter and more pleasant scene before we come to the end of this book; but truly here, in the beginning of it, every thing looks very bad, very black, with Judah and Jerusalem. What is the wilderness of the world, if the church, the vineyard, has such a dismal aspect as this? I. The prophet, though he speaks in God's name, yet, despairing to gain audience with the children of his people, addresses himself to the heavens and the earth, and bespeaks their attention... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:4

Ah sinful nation ,..... Or "sinning nation" F25 גוי חטא "gens peccatrix", Sept. V. L. Syr. Ar. ; that was continually sinning, doing nothing else but sin, the reverse of what they were chosen to be, Deuteronomy 7:6 . These words are said, either as calling and crying to them, to cause them to hear and hearken to what is said, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe, and as הוי is used in Isaiah 55:1 or by way of complaint and lamentation, as Jarchi thinks, because of their general... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:5

Why should ye be stricken any more ?.... Or "for what are ye stricken again" F1 על מה תכו "super quo", V. L. "ad quid", Ar. ? with afflictions and chastisements, with which God smites his people by way of correction for their sins, Isaiah 57:17 and the sense is, either that they did not consider what they were afflicted for, that it was for their sins and transgressions; they thought they came by chance, or imputed them to second causes, and so went on in sin, and added sin to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:6

From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it ,.... Every member of the body politic was afflicted in one way or another, or sadly infected with the disease of sin; see Psalm 28:3 . So the Targum, "from the rest of the people, even unto the princes, there is none among them who is perfect in my fear;' see Daniel 9:8 . but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores ; to which either public calamities on a city or nation may be compared, Hosea 5:13 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:4

Ah sinful nation "Degenerate" - Five MSS., one of them ancient, read משחתים moschathim , without the first י yod, in hophal corrupted, not corrupters. See the same word in the same form, and in the same sense, Proverbs 25:26 . Are corrupters "Are estranged" - Thirty-two MSS., five ancient, and two editions, read נזורו nazoru ; which reading determines the word to be from the root זור zur , to alienate, not from נזר nazar , to separate; so Kimchi understands it. See... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:5

Why should ye be stricken any more "On what part," etc.? - The Vulgate renders מה על al meh , super quo , (see Job 38:6 ; 2 Chronicles 32:10 ;), upon what part. And so Abendana on Sal. Den Melech: "There are some who explain it thus: Upon what limb shall you be smitten, if you add defection? for already for your sins have you been smitten upon all of them; so that there is not to be found in you a whole limb on which you can be smitten." Which agrees with what follows: "From the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:6

They have not been closed, etc. "It hath not been pressed," etc. - The pharmaceutical art in the East consists chiefly in external applications: accordingly the prophet's images in this place are all taken from surgery. Sir John Chardin, in his note on Proverbs 3:8 , "It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones," observes that "the comparison is taken from the plasters, ointments, oils, and frictions, which are made use of in the East upon the belly and stomach in most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-9

Jehovah arraigns his people. I. INGRATITUDE THE BASEST OF SINS . He, the Father, has been faithlessly forsaken by ungrateful sons. This is the worst form of ingratitude. "Filial ingratitude! Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to it?" ('King Lear.') It has been said that The wretch whom gratitude once fails to bind, To truth or honor let him lay no claim, But stand confess'd the brute disguised in man." But the brutes are grateful;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-31

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 1:2-6

GOD 'S COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS PEOPLE . The groundwork of Isaiah's entire prophecy is Judah's defection from God. God's people have sinned, done amiss, dealt wickedly. The hour of vengeance approaches. Punishment has begun, and will go on, continually increasing in severity. National repentance would avert God's judgments, but the nation will not repeat. God's vengeance will fall, and by it a remnant will be purified, and return to God, and be his true people. In the present section... read more

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