Isaiah 40

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:3

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness ,.... Not the voice of the Holy Ghost, as Jarchi; but of John the Baptist, as is attested by all the evangelists, Matthew 3:3 and by John himself, John 1:23 , who was a "voice" not like the man's nightingale, "vox et praeterea nihil" a voice and nothing else; he had not only a sonorous, but an instructive teaching voice; he had the voice of a prophet, for he was a prophet: we read of the voices of the prophets, their doctrines and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low ,.... Which is not to be understood literally, but, as Kimchi says, parabolically and mystically: the meaning is, that in consequence of John's ministry, and our Lord's coming, such who were depressed and bowed down with the guilt of sin, and were low and humble in their own eyes, should be raised up and comforted; and that such who were elated with themselves, and their own righteousness, should be humbled; their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed ..... Christ himself, who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and his own glory, as the glory of the of the only begotten of the Father; the glorious perfections of his nature, seen in the miracles wrought, and in the doctrines taught by him; the glory of the divine Father, in the face or person of Christ; and the glory of his attributes, in the work of salvation by him; all which is most clearly discerned in the glass of the Gospel, or in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:6

The voice said, cry ,.... Not the same voice as in Isaiah 40:3 , nor the voice of an angel, as Aben Ezra; but a voice from the Lord, as Jarchi; the voice of prophecy, says Kimchi; it is the Lord's voice to the prophet, or rather to any and every Gospel minister, giving them an order to prophesy and preach, without which they cannot preach regularly and lawfully; it is the same as, "go, teach all nations", &c.; preach the Gospel to every creature, &c.; Matthew 28:19 , and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:7

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ,.... And so does man, and all his glory and goodliness: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it : alluding to some impetuous and blasting wind blowing upon herbs and flowers, to the withering and fading of them; see Psalm 103:15 , legal ordinances ceased upon the pouring forth of the Spirit. The external excellencies of men, or their outward advantages, perish at the breath of God, at the blast of his nostrils, when taken away by death;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ,.... Which is repeated, to raise attention to it, as being a matter of importance, and for the confirmation of it: but the word of our God shall stand for ever ; the Apostle Peter adds, by way of explanation, and this is the word, which by the Gospel is preached unto you ; who seems to distinguish the word from the Gospel, by which it is preached, and to intend Christ the essential Word; who stands or abides for ever as a divine Person; in his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:9

O Zion, that bringest good tidings ,.... Or, "O thou that bringest good tidings to Zion F14 מבשרת ציון "O quae evangelizas Tsijoni", Juntas & Tremellius, Piscator. "; which rendering of the words is more agreeable to the latter part of the verse, say unto the cities of Judah , &c.; and to some parallel places, Isaiah 41:27 and to the type, the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon; the tidings of which came from Babylon to Zion, or Jerusalem; and to the Targum which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:10

Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand ,.... Some understand this of the second coming of Christ, which coming is certain, such assurances being given of it by promise and prophecy; and will be attended with power, which will be requisite to raise the dead, summon all nations before him, and pass and execute the proper sentence on them; when his arm shall openly bear rule, he will take to himself his great power, and reign; when his reward will be with him, to give to every man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd ,.... Christ has a flock, a flock of men, a distinct and peculiar people, and it is but one, and that a little one, and yet a beautiful one, though often a flock of slaughter; which is his by his Father's gift, and his own purchase, and appears manifest in the effectual calling, when he calls them by name; to these he stands in the relation of a shepherd, being so by his Father's designation and appointment, and his own consent; and a good shepherd he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand ?.... The following account of the power, wisdom, and all sufficiency of God, and which is to be understood of Christ, is to show that he is equal to the work of redemption and salvation he has engaged in, and was about to come and perform, and that he is able to do it, as well as to execute his office as a shepherd; and also to observe, that though his rich grace and goodness he had condescended to take upon him the work of a saviour,... read more

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