Isaiah 51:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-3

Observe, 1. How the people of God are here described, to whom the word of this consolation is sent and who are called upon to hearken to it, Isa. 51:1. They are such as follow after righteousness, such as are very desirous and solicitous both to be justified and to be sanctified, are pressing hard after this, to have the favour of God restored to them and the image of God renewed on them. These are those that seek the Lord, for it is only in the say of righteousness that we can seek him with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness ,.... After having declared the doom of the wicked, and those that trust to their own righteousness, the Lord returns to them that fear him, whom he describes as such that "follow after righteousness"; not the righteousness of the law, it is the character of carnal Israel to follow after that; nor is that attainable in the way it is pursued by such; nor is there any justification by it; nor is following that consistent with seeking the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:2

Look unto Abraham your father ,.... Not only the father of the Jewish nation, but of all them that believe: this explains what is meant by the rock, in the former verse, who is to be looked unto for imitation in the exercise of faith, and performance of duty, and for encouragement in distressed times and circumstances: and unto Sarah that bare you ; signified by the pit or cistern; who was not only the mother of the Jewish nation; but such also are her daughters who do well, and tread in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:1

Ye that follow after righteousness - The people who, feeling the want of salvation, seek the Lord in order to be justified. The rock - Abraham. The hole of the pit - Sarah; as explained in Isaiah 51:2 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:2

I called him alone - As I have made out of one a great nation; so, although ye are brought low and minished, yet I can restore you to happiness, and greatly multiply your number. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

Ye that follow after righteousness ; i.e. "ye that endeavour to lead righteous lives" (comp. Isaiah 51:7 ). Ye that seek the Lord. And do not "seek after idols," as too many of the exiles did ( Isaiah 40:19 ; Isaiah 41:7 ; Isaiah 44:9-20 ; Isaiah 46:5-8 , etc.). Look unto the rock … the hole; i.e. look back at your past history, especially at the early beginnings of it. Consider from what a slight and poor commencement—an aged man and a barren woman ( Isaiah 51:2 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

Lessons of the past. This passage has been somewhat misused. The appeal is not made to the miserableness of our spiritual condition before receiving the Divine redemption. It is simply a recalling of the early history of the race, and an appeal that the goodness, care, and mercy of God to the first progenitors of the race should be recognized. The wonder involved in the origin of Israel may be treated as a ground of faith in its restoration and perpetuity. Cheyne gives the meaning thus:... 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 51:2

I called him alone ; or, I called him when he was but ode; i.e. before he had any children (comp. Ezekiel 33:24 , "Abraham was one, and he inherited the land"). And blessed him (see Genesis 24:1 , Genesis 24:35 ). And increased him ; i.e. "made him a father of many nations" ( Genesis 17:5 ). If God could multiply the progeny of ode man, much more could he make a flourishing nation out of the exiles, who, though but a "remnant" of the pro-Captivity Israel, were yet many... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:2

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