Isaiah 51:21-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:17-23

God, having awoke for the comfort of his people, here calls upon them to awake, as afterwards, Isa. 52:1. It is a call to awake not so much out of the sleep of sin (though that also is necessary in order to their being ready for deliverance) as out of the stupor of despair. When the inhabitants of Jerusalem were in captivity they, as well as those who remained upon the spot, were so overwhelmed with the sense of their troubles that they had no heart or spirit to mind any thing that tended to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:21

Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted ,.... By Babylon, by antichrist and his followers; hear, for thy comfort, the following prophecy: and drunken, but not with wine ; not with wine in a literal sense; nor with the wine of the fornication of the whore of Rome; nor with idolatry, as the kings of the earth are said to be, Revelation 17:2 but, as the Targum expresses it, with tribulation; with afflictions at the hand of God, and persecutions from men. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:22

Thus saith the Lord, the Lord and thy God ,.... He who is Lord of all, the eternal Jehovah, who can do all things, and who is the covenant God of his people, and will do all things he has purposed and promised, and which are for their good and his glory; of which they may be assured from the consideration of these names and titles of his, for which reason they seem to be used and mentioned: that pleadeth the cause of his people , which is a righteous one, as he will make it appear to be,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:23

And I will put it into the hand of them that afflict me ,.... As the Lord did to literal Babylon, Jeremiah 25:15 , so will he do to mystical Babylon; he will retaliate upon her all the evils she has done to others, and destroy them that destroyed the earth; see Revelation 11:18 , which have said to thy soul, bow down, that we may go over ; who not only afflicted the bodies, but tyrannized over the souls and consciences of men; obliging them to a compliance with their idolatrous... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:21

Drunken, but not with wine - Aeschylus has the same expression: - Αοινοις εμμανεις θυμωμασι· Eumen. 863. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 51:23

Them that afflict thee "Them who oppress thee" - The Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, and Vulgate appear to have read מוניך monayich , as in Isaiah 40:26 ." - Secker. Which have said to thy soul, Bow down "Who say to thee, Bow down thy body" - A very strong and most expressive description of the insolent pride of eastern conquerors; which, though it may seem greatly exaggerated, yet hardly exceeds the strict truth. An example has already been given of it in the note to Isaiah 49:23 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:17-23

AN ADDRESS OF THE PROPHET TO JERUSALEM . The comfort afforded to Israel generally is now concentrated on Jerusalem. Her condition during the long period of the Captivity is deplored, and her want of a champion to assert her cause and raise her out of the dust is lamented ( Isaiah 51:17-20 ). After this, an assurance is given her that the miseries which she has suffered shall pass from her to her great enemy, by whom the dregs of the "cup of trembling" shall be drained, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:17-23

Encouragement for Jerusalem. The prophet, or chorus of prophets, is supposed to salute the holy city with a cheering cry. I. PICTURES OF DISTRESS . The draught from the cup of Divine wrath. "The cup of his fury"—"the goblet-cup of reeling." These are figures for the horror and bewilder-meat caused by a (great catastrophe. It is "to drink the wine of astonishment" ( Psalms 60:3 ; Ezekiel 23:2 ). Then there is utter helplessness. No guide for Jerusalem to be found in all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:17-23

Spiritual stupefaction. The passage presents one of the most pitiable of all possible spectacles—a nation reduced to utter helplessness and prostration, lying like one that is brought down by intoxication to a motionless stupidity. We learn from this picture, and from the opening summons and concluding promise— I. THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT AS WELL AS THE HUMAN BODY IS SUBJECT TO STUPEFACTION . It is a striking and suggestive fact that the very thing which at first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:21

Drunken, but not with wine (comp. Isaiah 29:9 ; and see above, Isaiah 29:17 , which shows that the appearance of drunkenness had been produced by Jerusalem drinking the cup of God's wrath). read more

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