Isaiah 55:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 55:6-13

We have here a further account of that covenant of grace which is made with us in Jesus Christ, both what is required and what is promised in the covenant, and of those considerations that are sufficient abundantly to confirm our believing compliance with and reliance on that covenant. This gracious discovery of God's good-will to the children of men is not to be confined either to the Jew or to the Gentile, to the Old Testament or to the New, much less to the captives in Babylon. No, both the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree ,.... The meaning of which either is, that instead of wicked men, comparable to briers and thorns for their being fruitless and useless, harmful and pernicious, under a curse, and their end to be burned, there good men, comparable to fruitful and beautiful trees, shall be; which was eminently true when the Gospel was preached in the Gentile world; see Isaiah 35:1 so the Targum, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thorn "Instead of the thorny bushes" - These likewise (see note on Isaiah 55:12 , and on Isaiah 54:11 ; (note)) are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The wilderness turned into a paradise, Lebanon into Carmel: the desert of the Gentiles watered with the heavenly snow and rain, which fail not to have their due effect, and becoming fruitful in piety and righteousness: or, as the Chaldee gives the moral sense of the emblem, "instead... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:6-13

Exhortations and assurance. I. EXHORTATIONS . "Seek ye Jehovah." This is the beginning of a religious life—to seek for God, to inquire for his ways ( Deuteronomy 4:29 ; Job 5:8 ; Job 8:5 ; Psalms 9:10 ; Psalms 14:2 ; Psalms 27:8 ). "While he may be found" ( Psalms 32:6 )—"in a time of finding." For a bitter "day" will come, when woe to his foes ( Isaiah 65:6 , Isaiah 65:7 )! It is hinted that a time will come when the offer will be withdrawn. "If a man will not do so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:8-13

A FRESH ASSURANCE or DELIVERANCE FROM BABYLON . Man can scarcely conceive of the deliverance which God designs; but God's thoughts are not as man's ( Isaiah 55:8 , Isaiah 55:9 ). God's word, once pronounced, is potent to effect its purpose ( Isaiah 55:10 , Isaiah 55:11 ). Deliverance from Babylon, having been promised, will take place, and will be accompanied by all manner of spiritual blessings ( Isaiah 55:12 , Isaiah 55:13 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:10-13

The fruitfulness of sacred truth. It may be said that the rain and the snow do, in fact, return to the heavens whence they came, drawn up by the sun as it shines on sea and lake, on stream and river, everywhere. But not until they have done the work for which they came , not until they have "accomplished that which God pleases," until they have prospered in the purpose for which he sent them; not until they have fertilized the soil, and made it bring forth its precious fruits. The vast... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree . "Briars and thorns" were to overgrow the unfruitful vineyard, according to Isaiah 5:6 ; and to cover the land of God's people, according to Isaiah 32:13 . This would be literally the case to a large extent, while the land was allowed to lie waste. The literal meaning is not, however, the whole meaning, or even the main meaning, here. "Briars and thorns" represent a general state of wretchedness and sin. The "fir" and "myrtle" represent a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thorn - (Compare the notes at Isaiah 11:6-8; Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 42:20). The word rendered ‘thorn’ (נעצוּץ na‛ătsûts) occurs only here and in Isaiah 7:19. It evidently means a thorn, hedge, or thorny-bush.Shall come up the fir tree - (ברושׁ berôsh; see the notes at Isaiah 14:8; Isaiah 37:24; Isaiah 60:13; Zechariah 11:2). A change would be produced in the moral condition of man as great as if in the natural world the rough and useless thorn should be succeeded... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:1-13

God’s free provision (55:1-13)Many of the Jews had made life reasonably tolerable for themselves in Babylon. The prophet knew that they were so settled that they might not want to uproot themselves and face the hardships of life back in their desolated homeland. Many were more concerned with making life easier for themselves than with knowing God and looking to him for their provision. God warns against this self-centred attitude and invites them to trust fully in him. The blessings he gives... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 55:13

brier: or, nettle. read more

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