Isaiah 56:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-2

The scope of these verses is to show that when God is coming towards us in a way of mercy we must go forth to meet him in a way of duty. I. God here tells us what are his intentions of mercy to us (Isa. 56:1): My salvation is near to come?the great salvation wrought out by Jesus Christ (for that was the salvation of which the prophets enquired and searched diligently, 1 Pet. 1:10), typified by the salvation of the Jews from Sennacherib or out of Babylon. Observe, 1. The gospel salvation is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:2

Blessed is the man that doth this ,.... That does justice, and keeps judgment; he hereby exercises a good conscience both towards God and men; he enjoys communion with God in his ways, worship, and ordinances, he attends unto, and has an evidence of his right to eternal happiness: and the son of man that layeth hold on it ; on the salvation of Christ, and his righteousness; which supposes a sense of the insufficiency of a man's own righteousness, a view of the excellency and suitableness... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 56:2

That keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it - Kimchi has an excellent note here. "The Sabbath is sanctified when it is distinguished in dignity; and separated from other days. As to the body, in meat, drink, and clean clothing. As to the soul, that it be empty of worldly occupations, and be busily employed in the words of the law and wisdom, and in meditation on the works of the Lord." The rabbins say, "Jerusalem had never been destroyed, had not the Sabbaths been profaned in it." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

AN EXHORTATION TO OBSERVE THE LAW , ESPECIALLY THE LAW OF THE SABBATH , COMBINED WITH PROMISES . There was much of the Law which it was impossible to observe during the Captivity. Sacrifice had ceased, the temple was destroyed, almost all the ceremonial law must have been suspended; even the command to do no work on the sabbath day cannot have been kept by a nation of slaves, whose masters would certainly not have permitted them to be idle one day in seven.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

The true observance of the sabbath. Foreign converts are commended for their observance of the sabbath, and promised an appropriate reward. The day was more strictly observed during the Babylonian and Persian periods ( Jeremiah 17:19-27 ; Ezekiel 20:11-21 ; Ezekiel 22:8 , Ezekiel 22:26 ; Nehemiah 13:15-22 ; cf. 2 Kings 11:11-16 with 1 Macc . 2:32-38). Its estimation rose with the estimation of prayer (Cheyne). I. THE DUTY OF OBEDIENCE . The Law is "the objective... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:2

That doeth this … that layeth hold on it ; i.e. that doeth according to the exhortation in Isaiah 56:1 . That keepeth the sabbath . The prominent place assigned to this duty by the evangelical prophet is remarkable. We may observe, however, read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:2

The sabbath a test of obedience. It is singular to find Isaiah now making so much of the sabbath when, in the earlier part of his prophecy, he had, in the name of God, spoken of it so scornfully (see Isaiah 1:13 , "The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with"). Matthew Arnold refers to this contrast, and says, "That related to a time when the kingdom of Judah yet stood, when the service of the temple was in full course, the whole exterior part of the Jews'... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 56:2

Blessed is the man - Hebrew, ‘The blessings of the man’ (see Psalms 1:1). The sense is, ‘happy is the man.’ The word here rendered ‘man’ (אנושׁ 'ĕnôsh) usually denotes a man in humble life or in a subordinate rank, in contradistinction from אישׁ 'ı̂ysh, a man in elevated rank. As the object of the prophet here is particularly to say, that the ‘stranger’ and the ‘eunuch’ would be admitted to these privileges, it is possible that he designedly used a word denoting one in bumble life. The... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 56:2

Isaiah 56:2. Blessed is the man Any, or every man, not only Jews but Gentiles, or strangers, as it is explained in the following verses. That doeth this That practiseth the judgment and justice, or the righteousness, mentioned Isaiah 56:1. That layeth hold on it Or, that holdeth it fast, as יחזיק בה may be rendered; that is, resolute and constant in so doing; that not only begins well, but perseveres in well-doing: that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it That doth not profane... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:1-8

56:1-66:24 PRESENT SHAME AND FUTURE GLORYHaving looked beyond the Babylonian captivity to the Jews’ imminent return to their homeland, the prophet now sees the people resettled in and around Jerusalem. What he sees causes him to realize that this is not the golden age after all. Social and religious sins once again become a characteristic of the national life of Israel. The prophet contrasts this corrupt state of affairs with conditions in the ideal Jerusalem of the future.In this section, as... read more

Group of Brands