Isaiah 56:3-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 56:3-8

The prophet is here, in God's name, encouraging those that were hearty in joining themselves to God and yet laboured under great discouragements. 1. Some were discouraged because they were not of the seed of Abraham. They had joined themselves to the Lord, and bound their souls with a bond to be his for ever (this is the root and life of religion, to break off from the world and the flesh, and devote ourselves entirely to the service and honour of God); but they questioned whether God would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:3

Neither let the son of the stranger ,.... A Gentile, that is so by birth, the son of one that is an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, a stranger from the covenants of promise, and so had no right to come into the congregation of the Lord under the former dispensation; but now the middle wall of partition being broken down, in the times to which this prophecy belongs, such are encouraged to expect admission: that hath joined himself to the Lord ; who, having a spiritual knowledge of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:4

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths ,.... That fear and serve the Lord; religiously observe all times of divine worship, and walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; show regard to all the institutions of the Gospel, and perform all religious exercises, private and public, on Lord's days, and at other times: and choose the things that please me ; who do that which is wellpleasing unto God, which he has declared in his word to be acceptable to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 56:5

Even to them will I give in mine house and within my walls ,.... The Targum is, "in the house of my sanctuary, and in the land of the house of my Shechinah;' meaning the temple at Jerusalem, in the land of Judea; but a Gospel church state is here meant, which is the house of God; the materials of which are true believers; the foundation Christ; the pillars and beams of it are the ministers of the word; the windows the ordinances, the door into it faith in Christ, and a profession of it;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 56:5

I will give them an everlasting name - For לו lo , him, in the singular, it is evident that we ought to read למו lamo , them, in the plural: so read the Septuagint, Syriac, Chaldee, and Vulgate. 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 56:3

The son of the stranger ; i.e. the foreigner, who has become a proselyte. During the depression of the Captivity these are not likely to have been many. Still, there were doubtless some; and these, who had embraced Judaism under such unfavourable circumstances, were entitled to special consideration. As Messianic hopes prevailed, and the time of restoration to Palestine drew near ( Isaiah 56:1 ), they might naturally be afraid that they would not be looked upon as equals by the native... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:3-7

Outward defects and defilements no hindrance to full communion in the Church of God. In the infancy of humanity, and with a people so carnal as the Israelites, it was necessary to teach the great doctrines of purity and holiness by a material symbolism. Hence the multitude of regulations in the Law concerning defects, blemishes, sources of outward defilement, methods of removing defilements, clean and unclean meats, and the like. God strove to train his people by these out ward shows to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 56:3-8

The open gate. The temple or house of God ( Isaiah 56:7 ) stands for his kingdom of righteousness; and in exalted vision the prophet foresees the time when it shall stand open to every man—to the stranger or heathen, and even to those physically debarred. It is to be called "a house of prayer for all people. " It is worthy of note that it should be called a house of prayer; the truth is intimated that, in the kingdom of God, sacrifice performed by the few on behalf of the many will... read more

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