Isaiah 59:12-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 59:9-15

The scope of this paragraph is the same with that of the last, to show that sin is the great mischief-maker; as it is that which keeps good things from us, so it is that which brings evil things upon us. But as there it is spoken by the prophet, in God's name, to the people, for their conviction and humiliation, and that God might be justified when he speaks and clear when he judges, so here it seems to be spoken by the people to God, as an acknowledgment of that which was there told them and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 59:16-21

How sin abounded we have read, to our great amazement, in the former part of the chapter; how grace does much more abound we read in these verses. And, as sin took occasion from the commandment to become more exceedingly sinful, so grace took occasion from the transgression of the commandment to appear more exceedingly gracious. Observe, I. Why God wrought salvation for this provoking people, notwithstanding their provocations. It was purely for his own name's sake; because there was nothing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:12

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee ,.... Not only an increase of immorality among the people in common, but among professors of religion; and as their transgressions are committed against the Lord, so they are in his sight taken notice of and observed by him, are loathsome and abominable to him, and call aloud for his judgments on them: and our sins testify against us ; God is a witness against us, in whose sight our sins are done; and our consciences are witnesses against... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:13

In transgressing and lying against the Lord ,.... The word of the Lord, as the Targum; they transgress the doctrine of Christ, as well as the law of God, and deny him the only Lord God, even our Lord Jesus Christ, his proper deity, his righteousness, and satisfaction, which is notorious in our days; so the Syriac version renders it, we have denied the Lord ; the Lord that bought them: this is the case of many under a profession of Christ: and departing away from our God : from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:14

And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off ,.... Jarchi interprets this of the vengeance of God, and his righteousness in his judgments, not immediately executed; but it is to be understood of the want of judgment and justice being done among men; and therefore are represented as persons turned back, and standing afar off, rejected, neglected, and discouraged. The Targum renders it, "they that do judgment are turned back, and they that do justice stand afar off;' ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:15

Yea, truth faileth ,.... Or, "is deprived" F6 נעדרת "privata"; so העדר "privatio", often with the Rubbins. ; of its life and being; it not only falls in the street, and there lies, without any to show regard unto it; but it fails; it seems as if it had given up the ghost and expired; so very prevalent will error be, before light and truth spring up again and be victorious, as they will: and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey ; he that does not give in to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:16

And he saw that there was no man ,.... Whose works are good, as the Targum adds; no good man, or faithful and righteous one, that had any regard to truth and justice; that was an advocate for truth, and opposed error, and set on foot a reformation; or was concerned for any of these things, and mourned over the general corruption; not that it must be thought there was not one individual person, but very few, comparatively none; since mention is made before of some that departed from evil, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 59:14

Justice standeth afar off - צדקה tsedakah , righteousness, put here, says Kimchi, for alms to the poor. This casts some light on Matthew 6:1 ; : "Take heed that you do not your alms," ελεημοσυνην . But the best copies have δικαιοσυνην , righteousness; the former having been inserted in the text at first merely as the explanation of the genuine and original word. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 59:15

And the Lord saw it "And Jehovah saw it" - This third line of the stanza appears manifestly to me to be imperfect by the loss of a phrase. The reader will perhaps more perfectly conceive my idea of the matter if I endeavor to supply the supposed defect, I imagine it might have stood originally in this manner: - לו ויחר יהוה וירא lo veyachar Yehovah vaiyar משפט אין כי בעיניו וירע mishpat ein ki beeyinaiv veyera "And Jehovah saw it, and he was wroth; ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 59:16

And wondered that there was no intercessor - This and the following verses some of the most eminent rabbins understand as spoken of the Messiah. Kimchi says that Rabbi Joshua ben Levi proposes this objection: "It is written, 'Behold, he will come in the clouds of heaven as the son of man,' Daniel 7:13 ; and elsewhere it is written, 'He cometh lowly, and riding upon an ass,' Zechariah 9:9 . How can these texts be reconciled? Thus: If the Jews have merit, he will come unto them in the... read more

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