Isaiah 59:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 59:1-8

The prophet here rectifies the mistake of those who had been quarrelling with God because they had not the deliverances wrought for them which they had been often fasting and praying for, Isa. 58:3. Now here he shows, I. That it was not owing to God. They had no reason to lay the fault upon him that they were not saved out of the hands of their enemies; for, 1. He was still as able to help as ever: His hand is not shortened, his power is not at all lessened, straitened, or abridged. Whether we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:4

None calleth for justice ,.... Or, "righteousness"; not for civil justice in courts of judicature, as if there were no advocates for it there; or that put those in mind of it, to whom the administration of it belongs; or that see to put the laws against sin in execution, and to relieve those that are oppressed; though of this there may be just cause of complaint in some places: but there are none or few that call for evangelical righteousness, either that preach it, proclaim and publish it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 59:4

They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity - There is a curious propriety in this mode of expression; a thought or purpose is compared to conception; a word or act, which is the consequence of it, to the birth of a child. From the third to the fifteenth verse inclusive may be considered a true statement of the then moral state of the Jewish people; and that they were, in the most proper sense of the word, guilty of the iniquities with which they are charged. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:1-8

A GENERAL REBUKE OF ISRAEL FOR ITS MANIFOLD SINS , The command given to the prophet in Isaiah 58:1 to "show God's people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins "—partly executed in Isaiah 58:4-7 and Isaiah 58:13 —is now further carried out by a scathing denunciation of various forms of wickedness, more or less prevalent in Israel, the effect of which has been to separate between Israel and God, to "shorten God's hand" and "make his ears heavy." The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:1-15

The separation of the soul from God. Why in the hour of need is there no deliverance? Why are prayers for aid unanswered? A theory might obtain, or an objection might be raised, that Divine power was not sufficient, that the Divine sensibility was dulled. And yet this cannot be. The simplest knowledge of what God is must contradict an assumption so foolish. There must be another explanation; and that, the conscience says, is to be found on the human side of the relation. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:2-8

The unsatisfactoriness of sinful courses. "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye now are ashamed?" asks the apostle of those whom he had converted from a life of sin to a life of righteousness ( Romans 6:21 ). What good did the life of sin seem to do you? Of course, if the life of sin had no pleasures at all to offer, it would have no attractiveness, and would not be led by any. But what, after all, are the attractions, compared with the counterbalancing disadvantages? I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 59:4

None calleth for justice ; rather, none preferreth his suit in justice (so Lowth, Gesenius, Ewald, Knobel, and Mr. Cheyne). "No one," that is, "who engaged in a suit, limited himself to just pleas and honest courses in his prosecution of it." Nor any pleadeth for truth ; rather, none pleadeth in truthfulness. They trust in vanity ; literally, in chaos; i.e. "in a mass of false and vain statements." The whole basis of the dealings between man and man was unsound, corrupt, chaotic.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 59:4

None calleth for justice - Or rather, there is no one who brings a suit with justice; no one who goes into court for the purpose of obtaining justice. There is a love of litigation; a desire to take all the advantage which the law can give; a desire to appeal to the law, not for the sake of having strict justice done, but for the sake of doing injury to others, and to take some undue advantage.Nor any pleadeth for truth - Or, no one pleadeth with truth. He does not state the cause as it is. He... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 59:4

Isaiah 59:4. None calleth for justice None seek to redress these wrongs and violences; they commit all rapines and frauds with impunity; they trust in vanity In vain and empty words, void of all consistency; or, in vain things, such as their idols were, often called vanity and nothing, 1 Corinthians 8:4; or in their own power, craft, and policy, whereby, laying aside justice, they oppressed others. And speak lies This may refer to the judges, lawyers, and false prophets, who told them... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 59:1-21

Society incapable of reform (59:1-21)Ungodly society is heading for destruction. The reason for this is not that God is powerless to save people, but that people’s sins have cut them off from God, the only one who can save them. They have filled the land with violence, lies and treachery (59:1-3).Because of the corruption of the courts, there is no justice in society (4). Wickedness multiplies as evil people spread their poison and trap the innocent in their plots. They try to cover their sin... read more

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