Isaiah 48:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 48:16-22

Here, as before, Jacob and Israel are summoned to hearken to the prophet speaking in God's name, or rather to God speaking in and by the prophet, and that as a type of the great prophet by whom God has in these last days spoken unto us, and that is sufficient: Come near therefore, and hear this. Note, Those that would hear and understand what God says must come near, and approach to him; let them come as near as they can. Let those that have hearkened to the tempter now come near, and hear... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 48:20

Go ye forth of Babylon ,.... Which the Jews had leave to do by the proclamation of Cyrus; and so the people of God will be called to come forth out of mystical Babylon before its destruction, to which these words are applied, Revelation 18:4 perhaps this, in the figurative sense, may be a call to the Christians in Jerusalem, now become another Babylon for wickedness, to come out of it a little before its ruin; and may be applied to the call of persons, by the Gospel, from a state of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 48:20

Tell this "Make it heard" - Twenty-seven MSS. of Kennicott's, (ten ancient), many of De Rossi's, and two ancient, of my own, with the Septuagint, Syriac, Chaldee, and Arabic, and one edition, prefix to the verb the conjunction ו vau , והשמיעו vehashmiu . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 48:1-22

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 48:12-22

The new revelation. The verses contain a summary of the contents of Isaiah 40-47. God is the First and the Last—the sole Creator. Prophecy is an evidence of his claims; and so is the mission of Cyrus. I. THE REVELATION CONCERNING GOD . First Jacob and Israel, the chosen people, are called to listen. Jehovah is the Alpha and the Omega of the universe. The First Cause and Reason of things; he gave the first impulse to their course, the goal of which will still be himself. Before... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 48:16-22

THE THIRD ADDRESS . Israel is reminded of God's merciful teaching and leading in the past ( Isaiah 48:16 , Isaiah 48:17 ); expostulated with on their disobedience ( Isaiah 48:18 , Isaiah 48:19 ); exhorted to go forth boldly and joyfully from Babylon ( Isaiah 48:20 , Isaiah 48:21 ); and finally warned that God's blessings—even such a blessing as deliverance—are no blessings to any but the righteous ( Isaiah 48:22 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 48:20

Go ye forth of Babylon . A sudden transition from expostulation to exhortation. It might have seemed that no exhortation would be needed; that, as soon as the prison-doors were set open, there would be a general rush to escape. But, when the time came, it was not so. Those only availed themselves of the edict of Cyrus "whose spirit God had raised to go up and build his house" ( Ezra 1:5 ). The wealthier classes, Josephus tells us ('Ant. Jud.,' Isaiah 11:1 ), remained. The very poor, it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 48:20

Go ye forth of Babylon - The prophet now directly addresses those who were in exile in Babylon, and commands them to depart from it. The design of this is, to furnish the assurance that they should be delivered, and to show them the duty of leaving the place of their long captivity when the opportunity of doing it should occur. It is also designed to show that when it should occur, it would be attended with great joy and rejoicing.Flee ye from the Chaldeans with a voice of singing - With the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 48:20-21

Isaiah 48:20-21. Go ye forth of Babylon The imperative is here, as it is very frequently, put for the future, ye shall go forth, &c. For the words do not so much contain a command as a promise. This form of speaking, however, may be the rather used to intimate, that it was their duty to go forth, as well as God’s promise to carry them forth. Flee ye from the Chaldeans Not silently and sorrowfully, but with a voice of singing With joy, and songs of praise to the Lord. Declare ye,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 48:1-22

The past and the future (48:1-22)Before returning to their homeland, the people are reminded of the sins that led the nation into captivity. They must not repeat former errors. The people’s chief failing was that they honoured God with their words but not with their conduct (48:1-2). Knowing their tendency towards idolatry, God gave his people advance revelations of his will, to prevent them from turning to idols for guidance. But they still stubbornly rejected his teaching (3-5).Nevertheless,... read more

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