Isaiah 51:9-52:12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-16

In these verses we have, I. A prayer that God would, in his providence, appear and act for the deliverance of his people and the mortification of his and their enemies. Awake, awake! put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Isa. 51:9. The arm of the Lord is Christ, or it is put for God himself, as Ps. 44:23. Awake! why sleepest thou? He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but, when we pray that he would awake, we mean that he would make it to appear that he watches over his people and is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:9

Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord ,.... The Septuagint and Arabic versions take the words to be an address to Jerusalem; and the Syriac version to Zion, as in Isaiah 51:17 , but wrongly: they are, as Jarchi says, a prayer of the prophet, or it may be rather of the church represented by him; and are addressed either to God the Father, who, when he does not immediately appear on the behalf of his people, is thought by them to be asleep, though he never slumbers nor sleeps, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:7-13

A sure criterion of character, etc. This address of Jehovah to the good and worthy among his people contains— I. A SURE CRITERION OF CHARACTER . 1 . It is well to be hearers of God's Word. All the Jews were that; they were all the children of privilege. This, however, was by no means sufficient to prove that they were the children of God. 2 . It is better to know his Word and to understand his will. It says something for us if we can be thus addressed, "Ye that know... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:7-13

Fear, and Fear not. "Fear ye not the reproach of men;" "Afraid of a man that shall die;" "Forgettest the Lord thy Maker." It has been said, "Fear God, and thou shalt have none else to fear." And the apostle, glorifying the fear of God by calling it love , says, "Perfect love casteth out fear." The immediate connection of the passage is Israel's fear of the Babylonians. But they need not have feared if they had looked to the "Lord as their Defence, and to the God of Jacob as their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9

Awake, awake (comp. Psalms 7:6 ; Psalms 35:23 ; Psalms 44:23 ; Psalms 78:65 ). When God neglects the prayers and supplications of his people, he is spoken of as "asleep," and needing to be awoke by a loud cry. The anthropomorphism is obvious, and of course not to be taken literally (see 1 Kings 18:27 , ad fin. ) . Put on strength . Gird the strength to thee ( Psalms 93:1 ) which thou hadst laid aside while thou wept asleep . Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab? rather, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-10

The force in reserve. It has been said that the battle goes to him who has the best force in reserve. The general who brings all his regiments to the front may expect to be beaten; but he who holds a strong force in reserve may look for victory. ]n the great spiritual struggle now proceeding, the people of God have in reserve that on which they can and will fall back with infinite advantage to their cause. I. OUR URGENT NEED OF EFFECTUAL SUCCOUR . The battle seems to go... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-11

AN APPEAL OF THE PROPHET TO GOD TO AROUSE HIMSELF , WITH A PROMISE OF ISRAEL 'S RESTORATION . There has been much doubt as to the utterer of this "splendid apostrophe." Zion, the prophet, the angels, Jehovah, and God the Son pleading with God the Father, have been suggested. To us it seems simplest and best to assign the passage to the prophet. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-11

The arm of Jehovah. Either the people call on Jehovah, or he is concerned as calling on himself to awake and rouse up his might for the defence of his people as in the days of old, I. THE ARM OF JEHOVAH AS SYMBOLIC OF HIS POWER . It is the symbol of spiritual power opposed to that of darkness, death, the under-world, He is said to have "smitten Rahab, and wounded the dragon." Commonly this has been understood of Egypt, but the reference seems to be more general. It... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 51:9

Awake, awake - This verse commences a new subject (see the analysis of the chapter). It is the solemn and impassioned entreaty of those who were in exile that God would interpose in their behalf, as he did in behalf of his people when they were suffering in cruel bondage in Egypt. The word ‘awake’ here, which is addressed to the arm of Jehovah, is a petition that it might be roused from its apparent stupor and inactivity, and its power exerted in their behalf.O arm of the Lord - The arm is the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 51:9-11

Isaiah 51:9-11. Awake, awake, &c. The prophet, by an elegant figure, addresses himself to God, to stir up and exert his power in behalf of his oppressed people, as he did in former times, when he delivered them out of the Egyptian bondage. Awake, as in the ancient days That is, act for us now as thou didst for our fathers formerly: repeat the wonders they have told us of. Art thou not it that cut Rahab Egypt, so called, here and elsewhere, for its pride or strength. And wounded the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:7-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:7-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 51:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 51:9-11

Group of Brands