Isaiah 65:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 65:1-7

The apostle Paul (an expositor we may depend upon) has given us the true sense of these verses, and told us what was the event they pointed at and were fulfilled in, namely, the calling in of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, by the preaching of the gospel, Rom. 10:20, 21. And he observes that herein Esaias is very bold, not only in foretelling a thing so improbable ever to be brought about, but in foretelling it to the Jews, who would take it as a gross affront to their nation, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 65:5

Which say, stand by thyself , &c.; According to Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, these are the unclean persons that did the above things; who say to the righteous, "draw near to thyself" F16 קרב אליך "accede ad te", Vatablus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Cocceius; "appropinqua ad te", Piscator. ; so the words are, go to thine own place, or to thine own company: and come not near to me ; keep off at a distance, as unworthy of such company: for I am holier than thou ; but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 65:5

For I am holier than thou - So the Chaldee renders it. קדשתיך kedashticha is the same with ממך קדשתי kadashti mimmecha . In the same manner חזקתני chazaktani , Jeremiah 20:7 , is used for ממני חזקת chazacta mimmenni , "thou art stronger than I." - L. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:1-7

SECTION XI .— GOD 'S ANSWER TO THE EXILES ' PRAYER ( Isaiah 65:1-25 .) ISRAEL 'S SUFFERINGS THE JUST MEED OF THEIR SINS . God's mercy is such that it even overflows upon those who are outside the covenant ( Isaiah 65:1 ). It has been offered to Israel, but Israel has rejected it . Their rebellion, their idolatries, and their pride have caused, and must continue to cause, their punishment ( Isaiah 65:2-7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:1-7

The offensiveness and the doom of sin. The passage brings out in a very graphic form— I. THE OFFENSIVENESS OF SIN . 1 . Assumption. "Walking after their own thoughts" instead of reverently inquiring God's will ( Isaiah 65:2 ). 2 . Positive disobedience in the manner of Divine worship ( Isaiah 65:3 ). 3 . Superstitious practices , implying discontent with the disclosures God had made in his holy Word ( Isaiah 65:4 ). 4 . Irreligious self-indulgence ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:1-10

Threatenings and promises. Both, as it would appear, addressed to the chosen people, though many, including St. Paul, apply the earlier part of the passage to the conversion of the Gentiles. There is a polytheistic party, and a party of true believers in the nation. I. GOD BEFOREHAND WITH MEN . He "allows himself to be consulted;" he "offers answers," or "is heard" by those who came not to consult him. He was "at hand to those who did not seek him." To a nation that did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:5

Stand by thyself ; i.e. "keep aloof—come not into contact with me; for mine is a higher holiness than thine, and I should be polluted by thy near approach." Initiation into heathen mysteries was thought to confer on the initiated a holiness unattainable otherwise. Thus the heathenized Jew claimed to be holier than the true servants of Jehovah. These are a smoke … a fire (comp. Psalms 18:8 , "There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured; coals were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:5

The hopeless. The husbandman is often tempted to tear up the vine, or to pluck up the herb, or to plough up the crop, when patience and painstaking would result in flower and fruit. In the spiritual world, it is often found that where death seemed to prevail, there was life beneath the surface. I. THE APPEARANCE OF SPIRITUAL DEATH . The Church is so degenerate, that the teaching of Divine truth is found to be ineffectual; the nation so corrupt, that the statesman and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 65:5

The pride of superior holiness. Dr. W. Kay has a suggestive note on this verse: "A deep insight is here given us into the nature of the mysterious fascination which heathenism exercised on the Jewish people. The Law humbled them at every turn with mementoes of their own sin, and of God's unapproachable holiness. Paganism freed them from this, and allowed them (in the midst of moral pollution) to cherish lofty pretensions to sanctity. The man who had been offering incense on the mountain-top... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 65:5

Which say, Stand by thyself - Who at the time that they engage in these abominations are distinguished for spiritual pride. The most worthless people are commonly the most proud; and they who have wandered farthest from God have in general the most exalted idea of their own goodness. It was a characteristic of a large part of the Jewish nation, and especially of the Pharisees, to be self-righteous and proud. A striking illustration of this we have in the following description of the Hindu... read more

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