Isaiah 59:11 - Exposition

We roar all like bears ; rather, we growl. The verb is used commonly of the "roaring" of the sea ( Isaiah 17:12 ; Isaiah 51:15 ; Jeremiah 6:23 ; Jeremiah 31:1-40 :45; Jeremiah 50:42 ; Jeremiah 51:55 ); but is applied also to the noise made by a dog ( Psalms 59:6 , Psalms 59:14 ). Here it represents the deep murmur of discontent, which alternates with the mournful tones of Israel's despondency—the latter being compared to the melancholy cooing of the dove (see Isaiah 38:14 ). We look for judgment, but there is none, etc. The same complaint as in Isaiah 59:9 , clause 1.