Isaiah 65:17 - Exposition

I create. The same verb is used as in Genesis 1:1 ; and the prophet's idea seems to be that the existing heaven and earth are to be entirely destroyed (see Isaiah 24:19 , Isaiah 24:20 , and the comment ad loc. ), and a fresh heaven and earth created in their place out of nothing. The "new Jerusalem" is not the old Jerusalem renovated, but is a veritable "new Jerusalem," "created a rejoicing" ( Genesis 1:18 ; scrap. Revelation 21:2 ). The germ of the teaching will be found in Isaiah 51:16 . The former shall not be remembered. Some suppose "the former troubles" (see Isaiah 51:16 ) to be meant; but it is best (with Delitzsch) to understand "the former heavens and earth." The glory of the new heavens and earth would be such that the former ones would not only not be regretted, but would not even be had in remembrance. No one would so much as think of them.