E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 40:4
Every valley, &c. These physical marvels are supernatural, and can never be produced by the spiritual and holy living of individua1 Christians. read more
Every valley, &c. These physical marvels are supernatural, and can never be produced by the spiritual and holy living of individua1 Christians. read more
flesh. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), put for all people. read more
The voice = A voice. This is a second "voice": the voice of Jehovah. is grass. Figure of speech Metaphor , by which the assertion is boldly made that one thing i s another (i.e. represents it). It differs from the Figure of speech Simile in the next clause, which asserts that one thing only resembles another. goodliness = grace, or loveliness. is as. Figure of speech Simile. read more
spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . read more
stand for ever. Compare Isaiah 46:10 , Isaiah 46:11 ; Isaiah 55:10 , Isaiah 55:11 .Psalms 119:89-91 .Zechariah 1:5 .Matthew 5:18 ; Matthew 24:35 .Mark 13:31 . Joh 10:35 ; John 12:34 . 1 Peter 1:25 . read more
O Zion, that bringest: or, O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion. Compare Isaiah 41:27 . that bringest. This is feminine, personifying the "heraldband". good = joyful. O Jerusalem. See note on "O Zion", above. strength = power, strength (to endure). Hebrew. koah. Same as in Isaiah 40:31 ; not the same as in Isaiah 40:10 . behold your God. See note on the Structure of the four Gospels, which shows this sentence as being applicable to the Gospel by John. read more
The Lord God. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah ( App-4 ). This title is used because of His connection here with the earth. strong = mighty strength (to hold fast). Hebrew. hazak . read more
feed His flock. As in the wilderness. See Isaiah 63:11 .Psalms 77:20 ; Psalms 78:52 , Psalms 78:53 ; Psalms 80:1 . gather = take up. read more
These chapters (Isaiah 40:12-66:24 ) form a group corresponding with Isaiah chapters 1-5; and, like them, consist of exhortations and prophecies, while they are set in contrast with them, being promissory instead of reprehensory. Their subjects, as respectively repeated, will be seen in the Structure A below. They look beyond the Captivity. Isaiah 40:12-66:24 . EXHORTATIONS: PROMISSORY AND PROPHETIC. (Alternation and Introversion.) Structure A: K | 40:12-31. God's Controversy with the... read more
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 40:3
The voice, &c. Quoted in Matthew 3:3 .Mark 1:3 .Luke 3:4-6 . Joh 1:23 . 1 Peter 1:24 . Compare the voice from the temple in Isaiah 6:0 , concerning the scattering, and this voice outside the land concerning the gathering. The voice was not Isaiah's, but heard by him in vision. John [the] Baptist claims it; but this People would not hear; and He Whom he heralded was crucified and His kingdom was rejected (John 1:11 ). The King and the kingdom are therefore alike in abeyance, and the... read more