1 The Uision of Isaiah the sonne of Amoz, which hee sawe concerning Iudah and Ierusalem, in the dayes of Uzziah, Iotham, Ahaz, & Hezekiah kings of Iudah.
2 Heare, O heauens, and giue eare, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken; I haue nourished and brought vp children, and they haue rebelled against me.
3 The oxe knoweth his owner, and the asse his masters cribbe: but Israel doeth not know, my people doeth not consider.
4 Ah sinnefull nation, a people laden with iniquitie, a seede of euill doers, children that are corrupters: they haue forsaken the Lord, they haue prouoked the Holy one of Israel vnto anger, they are gone away backward.
5 ¶ Why should yee be stricken any more? yee will reuolt more and more: the whole head is sicke, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foote, euen vnto the head, there is no soundnesse in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they haue not beene closed, neither bound vp, neither mollified with oyntment.
7 Your countrey is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your land, strangers deuoure it in your presence, and it is desolate as ouerthrowen by strangers.
8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged citie.
9 Except the Lord of hostes had left vnto vs a very small remnant, we should haue beene as Sodom, and we should haue bene like vnto Gomorrah.
10 ¶ Heare the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, giue eare vnto the Law of our God, yee people of Gomorrah.
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices vnto me, sayth the Lord? I am full of the burnt offerings of rammes, and the fat of fedde beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullockes, or of lambes, or of hee goates.
12 When ye come to appeare before mee, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
13 Bring no more vaine oblations, incense is an abomination vnto me: the new Moones, and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies I cannot away with; it is iniquitie, euen the solemne meeting.
14 Your new Moones, and your appointed Feasts my soule hateth: they are a trouble vnto me, I am weary to beare them.
15 And when ye spread foorth your handes, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when yee make many prayers I will not heare: your hands are full of blood.
16 ¶ Wash yee, make you cleane, put away the euill of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to doe euill,
17 Learne to doe well, seeke iudgement, relieue the oppressed, iudge the fatherlesse, plead for the widow.
18 Come now and let vs reason together, saith the Lord: though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimsin, they shall be as wooll.
19 If yee be willing and obedient, yee shall eate the good of the land.
20 But if yee refuse and rebell, yee shalbe deuoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
21 ¶ Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, righteousnesse lodged in it; but now murtherers.
22 Thy siluer is become drosse, thy wine mixt with water.
23 Thy princes are rebellious and companions of theeues: euery one loueth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they iudge not the fatherlesse, neither doth the cause of the widowe come vnto them.
24 Therefore, saith the Lord, the Lord of hostes, the mighty one of Israel; Ah, I will ease me of mine aduersaries, and auenge me of mine enemies.
25 ¶ And I will turne my hand vpon thee, and purely purge away thy drosse, and take away all thy tinne.
26 And I will restore thy iudges as at the first, and thy counsellers as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called the citie of righteousnesse, the faithfull citie.
27 Zion shall be redeemed with iudgement, and her conuerts with righteousnesse.
28 ¶ And the destruction of the transgressours and of the sinners shall be together: and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the okes which yee haue desired, and yee shalbe confounded for the gardens that yee haue chosen.
30 For yee shall be as an oke whose leafe fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.
31 And the strong shall be as towe, and the maker of it as a sparke, and they shall both burne together, and none shall quench them.
Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and full prophesies concerning the coming and character, the ministry and preaching, the sufferings and death of the Messiah, and the extent and continuance of his kingdom. Under the veil of the deliverance from Babylon, Isaiah points to a much greater deliverance, which was to be effected by the Messiah; and seldom does he mention the one, without alluding at the same time to the other; nay, he is often so much enraptured with the prospect of the more distant deliverance, as to lose sight of that which was nearer, and to dwell on the Messiah's person, office, character, and kingdom.The corruptions prevailing among the Jews. (1-9) Severe censures. (10-15) Exhortations to repentance. (16-20) The state of Judah is lamented; with gracious promises of the gospel times. (21-31)1-9 Isaiah signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in the affairs of their souls! Not considering what we do know in religion, does us as much harm, as ignorance of what we should know. The wickedness was universal. Here is a comparison taken from a sick and diseased body. The distemper threatens to be mortal. From the sole of the foot even to the head; from the meanest peasant to the greatest peer, there is no soundness, no good principle, no religion, for that is the health of the soul. Nothing but guilt and corruption; the sad effects of Adam's fall. This passage declares the total depravity of human nature. While sin remains unrepented, nothing is done toward healing these wounds, and preventing fatal effects. Jerusalem was exposed and unprotected, like the huts or sheds built up to guard ripening fruits. These are still to be seen in the East, where fruits form a large part of the summer food of the people. But the Lord had a small remnant of pious servants at Jerusalem. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. The evil nature is in every one of us; only Jesus and his sanctifying Spirit can restore us to spiritual health.
10-15 Judea was desolate, and their cities burned. This awakened them to bring sacrifices and offerings, as if they would bribe God to remove the punishment, and give them leave to go on in their sin. Many who will readily part with their sacrifices, will not be persuaded to part with their sins. They relied on the mere form as a service deserving a reward. The most costly devotions of wicked people, without thorough reformation of heart and life, cannot be acceptable to God. He not only did not accept them, but he abhorred them. All this shows that sin is very hateful to God. If we allow ourselves in secret sin, or forbidden indulgences; if we reject the salvation of Christ, our very prayers will become abomination.
16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in which sinners of every age and rank may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, a deep dye, a double dye, first in the wool of original corruption, and afterwards in the many threads of actual transgression; though we have often dipped into sin, by many backslidings; yet pardoning mercy will take out the stain, #Ps 51:7|. They should have all the happiness and comfort they could desire. Life and death, good and evil, are set before us. O Lord, incline all of us to live to thy glory.
21-31 Neither holy cities nor royal ones are faithful to their trust, if religion does not dwell in them. Dross may shine like silver, and the wine that is mixed with water may still have the colour of wine. Those have a great deal to answer for, who do not help the oppressed, but oppress them. Men may do much by outward restraints; but only God works effectually by the influences of his Spirit, as a Spirit of Judgment. Sin is the worst captivity, the worst slavery. The redemption of the spiritual Zion, by the righteousness and death of Christ, and by his powerful grace, most fully accord with what is here meant. Utter ruin is threatened. The Jews should become as a tree when blasted by heat; as a garden without water, which in those hot countries would soon be burned up. Thus shall they be that trust in idols, or in an arm of flesh. Even the strong man shall be as tow; not only soon broken, and pulled to pieces, but easily catching fire. When the sinner has made himself as tow and stubble, and God makes himself as a consuming fire, what can prevent the utter ruin of the sinner?
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.