Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 51

Introduction

Isaiah 51:0

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see Guide to Good Bible Reading)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. There is a series of IMPERATIVES which call on God's covenant people to awake spiritually and respond appropriately.

1. listen, pay attention, Isaiah 51:1, Isaiah 51:4, Isaiah 51:7, Isaiah 51:21

2. awake, Isaiah 51:9[thrice], 17[twice]

3. look, lift up your eyes, Isaiah 51:1-2, Isaiah 51:6

This emphasis is continued in Isaiah 52:0.

B. The subject matter of this context is moved along by a series of rhetorical questions: Isaiah 51:9-10, Isaiah 51:12-14; Isaiah 52:5

Verses 1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:1-3 1”Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.” 3Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.

Isaiah 51:1 “Listen” This is the Hebrew word Shema (BDB 1033, KB 1570). It means “hear so as to do.” The IMPERATIVE is recurrent in Isaiah! This same word starts the famous monotheistic prayer of Deuteronomy 6:4-6.

▣ “you who. . .” This is speaking to the faithful covenant people (cf. Isaiah 50:10). There are three descriptive phrases.

1. who pursue righteousness, Isaiah 51:1

2. who seek the Lord, Isaiah 51:1

3. who have the law in their hearts, Isaiah 51:7

It is possible that “deliverance” (BDB 841, “righteousness”) is parallel to YHWH in line 2, therefore, it may be a title, “The Righteous One.” The “you who. . .” would speak of the faithful who

1. pursue God, line 1

2. seek God, line 2

▣ “the rock. . .the quarry” This refers to Abraham and Sarah (cf. Isaiah 51:2) The geographical location of Abraham's call (i.e., Ur of the Chaldees) was the same as the location of the Babylonian captives (Channel Chebar). YHWH had promised to bless Abraham and his seed (cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:1-11; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:16-18).

Isaiah 51:2 “who gave birth to you in pain” This refers to normal childbirth (cf. Genesis 3:16).

▣ “I blessed him and multiplied him” YHWH promised two things:

1. to bless Abraham - BDB 138, KB 159, Piel IMPERFECT

2. to multiply him - BDB 915, KB 1176, Hiphil IMPERFECT

God promised Abraham a land and a seed. He was told his descendants would be like

1. dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14; Numbers 23:10)

2. stars of the heavens (Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4)

3. sand of the seashore (Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12

From Isaiah and Micah we learn that Abraham's family would be even larger than anyone dreamed. It will include believing “Gentiles and Jews” (cf. Romans 2:28-29; Romans 3:21-31; Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:1-29; Galatians 6:16).

Isaiah 51:3 “the LORD will comfort Zion” The VERB “comfort” (BDB 636, KB 688, Piel perfect) appears twice in line 1 and line 2. This is a recurrent theme of this section of Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 40:1 [twice]; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 51:3 [twice], Isaiah 51:12, Isaiah 51:19; Isaiah 52:9; Isaiah 54:11; Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 66:13 [thrice]). Its basic meaning in Piel is “to comfort,” to “console.” This means to bring the captivity to an end and restore them to the fertile Promised Land (cf. Isaiah 40:1). This is a re-institution by God of the covenant of Deuteronomy 27-28.

▣ “waste places. . .wilderness. . .desert like the garden of the LORD” Physical beauty and fruitfulness are a sign of God's blessing (cf. Leviticus 26:0; Deuteronomy 27-29). The mentioning of Eden implies not only abundance but fellowship with a present God! Eden was a sanctuary of God (cf. John H. Walton, ANE Thought and the OT, p. 124).

SPECIAL TOPIC: EDEN

Verses 4-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:4-8 4”Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples. 5My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. 6Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane. 7Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”

▣ “Joy and gladness. . .thanksgiving and sound of a melody” This reflects a happy social life, which is also a sign of God's blessing.

Isaiah 51:4-8 Notice the number of times in English that the PERSONAL PRONOUNS appear (i.e. “Me,” “My,” “I”).

Isaiah 51:4 Notice the parallelism of lines 1 and 2. The IMPERATIVES:

1. pay attention - BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil IMPERATIVE

2. give ear - BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE

Lines 3 and 4 are also parallel. Notice again YHWH's teachings (Torah, BDB 435) are meant to bless:

1. Israel

2. the world (cf. Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 60:1, Isaiah 60:3); notice the PLURAL “peoples” in Isaiah 51:5b and “coastlands” in Isaiah 51:5c; they wait expectantly for YHWH's Servant

▣ “law. . .justice” These two NOUNS are also parallel. They speak of YHWH's truth and will for mankind that is now available to all (i.e., Scripture, revelation).

Isaiah 51:5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth” The VERB (BDB 422, KB 425) is a Qal PERFECT. This line of poetry is paralleled in Isaiah 46:13. YHWH is ready to act in and through His Servant.

Verse Isaiah 51:5 addresses the spiritual hunger of the Gentile nations. Israel must be warned of complacency. Many Judeans returned to Palestine trusting God but many more did not!

Those who hunger for God will find Him available. Those who do not will find Him a Judge!

▣ “ My arms” This is anthropomorphic language like Isaiah 51:9; Isaiah 52:10. God does not have a body. This is a metaphor of God's activity in history. See Special Topic: God Described As Human (anthropomorphism).

▣ “the peoples” See full note at Isaiah 45:22.

Isaiah 51:6 “the sky will vanish like smoke” Heaven and earth were the ancient witnesses but even they will pass away (cf. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:10).

NASB (footnote), NKJV, NRSV“gnats” TEV, REB“flies” NJB“vermin” JPSOA“as well”

This is a very difficult phrase. This term in the PLURAL is often translated “gnats” (BDB 485 I).

▣ “My salvation shall be forever” The last two lines are parallel. The eternality of God is compared to the finitude of humanity and his world (cf. Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 40:6-8; Job 14:1-2; Psalms 90:5-6; Psalms 103:15-18; Matthew 24:35; Hebrews 1:10-12; 1 Peter 1:24-25).

Isaiah 51:7 “Listen” This is another call to attention (cf. Isaiah 51:1).

▣ “you who. . .” Notice how God's people are characterized.

1. you who know righteousness, Isaiah 51:7a

2. a people in whose heart is My law, Isaiah 51:7b (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34)

In light of the knowledge they

1. do not fear - Isaiah 51:7c, BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in as JUSSIVE sense

2. do not be dismayed - Isaiah 51:0:7d, BDB 369, KB 365, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense

▣ “A people in whose heart is My law” In the writings of Moses this idiom of intimate and constantly available truth is used (cf. Deuteronomy 6:6). It also occurs in Wisdom Literature (cf. Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 7:3; Psalms 37:31; Psalms 40:8), as well as Prophetic Literature (cf. Isaiah 51:7; Jeremiah 17:1).

Isaiah 51:8 “moth. . .grub” Several animals are mentioned in this context (cf. Isaiah 51:6 [NASB footnote], “gnats”). In Isaiah 51:1 and 66:24 “worms” are used as a symbol for death and destruction. Nature takes away instead of giving!

▣ “My righteousness. . .My salvation” These were parallel in Isaiah 51:5 also. There they went forth but here they remain forever. See Special Topic: Forever ('olam). What a contrast between the fate of unbelievers and believers!

Verses 9-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:9-11 9Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab in pieces, Who pierced the dragon? 10Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? 11So the ransomed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:9 “Awake, awake” This triple IMPERATIVE (BDB 734, KB 802, Qal IMPERATIVE) calls for action: (1) action on God's part, Isaiah 51:9 and (2) action on Israel's part, Isaiah 51:17 (cf. Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 52:11).

▣ “awake as in the days of old” This is an allusion to YHWH's activity in the Exodus (cf. Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 26:8).

▣ “Rahab. . .dragon” This word (KB 1193) has three usages.

1. mythical sea monster - Isaiah 51:9; Job 9:13; Job 26:12; Psalms 74:13; Psalms 89:10; Psalms 148:7

2. metaphor for Egypt based on the twisting Nile River - Isaiah 30:7; Psalms 87:4; Ezekiel 29:3

3. “the proud” (NASB, BDB 923) or enemies of YHWH - Psalms 40:4

Number 1 is also designated by the term “dragon” (BDB 49) in Job 7:12.

Isaiah 51:10 “the depths” This was also a mythological term used in the Sumerian and Babylonian creation accounts. In the Bible it is not a god (cf. Genesis 1:2) but depth of water - tiamat (BDB 1062, 63:13).

▣ “a pathway for the redeemed to cross” This is an obvious allusion to the splitting of the Red Sea during the Exodus from Egypt (cf. Exodus 14:15).

Isaiah 51:11 As God delivered His people from Egyptian bondage, so will He deliver His people from Assyrian and Babylonian exile! The descendants of Abraham will return to the Promised Land.

▣ “everlasting joy” The term “everlasting” is 'olam (BDB 761). See Special Topic: Forever ('olam). Isaiah uses it often to describe the new age.

1. everlasting covenant, Isaiah 24:5; Isaiah 55:3; Isaiah 61:8

2. YHWH an everlasting Rock, Isaiah 26:4

3. everlasting joy, Isaiah 35:10; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 61:7

4. the Everlasting God, Isaiah 40:28

5. an everlasting salvation, Isaiah 45:17

6. everlasting lovingkindness (Hesed), Isaiah 54:8

7. everlasting sign, Isaiah 55:13

8. an everlasting name, Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 63:12, Isaiah 63:16

9. an everlasting light, Isaiah 60:19, Isaiah 60:20

A negative-oriented use related to the eternal punishment of the wicked is found in Isaiah 33:14, “an everlasting burning.” Isaiah often uses “fire” to describe God's wrath (cf. Isaiah 9:18, Isaiah 9:19; Isaiah 10:16; Isaiah 47:14), but only in Isaiah 33:14 is it described as “everlasting.”

Verses 12-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:12-13 12”I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, 13That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?”

Isaiah 51:12 “man. . .the son of man” This is an Hebraic way of referring to a human being (cf. Psalms 8:4; Ezekiel 2:1). It became a later title for Jesus because it affirmed His humanity and because of Daniel 7:13, His Deity.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SON OF MAN

▣ “who dies. . .like grass” The parallelism emphasizes the frailty and limited life of humans (cf. Isaiah 40:6, Isaiah 40:7; Job 14:1-2; Psalms 90:5-6; Psalms 103:15; 1 Peter 1:24). This context, like 1 Peter 1:24-25, contrasts the power and eternality of God with that of His creation (i.e., YHWH as creator in Isaiah 51:13).

Isaiah 51:13 This may be a veiled allusion to the idolatry of God's people in worshiping Ba'al as creator, giver of life and fertility instead of YHWH. Their idolatry is what caused their exile and the actions of the oppressor which God allowed.

Verses 14-16

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:14-16 14”The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking. 15For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name). 16I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'“

Isaiah 51:14 These are descriptions of people in prison who will be set free, although the term “dungeon” (“pit” BDB 1001, KB 1472) can refer to

1. the grave or Sheol - Job 33:22, Job 33:24, Job 33:28; Psalms 16:10; Psalms 49:9

2. here the parallelism suggests “prison”

Isaiah 51:15 Like Isaiah 51:9-11 this verse is an allusion to YHWH freeing His people from Egypt. Also, like Isaiah 51:9, Isaiah 51:10, there is a veiled reference to Genesis 1:0, where YHWH divides and controls the waters. See full note at Isaiah 51:10.

▣ “(the LORD of hosts is His name)” The term “hosts” can be used in two ways:

1. YHWH as creator and controller of the stars and planets

2. YHWH as military commander of the angels

In a sense both possibilities are a reaction to Babylonian astral worship that turned the heavenly bodies into gods. See Special Topic: Names for Deity.

Isaiah 51:16 There are three Qal INFINITIVES in this verse.

1. to establish (BDB 642, KB 694)

2. to found or establish (BDB 413, KB 417)

3. to say (BDB 55, KB 65)

In context this verse should relate to the redeemed of returning Israel. However, the INFINITIVES are too powerful for human beings to accomplish. Therefore, it must refer to “the Servant,” God's special Israelite, who will accomplish what Israel could not. There is a movement in chapters 40-53 of the title “the Servant” from national Israel, Isaiah 41:8-9; Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 43:10, to an “individual,” Isaiah 49:1-7 and Isaiah 52:13-12.

Verses 17-20

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:17-20 17Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk from the LORD'S hand the cup of His anger; The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs. 18There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne, Nor is there one to take her by the hand among all the sons she has reared. 19These two things have befallen you; Who will mourn for you? The devastation and destruction, famine and sword; How shall I comfort you? 20Your sons have fainted, They lie helpless at the head of every street, Like an antelope in a net, Full of the wrath of the LORD, The rebuke of your God.

Isaiah 51:17-20 YHWH is encouraging His people to shake off His finished judgment and prepare to return to Jerusalem!

Isaiah 51:17 “Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem” These are three IMPERATIVES in a row for emphasis.

1. rouse - Hithpolel or Hithpael (BDB 734, KB 802)

2. repeated

3. arise - Qal (BDB 877, KB 1086)

▣ “the cup. . .the chalice” These two are parallel and refer to the idiom of judgment as a cup of strong drink to make one stagger and fall (cf. Isaiah 29:9; Isaiah 63:6; Job 21:20; Psalms 60:3; Psalms 75:8; Jeremiah 25:15-16; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:32-34). Also note its usage in the NT.

1. of Jesus as sin bearer - Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:38-42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 18:11

2. worshipers of the beast - Revelation 14:10; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 19:15

Isaiah 51:19 Notice what has happened to the covenant people and now is happening to Babylon.

1. devastation (BDB 994)

2. destruction (BDB 991)

3. famine (BDB 944)

4. sword (BDB 352)

There is no one to comfort Babylon; there is One to comfort Abraham's seed (cf. Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 51:12; Isaiah 40:1).

Isaiah 51:20 When Assyria and Babylon invaded a town they killed the old, young, and powerful at a prominently visible location (i.e., “the head of every street”). Now this evil act is being done to them.

Verses 21-23

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isaiah 51:21-23 21Therefore, please hear this, you afflicted, Who are drunk, but not with wine: 22Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God Who contends for His people, “Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, The chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again. 23I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, Who have said to you, 'Lie down that we may walk over you.' You have even made your back like the ground And like the street for those who walk over it.”

Isaiah 51:21-23 God promises to take the judgment of His cup, which has devastated Israel and Judah and now give it to their tormentors. Assyria and Babylon will reap exactly what they sowed (cf. Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 32:19; Galatians 6:7-10)! God is in charge of time and history!

Isaiah 51:23 “walk over you” This treading on the defeated dead is depicted on Egyptian wall art (cf. IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 633).

1. “lie down” - Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 1005, KB 1457)

2. “walk over you” Qal COHORTATIVE (BDB 716, KB 778)