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ISAIAH 51
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
| Israel Exhorted | The Lord Comforts Zion | Salvation For Abraham's Children | Words of Comfort to Jerusalem | The Blessings in Store For the Chosen People |
| 51:1-3 (1-3) |
51:1-2 (1-2) |
51:1-3 (1-3) |
51:1-2 (1-2) |
51:1-3 (1-3) |
| 51:3 (3) |
51:3 (3) |
|||
| 51:4-8 (4-8) |
51:4-6 (4-6) |
51:4-8 (4-8) |
51:4-6 (4-6) |
51:4-8 (4-8) |
| 51:7-8 (7-8) |
51:7-8 (7-8) |
|||
| The Awakenings of Yahweh | ||||
| 51:9-11 (9-11) |
51:9 (9) |
51:9-11 (9-11) |
51:9-11 (9-11) |
51:9-11 (9-11) |
| 51:10-11 (10-11) |
Yahweh, the Counselor | |||
| 51:12-16 (12-16) |
51:12-16 (12-16) |
51:12-16 (12-16) |
51:12-16 (12-16) |
51:12-16 (12-16) |
| God's Fury Removed | God's Kingship (51:17-52:12) |
The End Of Jerusalem's Suffering | The Awakening of Jerusalem | |
| 51:17-20 (17-20) |
51:17-20 (17-20) |
51:17-20 (17-20) |
51:17-20 (17-20) |
51:17-23 (17-23) |
| 51:21-23 (21-23) |
51:21-23 (21-23) |
51:21-23 (21-23) |
51:21-23 (21-23) |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
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.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
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.
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. Isa. 50:10). There are three descriptive phrases.
It is possible that the MT "deliverance" (BDB 841, NASB, "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
▣ "the rock. . .the quarry" This refers to Abraham and Sarah (cf. Isa. 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. Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-11; 18:18; 22:16-18).
51:2 "who gave birth to you in pain" This refers to normal childbirth (cf. Gen. 3:16).
▣ "I blessed him and multiplied him" YHWH promised two things:
God promised Abraham a land and a seed. He was told his descendants would be like
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. Rom. 2:28-29; 3:21-31; 4:1-25; Gal. 3:1-29; 6:16; Eph. 2:4-3:13).
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. Isa. 40:1 [twice]; 49:13; 51:3 [twice],12,19; 52:9; 54:11; 61:2; 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. Isa. 40:1). This is a re-institution by God of the covenant of Leviticus 26 and 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; Deuteronomy 27-29). The mentioning of Eden implies not only abundance but fellowship with a present God (i.e., Gen. 3:8)! Eden was a sanctuary of God (cf. John H. Walton, ANE Thought and the OT, p. 124).
▣ "Joy and gladness. . .thanksgiving and sound of a melody" This reflects a happy social life, which is also a sign of God's blessing.
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."
51:4-8 Notice the number of times in English that the PERSONAL PRONOUNS appear (i.e. "Me," "My," "I"). They refer to both YHWH and His Servant.
51:4 Notice the parallelism of lines 1 and 2. The IMPERATIVES:
Lines 3 and 4 are also parallel. Notice again YHWH's teachings (Torah, BDB 435) are meant to bless:
There are some Hebrew MSS that have "O people. . .O nations." The PLURAL would reenforce the PLURAL of v. 4d and v. 5b,c. God's word is for the world.
SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
▣ "law. . .justice" These two NOUNS (BDB 435 and BDB 1048) are also parallel. They speak of YHWH's truth and will for mankind that is now available to all (i.e., Scripture, revelation).
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 Isa. 46:13. YHWH is ready to act in and through His Servant.
Verse 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 Isa. 51:9; 52:10. God does not have a body. This is imagery of God's activity in history.
SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism)
▣ "the peoples" See full note at Isa. 45:22.
51:6 "the sky will vanish like smoke" Heaven and earth were the ancient witnesses but even they will pass away (cf. Isa. 34:4; 65:17; 66:22; Matt. 24:35; 2 Pet. 3:10).
| ▣ | |
| NASB (footnote), NKJV, NRSV | "gnats" |
| TEV, REB | "flies" |
| NJB | "vermin" |
| JPSOA | "as well" |
| LXX | "like these things" |
This is a very difficult phrase. This term (BDB 485 I, 3. c.) in the PLURAL is often translated "gnats" (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 665). The fleeting nature of this creation and its inhabitants is contrasted with YHWH's eternality.
▣ "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. Isa. 51:12; 40:6-8; Job 14:1-2; Ps. 90:5-6; 103:15-18; Matt. 24:35; Heb. 1:10-12; 1 Pet. 1:24-25).
51:7 "Listen" This is another call to attention (cf. Isa. 51:1).
▣ "you who. . ." Notice how God's people are characterized.
In light of the knowledge they
▣ "A people in whose heart is My law" In the writings of Moses this idiom of intimate and constantly available truth is used (cf. Deut. 6:6). It also occurs in Wisdom Literature (cf. Pro. 3:3; 7:3; Ps. 37:31; 40:8), as well as Prophetic Literature (cf. Isa. 51:7; Jer. 17:1).
51:8 "moth. . .grub" Several animals are mentioned in this context (cf. Isa. 51:6 [NASB footnote], "gnats"). In Isa. 14:11 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 Isa. 51:5 also. There they went forth but here they remain forever. What a contrast between the fate of unbelievers and believers!
SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam)
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.
51:9 "Awake, awake" This triple IMPERATIVE (BDB 734, KB 802, Qal IMPERATIVE) calls for action:
▣ "awake as in the days of old" This is an allusion to YHWH's activity in the Exodus (cf. Exod. 6:6; Deut. 4:34; 5:15; 26:8).
▣ "Rahab. . .dragon" These words (BDB 923 and BDB 1072) have several usages.
Number 1 is also designated by the term "dragon" (BDB 49) in Job 7:12.
SPECIAL TOPIC: GREAT RED DRAGON
51:10 "the great deep" This (BDB 1062) was also a mythological term used in the Sumerian and Babylonian creation accounts. In the Bible it is not a god (cf. Gen. 1:2) but depth of water—tiamat (BDB 1062, Isa. 63:13).
SPECIAL TOPIC: CREATION AND FLOOD ACCOUNTS IN THE ANE
▣ "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). God made a way. This is similar imagery to the "highway" repared by God for the exiles to return, as well as the believing nations.
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.
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
▣ "everlasting joy" The term "everlasting" is 'olam (BDB 761). See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). Isaiah uses it often to describe the new age.
A negative-oriented use related to the eternal punishment of the wicked is found in Isa. 33:14, "an everlasting burning." Isaiah often uses "fire" to describe God's wrath (cf. Isa. 9:18,19; 10:16; 47:14), but only in Isa. 33:14 is it described as "everlasting."
51:11 "sorrow and sighing will flee away" What a wonderful promise of believers' future state of blessing. The fellowship of the Garden of Eden will be restored (cf. Isa. 25:8; 35:10; 60:20; 65:19; Rev. 7:17; 21:1,4).
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?"
51:12 "man. . .the son of man" This is an Hebraic way of referring to a human being (cf. Ps. 8:4; Ezek. 2:1). It became a later title for Jesus because it affirmed His humanity and because of Dan. 7:13, His Deity.
▣ "who dies. . .like grass" The parallelism emphasizes the frailty and limited life of humans (cf. Isa. 40:6,7; 51:6; Job 14:1-2; Ps. 90:5-6; 103:15; 1 Pet. 1:24). This context, like 1 Pet. 1:24-25, contrasts the power and eternality of God with that of His creation (i.e., YHWH as creator in Isa. 51:13).
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.
SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE
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.'"
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
51:15 Like Isa. 51:9-11 this verse is an allusion to YHWH freeing His people from Egypt. Also, like Isa. 51:9,10, there is a veiled reference to Genesis 1, where YHWH divides and controls the waters. See full note at Isa. 51:10.
▣ "(the Lord of hosts is His name)" The term "hosts" can be used in two ways:
In a sense both possibilities are a reaction to Babylonian astral worship that turned the heavenly bodies into gods.
51:16 There are three Qal INFINITIVES in this verse.
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 fluidity in chapters 40-53 of the title "the Servant" from national Israel, Isa. 41:8-9; 42:1,19; 43:10, to an "individual," Isa. 49:1-7 and Isa. 52:13-53:12.
▣ "covered you with the shadow of My hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW
| 51:16b | |
| NASB, LXX | "establish" |
| NKJV, JPSOA, DSS, Vulgate | "plant" (נטע) |
| NRSV, TEV, Peshitta | "stretching out" (נטה) |
| NJB | "spread out" |
| REB | "fixed in place" |
The MT has "plant" (BDB 642, KB 694, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). The UBS Text Project, p. 138, gives this an "A" rating.
The imagery of "establishing a plant" may refer to Exod. 15:17, where YHWH "established" His covenant people.
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.
51:17-20 YHWH is encouraging His people to shake off His finished judgment and prepare to return to Jerusalem! Judgment has passed; keep your eyes on the future restoration work of YHWH.
51:17 "Rouse yourself! Rouse yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem" These are three IMPERATIVES in a row for emphasis.
▣ "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. Isa. 29:9; 63:6; Job 21:20; Ps. 60:3; 75:8; Jer. 25:15-16; Lam. 4:21; Ezek. 23:32-34). Also note its usage in the NT.
51:19 Notice what has happened to the covenant people and now is happening to Babylon.
There is no one to comfort Babylon; there is One to comfort Abraham's seed (cf. Isa. 51:3,12; 40:1).
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.
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."
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. Isa. 17:10; 32:19; Gal. 6:7-10)! God is in charge of time and history!
51:23 "walk over you" This treading on the defeated dead is depicted on Egyptian wall art (cf. IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 633).
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