Isaiah 54:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 54:1-5

If we apply this to the state of the Jews after their return out of captivity, it is a prophecy of the increase of their nation after they were settled in their own land. Jerusalem had been in the condition of a wife written childless, or a desolate solitary widow; but now it is promised that the city should be replenished and the country peopled again, that not only the ruins of Jerusalem should be repaired, but the suburbs of it extended on all sides and a great many buildings erected upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 54:1

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear ,.... The Targum interprets this of Jerusalem, paraphrasing the words thus, "sing praise, O Jerusalem, which was as a barren woman that bears not;' and so the apostle applies the words of the text to the Jerusalem above, the mother of us all, the then present Gospel church, Galatians 4:26 , which, at the first setting of it up, in the times of Christ, during his life and at the time of his death, and before the day of Pentecost, was like a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 54:2

Enlarge the place of thy tent ,.... To which the church is compared, because of its uncertain and movable condition, being sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another; and because of its outward meanness and weakness, as well as its small extent; but now it is signified that it should be enlarged, and room be made for an accession of in habitants to it; or, in other words, that the Gospel church state should not be confined to Jerusalem, but should take place in other parts of Judea,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 54:3

For thou shall break forth on the right hand and on the left ,.... To the south, and to the north, as the Targum, like an inundation of water, that breaks through and overflows the banks of the river, and spreads itself in the adjacent countries; or like a warehouse overstocked with goods, bursts the walls in which they are pent up; or rather as infants break forth from the womb at the time of birth, as Pharez did, from whence he had his name, Genesis 38:29 see Hosea 13:13 , or as, when... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 54:1

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear "Shout for joy, O thou barren, that didst not bear" - The Church of God under the Old Testament, confined within the narrow bounds of the Jewish nation, and still more so in respect of the very small number of true believers, and which sometimes seemed to be deserted of God her husband, is the barren woman, that did not bear, and was desolate. She is exhorted to rejoice, and to express her joy in the strongest manner, on the reconciliation of her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:1

Sing, O barren . Israel in captivity is addressed as "barren," because, in the time of suffering, her numbers rather diminished than increased. Still, she is bidden to "sing" on account of the prospect that is opening upon her. She that is now desolate and solitary will soon have more children than she formerly had, when she was a married wife, enjoying the fellowship of Jehovah, her Husband ( Isaiah 54:5 ). The "children" spoken of are in part those who gathered themselves together in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:1-6

The relation of the Church to God that of a wife to her husband. The analogy set forth by the prophet in the first six verses of this chapter is one to which equal prominence is given in the Old Testament and the New. It forms the basis of one entire book of the Old Scriptures—the Canticles, or Song of Solomon. It pervades the whole teaching of the prophets, which declares apostasy from God to be "adultery" ( Isaiah 57:3-5 ; Jeremiah 3:9 ; Jeremiah 5:7 ; Jeremiah 13:27 ; Jeremiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:1-10

A PROMISE TO ISRAEL OF GREAT INCREASE , AND OF GOD 'S PERSISTENT PROTECTION . There is no close connection between this chapter and the last, or even between this section and the preceding. Isaiah 54:1-5 take up the thought of Isaiah 49:19-21 , and expand it. Israel is assured of a great enlargement of her numbers, and bidden to rejoice thereat. She is then further comforted with a promise that she shall never be forsaken ( Isaiah 49:6-10 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:1-17

The future of the Church. "The person addressed is the ideal Zion, who is practically identical with the ideal or spiritual Israel." I. HER FRUITFULNESS . Nothing to an Israelitish mind can suggest more forcibly the idea of desolation and sorrow in a nation or spiritual community than the childless woman. Historically , the restored exiles may be referred to; physically and to some extent spiritually Israelites, but, while on a foreign soil, and unbaptized with the Spirit,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 54:2

Enlarge the place of thy tent (comp. Isaiah 33:20 and Jeremiah 10:20 ). The memory of the old nomadic life caused the "tent" to be the symbol and representative of the dwelling-place. Israel will have so many more children that her "tent" will need enlarging. The curtains; i.e. the tent-cloth (comp. Exodus 26:1-37 and Exodus 36:1-38 ; where the word used occurs repeatedly). Thy cords … thy stakes (comp. Exodus 35:18 ; Exodus 39:40 , etc.). The ropes and tent-pegs, which kept... read more

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