Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 30:18-26

The closing words of the foregoing paragraph (You shall be left as a beacon upon a mountain) some understand as a promise that a remnant of them should be reserved as monuments of mercy; and here the prophet tells them what good times should succeed these calamities. Or the first words in this paragraph may be read by way of antithesis, Notwithstanding this, yet will the Lord wait that he may be gracious. The prophet, having shown that those who made Egypt their confidence would be ashamed of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 30:20

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction ,.... Either at this present time, when the city was besieged by Sennacherib; or when it should be besieged by the Chaldeans, when adversity was their bread, and affliction their water; or when they had only bread and water in their adversity and affliction; or a famine of bread and water, as is common in times of a siege. It may refer to the poor, and mean, and afflicted state of the people of God, in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 30:20

Though the Lord "Though Jehovah" - For אדני Adonai , sixteen MSS. and three editions have יהוה Yehovah , many of De Rossi's have the same reading; all my own have יהוה Yehovah . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:18-26

A RENEWAL OF PROMISE . The denunciations of the preceding passage ( Isaiah 30:9-17 ) had been so terrible that, without some counterpoise of promise, they must have produced a general despair. This was not the Divine purpose. Judah's probation still continued. Therefore it was necessary to let it be seen that the Divine long-suffering was not yet exhausted—there were still conditions under which God would be gracious to his people. The conditions were "crying to the Lord" ( Isaiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:19-22

Turning to God. It is the intention of God's chastisements, and their natural, though perhaps scarcely their ordinary, result, to stir the soul to penitence, and produce a turning of the heart to God. When the spirit of the man is truly touched, the steps on the path of repentance are commonly— I. THE UTTERANCE OF A CRY . " Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ( Acts 2:37 ). " Sirs , what must I do to be saved?" ( Acts 16:30 ). " Lord , what wilt thou have me to do?" ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:19-26

The blessedness of Zion. Throughout the book the idea of temporal blends with that of spiritual weal. The images are drawn from the state of temporal happiness and prosperity. Yet Zion and Jerusalem may be regarded as symbolical of the Church in general. I. JOY IN GOD . There will be "no more weeping." Tears are significant of the lot of humanity; and in the poetry of the Old Testament we hear, as Lord Bacon says, "as many hearse-like airs as carols," and the pencil of the Holy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:19-26

The people of God in their prosperity. These verses are primarily applicable, and they are more or less true as they are applied, to the return of the Jews from captivity, and their residence in their own land. But they find a larger fulfillment in the condition of the Church of Christ in its last days. Possibly they anticipate the felicities of the heavenly future. We refer them to the Church in its prosperity, and conclude— I. THAT THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE THOSE THAT HAVE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:20

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity (so Mr. Cheyne). But most modern critics (Kay, Delitzsch, Vance Smith, etc.) regard the words as a promise of support through the siege, and omit the interpolated "though." Translate, And the Lord will give yon bread o f adversity , and water of affliction ; i.e. scant rations, but sufficient; and thy teachers shall not , etc. Be removed into a corner ; i.e. "have to hide themselves from persecution." A persecution of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 30:20

Adversity as Divine bread. "The bread of adversity, and the water of affliction." We can only think of God by the help of our associations with man . Therefore, in the revelation which he has given us in a book, God is spoken of as if he had the form of a man (anthropomorphism), and as if he had the feelings of a man (anthropopathism). We, indeed, know no other moral beings beside man, and probably our senses would allow of the apprehension of no other. We are not allowed to create... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 30:20

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity - The bread that is eaten in a time of calamity; that is, he would bring upon them sore distress and want.The water of affliction - Margin, ‘Oppression.’ That is, water drank in times of affliction and oppression, or in the long and weary days of captivity.Yet shall not thy teachers - Your public instructors and guides Psalms 74:9; Isaiah 43:27; Daniel 12:3; Amos 8:11-12. This refers to “all” those who would be the true guides and teachers of... read more

Group of Brands