Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:1-3

Observe, 1. How the people of God are here described, to whom the word of this consolation is sent and who are called upon to hearken to it, Isa. 51:1. They are such as follow after righteousness, such as are very desirous and solicitous both to be justified and to be sanctified, are pressing hard after this, to have the favour of God restored to them and the image of God renewed on them. These are those that seek the Lord, for it is only in the say of righteousness that we can seek him with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:4-8

Both these proclamations, as I may call them, end alike with an assurance of the perpetuity of God's righteousness and his salvation; and therefore we put them together, both being designed for the comfort of God's people. Observe, I. Who they are to whom this comfort belongs: ?My people, and my nation, that I have set apart for myself, that own me and are owned by me.? Those are God's people and his nation who are subject to him as their King and their God, pay allegiance to him, and put... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 51:9-16

In these verses we have, I. A prayer that God would, in his providence, appear and act for the deliverance of his people and the mortification of his and their enemies. Awake, awake! put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Isa. 51:9. The arm of the Lord is Christ, or it is put for God himself, as Ps. 44:23. Awake! why sleepest thou? He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but, when we pray that he would awake, we mean that he would make it to appear that he watches over his people and is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:1

Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness ,.... After having declared the doom of the wicked, and those that trust to their own righteousness, the Lord returns to them that fear him, whom he describes as such that "follow after righteousness"; not the righteousness of the law, it is the character of carnal Israel to follow after that; nor is that attainable in the way it is pursued by such; nor is there any justification by it; nor is following that consistent with seeking the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:2

Look unto Abraham your father ,.... Not only the father of the Jewish nation, but of all them that believe: this explains what is meant by the rock, in the former verse, who is to be looked unto for imitation in the exercise of faith, and performance of duty, and for encouragement in distressed times and circumstances: and unto Sarah that bare you ; signified by the pit or cistern; who was not only the mother of the Jewish nation; but such also are her daughters who do well, and tread in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:3

For the Lord shall comfort Zion ,.... The church, by his Spirit, in the ministration of the word, and administration of ordinances; by the donation of the blessings of grace, and by the application of Gospel promises; by the discoveries of his love; by granting his gracious presence; by blessing his word; and by calling many souls, and adding them to his people: and in order to engage the church and people of God to believe God will do this, and that he can and will bless and increase them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people ,.... His special people, whether Jews or Gentiles, chosen by him, taken into covenant with him; given to Christ, redeemed by him as a peculiar people, and called by his grace; these are exhorted to hearken to him; to his word, as the Targum; see Isaiah 51:1 , and give ear unto me, O my nation ; not the nation of the Jews only, but the Gentiles; a nation taken out of a nation, even out of all nations; a chosen and a holy nation. The Septuagint and Arabic... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:5

My righteousness is near ,.... These are either the words of God the Father, and to be understood not of his essential righteousness, nor of his vindictive justice; but of the righteousness of his Son, which he calls his own, because he approves and accepts of it, imputes and reckons it to his people, and with it justifies them. The words may be rendered, "my righteous One", as in the Vulgate Latin version; not Cyrus, as Grotius; but Christ, God's righteous servant, who was near to come in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:6

Lift up your eyes to the heavens ,.... And observe their beauty and order, the constant and regular motion of the heavenly bodies, the firmness and solidity of them: and look upon the earth beneath ; how stable and well founded it is: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke ; though they are so firm, and have lasted so long, and have kept their constant situation and course, yet they shall melt away like salt, as the word F11 נמלחו αλιωσονται , "Symmachus". It is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 51:7

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness ,.... The righteousness of God, and of his law; the purity of his nature, what righteousness is agreeable to him, and required by him; the imperfection and insufficiency of a man's own righteousness, and the glory and fulness of Christ's righteousness, revealed in the Gospel; and so know that, as to approve of it, follow after it, lay hold upon it, believe in it, and rejoice in it, as their justifying righteousness: the people in whose heart is... read more

Group of Brands