Isaiah 49:18 - Exposition

Lift up thine eyes round about and behold (comp. Isaiah 50:4 , where the same phrase occurs in connection with the conversion of the Gentiles). All these gather themselves together (comp. Isaiah 49:12 ). Thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament (comp. Zechariah 9:16 ). The restored Church, receiving adhesions from the nations on all sides, will be like a bride who puts on her ornaments, and is thereby made glorious to look upon ( Isaiah 61:10 , ad fin. ) . The entire Church, not any one part, is designated as the "Bride" of Christ in the New Testament ( 2 Corinthians 11:2 ; Ephesians 5:29 , Ephesians 5:32 ; Revelation 21:2 , Revelation 21:9 ; Revelation 22:17 ).