Bible Commentaries

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos, for emphasis. the

the LORD of hosts. See note on 1 Samuel 1:3.

stay. staff. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. mash"en (masculine); mish"an (feminine)

bread. water. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all kinds of food.

prudent = diviner: i.e. the king. Compare Proverbs 16:10.

ancient = elder.

honourable man = eminent or highly respected man.

cunning artificer = skilled in arts.

eloquent orator = skilled in magnetism.

children = youths, or boys.

babes = with caprice. Not the same word

child = a youth, or a boy. as in Isaiah 3:12.

clothing. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), for all necessaries.

be = become.

swear. Hebrew "lift up [the hand]": i.e. swear. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 14:22. Exodus 6:8. Numbers 14:30. Deuteronomy 32:40). App-92.

ruined = overthrown.

the eyes of His glory = His glorious presence, "eyes" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy, for the person as manifested.

shew = expression.

witness = testify.

declare. hide it not = have declared. have not hidden.

Sodom. See Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 1:10.

their soul = them (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

the righteous = a righteous one.

Woe. Figure of speech Maledictio. App-6.

the wicked, &c. = a lawless evil one (ra"a", App-44.), [it shall not be well]. Hebrew. rasha".

hands. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for what is done with them.

given him = done to him.

children = little ones.

destroy = have swallowed up.

people = peoples.

of. Genitive of Relation (App-17.) = taken from.

poor = oppressed. Hebrew. "ani.

beat = crush.

saith = is the oracle of. the Lord.

daughters. Compare the "kine of Bashan" (Amos 4:1).

their. Hebrew masculine. Often used of women who act as men.

the LORD*. One of the 134 places where, in the primitive text, the Sopherim say they changed Jehovah to Adonai.

secret parts; or, nakedness.

bravery = finery.

ornaments = metal crescent-shaped discs.

cauls = caps. Old French "cale".

their round tires like the moon = round crescent-shaped headbands.

chains = pendants.

mufflers = light face-veils.

bonnets = headdress. Hebrew. pe"er. Not therefore peculiar to the "latter" portion of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:10) as alleged.

ornaments = anklets.

headbands = girdles. Compare Isaiah 49:18.

tablets = scent bottles. Hebrew houses of the soul; nephesh, used in the sense of breath.

earrings = amulets.

nose jewels. Worn in Palestine to-day.

changeable suits, &c. = robes: i.e. state or gala dresses.

wimples = a neck binding (Old English),

crisping pins = reticules or purses.

glasses = mirrors (of polished metal).

fine linen = underclothing.

hoods = turbans.

vails = long flowing vails.

sweet smell = perfume.

stink = rottenness, or stench.

rent = a rope,

well set hair = richly plaited hair.

stomacher = sash or girdle, often worked in silk and gold. Still worn in Palestine.

girding of sackcloth = girding with a rope.

burning = branding.

mighty = might. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "mighty ones".

gates = entrances.

mourn. Occurs in "former" portion here, Isaiah 19:8 (as adjective); Isaiah 24:4, Isaiah 24:7; Isaiah 33:9; and in the "latter" portion, Isaiah 57:18 (as noun); Isaiah 60:20 (as noun); Isaiah 61:2, s(as adjective); Isaiah 66:10.