Bible Commentaries

king Uzziah. Contrast this leprous king with the glorious king of Isaiah 6:5.

died. In a separate house. This completes the contrast.

I saw. Hebrew ra"ah = to see clearly. As in Isaiah 6:6.

it: i.e. the throne. seraphims = burning ones. No Art. Celestial beings, named but unexplained. Name used of the serpents (Numbers 21:6) because of the burning effect produced by them, just as nachash was used of a snake because of its shining skin (Numbers 21:9), as well as of the shining one of Genesis 3:1. See notes on Genesis 3:1. Numbers 21:6, Numbers 21:9, and App-19. Septuagint reads "and seraphs stood round about Him".

Holy, holy, holy. Figure of speech Epizeuxis for intense and solemn emphasis. Compare the threefold blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 and Revelation 4:8, a threefold unity.

Woe. Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6.

undone = dumb, or lost. The essence of true conviction is a concern for what I am, not for what I have done or not done.

seen. Compare Job 42:5.

King. Contrast "king Uzziah", Isaiah 6:1.

flew. Compare "ran" (Luke 15:20).

the tongs. Reference to Pent, (Exodus 25:38; Exodus 25:37. Exodus 25:23 ("snuffers"). Numbers 4:9). App-92.

iniquity. Hebrew. "avah, App-44.

purged = covered. Hebrew. kaphar = to cover, and thus, here, atone. See note on Exodus 29:33. Not the same word as in Isaiah 1:25; Isaiah 4:4.

voice. See the Structure (p. 980). This is the voice from the Temple concerning the "scattering", corresponding with Isaiah 40:3, Isaiah 40:6, which is the voice from the wilderness concerning the "gathering".

Whom shall I send? This was not Isaiah's original commission to prophesy, but his special commission for this great dispensational prophecy. Chs. 1-5 form a general introduction to the whole book (see p. 930).

Us. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7). App-92.

said I. In edition 1611 this was "I said".

Hear ye indeed. Hebrew "a hearing, hear ye". Figure of speech Polyptoton (App-6) for emphasis. See note on Genesis 26:28.

see ye indeed. Hebrew "a seeing see ye". Figure of speech Polyptoton, as above.

Make, &c. = Declare or foretell that the heart of this People will be fat. Isaiah could do no more. A common Hebrew idiom. This prophecy is of the deepest import in Israel's history. Written down seven times (Matthew 13:14. Mark 4:12. Luke 8:10. John 12:40. Acts 28:26, Acts 28:27. Romans 11:8). Solemnly quoted in three great dispensational crises: (1) By Christ (Matthew 13:14), as coming from Jehovah on the day a council was held "to destroy Him". (2) By Christ, as coming from Messiah in His glory (John 12:40, John 12:41) after counsel taken to "put Him to death" (John 11:53, and Compare Isaiah 12:37). (3) By Paul, as coming from the Holy Ghost when, after a whole day's conference, they "believed not" (Acts 28:25-27).

convert = turn or return

how long? See the answer (Romans 11:25).

wasted = desolate.

without = for want of. man. Hebrew. adam. App-14.

land = ground, or soil. Hebrew. adamah

desolate. See note on Isaiah 1:7.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

forsaking. See note on Isaiah 1:4.

But yet in it shall be a tenth, &c. = Still, there is in it (the land) a tenth part; and it (the tenth part) shall again be swept away; yet, as with terebinth and oak, whose life remains in them when felled, the holy seed will be the life thereof. This is no "interpolation"; it is necessary to complete the Structure.

shall be. Supply [there is].

teil tree = terebinth.

substance = root-stock.

is in them: or will be in them. A special rending called Sevir (App-34) reads "in it": i.e. in the land.

cast their leaves = are felled. The Ellipsis, here, is wrongly supplied.