Isa 49:7, 23, 52:15 | JFB | STEP | 7. whom man despiseth — Hebrew, "the despised of soul," that is, by every soul, by all men ( ). LOWTH translates, "whose person is despised." abhorreth —literally, "who is an abomination to the nation" ( ). The Jews contemptuously call Him always Tolvi, "the crucified." I prefer, on account of Goi, the Hebrew term for nation being usually applied to the Gentiles, and that for people to the Jews ( ; so the Greek terms respectively also Laos and Ethne, ), to take "nation" here collectively for the Gentile world, which also spurned Him ( ). servant of rulers — ( ). He who would not exert His power against the rulers ( ). shall see —namely the fulfilment of God's promises ( ), " when He (shall be) a light to the Gentiles. " arise —to reverence Thee ( ). princes also —rather, for the parallelism, supply the ellipsis, thus, "Princes shall see and shall worship." faithful —namely, to His promises. choose thee

Isaiah 49:7

7. whom man despiseth—Hebrew, "the despised of soul," that is, by every soul, by all men (Isa 52:14, 15; 53:3; 50:6-9; Ps 22:6). LOWTH translates, "whose person is despised."

abhorreth—literally, "who is an abomination to the nation" (Lu 23:18-23). The Jews contemptuously call Him always Tolvi, "the crucified." I prefer, on account of Goi, the Hebrew term for nation being usually applied to the Gentiles, and that for people to the Jews (Ho 1:9; so the Greek terms respectively also Laos and Ethne, Ro 9:25), to take "nation" here collectively for the Gentile world, which also spurned Him (Ps 2:1-3; Ac 4:25-27).

servant of rulers— (Mt 17:27). He who would not exert His power against the rulers (Mt 26:52, 53).

shall see—namely the fulfilment of God's promises (Isa 49:3, 6), "when He (shall be) a light to the Gentiles."

arise—to reverence Thee (Ps 72:10, 11; Php 2:10).

princes also—rather, for the parallelism, supply the ellipsis, thus, "Princes shall see and shall worship."

faithful—namely, to His promises.

choose thee—as God's elect (Isa 42:1).

Isaiah 49:23

23. lick . . . dust—that is, kiss thy feet in token of humble submission.

for they . . . not . . . ashamed . . . wait for me—The restoration of Israel shall be in answer to their prayerful waiting on the Lord (Isa 30:18, 19; Ps 102:16, 17; Zec 12:10; 14:3).

Isaiah 52:15

15. sprinkle many—GESENIUS, for the antithesis to "be astonished," translates, "shall cause . . . to exult." But the word universally in the Old Testament means either to sprinkle with blood, as the high priest makes an expiation (Le 4:6; 16:18, 19); or with water, to purify (Eze 36:25; compare as to the Spirit, Ac 2:33), both appropriate to Messiah (Joh 13:8; Heb 9:13, 14; 10:22; 12:24; 1Pe 1:2). The antithesis is sufficient without any forced rendering. Many were astonished; so many (not merely men, but) nations shall be sprinkled. They were amazed at such an abject person claiming to be Messiah; yet it is He who shall justify and purify. Men were dumb with the amazement of scorn at one marred more than the lowest of men, yet the highest: even kings (Isa 49:7, 23) shall be dumb with awe and veneration ("shut . . . mouths"; Job 29:9, 10; Mic 7:16).

that . . . not . . . told them—the reason why kings shall so venerate them; the wonders of redemption, which had not been before told them, shall then be announced to them, wonders such as they had never heard or seen parallelled (Isa 55:1; Ro 15:21; 16:25, 26).