Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 5. For as a young man-so] The particles of comparison are not at present in the Hebrew Text: but the Septuaptnt, Syriac, and Chaldee seem to have read in their copies k caph prefixed to the verb, l[byk yk ki keyibal which seems to have been omitted by mistake of a transcriber, occasioned by the repetition of the same two letters. And before the verb in the second line a MS. adds µk ken, so; which the Septuagint, Syriac, and Chaldee seem also to have had in their copies. In the third line of this verse the same MS. has in like manner wmkw vechimsos, and two MSS.
and the Babylonish Talmud wmk kimsos, adding the k caph; and in the fourth line, the Babylonish Talmud likewise adds k ken, so, before the verb.
Sir John Chardin, in his note on this place, tells us, "that it is the custom in the east for youths, that were never married, always to marry virgins; and widowers, however young, to marry widows." -HARMER, Observ. ii. p. 482.
So shall thy sons marry thee.] For ûynb banayich, thy sons, Bishop Lowth reads, restorer or builder, as he does not consider the word as the plural of b ben, a son, but the participle benoni of the verb hnb banah, he built. I do not see that we gain much by this translation. Thy sons shall dwell in thee, Vulgate; and so the Septuagint and Chaldee.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The Messiah, his character and office. (Is. 61:1-3) His promises of the future blessedness of the church. (Is. 61:4-9) The church praises God for these mercies. (Is. 61:10,11)
Is. 61:1-3 The prophets had the Holy Spirit of God at times, teachin them what to say, and causing them to say it; but Christ had the Spiri always, without measure, to qualify him, as man, for the work to whic he was appointed. The poor are commonly best disposed to receive the gospel, James 2:5; and it is only likely to profit us when receive with meekness. To such as are poor in spirit, Christ preached goo tidings when he said, Blessed are the meek. Christ's satisfaction i accepted. By the dominion of sin in us, we are bound under the power of Satan; but the Son is ready, by his Spirit, to make us free; and the we shall be free indeed. Sin and Satan were to be destroyed; and Chris triumphed over them on his cross. But the children of men, who stan out against these offers, shall be dealt with as enemies. Christ was to be a Comforter, and so he is; he is sent to comfort all who mourn, an who seek to him, and not to the world, for comfort. He will do all thi for his people, that they may abound in the fruits of righteousness, a the branches of God's planting. Neither the mercy of God, the atonemen of Christ, nor the gospel of grace, profit the self-sufficient an proud. They must be humbled, and led to know their own character an wants, by the Holy Spirit, that they may see and feel their need of the sinner's Friend and Saviour. His doctrine contains glad tidings indee to those who are humbled before God.
Is. 61:4-9 Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivere out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a city that is broke down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. When, by the grace of God, we attain to holy indifference as to the affairs of this world; when, though our hand are employed about them, our hearts are not entangled with them, but preserved entire for God and his service, then the sons of the alie are our ploughmen and vine-dressers. Those whom He sets at liberty, he sets to work. His service is perfect freedom; it is the greates honour. All believers are made, to our God, kings and priests; an always ought to conduct themselves as such. Those who have the Lord for their portion, have reason to say, that they have worthy portion, an to rejoice in it. In the fulness of heaven's joys we shall receive mor than double for all our services and sufferings. God desires truth, an therefore hates all injustice. Nor will it justify any man's robbery to say, it was for burnt-offerings; and that robbery is most hateful whic is under this pretence. Let the children of godly parents be such, tha all may see the fruits of a good education; an answer to the prayer for them, in the fruit of God's blessing.
Is. 61:10,11 Those only shall be clothed with the garments of salvatio hereafter, that are covered with the robe of Christ's righteousnes now, and by the sanctification of the Spirit have God's image renewe upon them. These blessings shall spring forth for ages to come, as the fruits of the earth. So duly, so constantly, and with such advantage to mankind, will the Lord God cause righteousness and praise to sprin forth. They shall spread far; the great salvation shall be publishe and proclaimed, to the ends of the earth. Let us be earnest in prayer that the Lord God may cause that righteousness to spring forth amon us, which constitutes the excellence and glory of the Christia profession _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew כי3588 יבעל1166 בחור970 בתולה1330 יבעלוך1166 בניך1121 ומשׂושׂ4885 חתן2860 על5921 כלה3618 ישׂישׂ7797 עליך5921 אלהיך׃430
