Isaiah 57
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The righteous perisheth - הצדק אבד hatstsadik abad. There is an emphasis here which seems intended to point out a particular person. See below. Perisheth - As the root אבד abad signifies the straying of cattle, their passing away from one pasture to another, I feel inclined to follow the grammatical meaning of the word "perish," pereo. So the Vulgate, justus periit, from per, By or Through, and eo, to Go. In his death the righteous man may be said to have passed through life, and to have passed by men, i.e., gone or passed before them into the eternal world. A similar mode of speech is used by our Saxon ancestors to express death: he went out of sight; and he went away; and to fare forth, to die. There are very few places in Isaiah where Jesus Christ is not intended; and I am inclined to think that He is intended here, That Just One; and perhaps Stephen had this place in view, when he thus charged the Jews, "Ye denied τον ἁγιον και δικαιον, that Holy and Just One," Act 3:14. That his death was not laid to heart by the wicked Jewish people, needs no proof. Merciful men - If the first refers to Christ, this may well refer to the apostles. and to others of the primitive Christians, who were taken away, some by death and martyrdom, and others by a providential escape from the city that they knew was devoted to destruction. The evil to come - That destruction which was to come upon this disobedient people by the Romans.
Open source ↗THE PEACEFUL DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS FEW: THE UNGODLINESS OF THE MANY: A BELIEVING REMNANT SHALL SURVIVE THE GENERAL JUDGMENTS OF THE NATION, AND BE RESTORED BY HIM WHO CREATES PEACE. (Isa. 57:1-21) no man layeth it to heart--as a public calamity. merciful men--rather, godly men; the subjects of mercy. none considering--namely, what was the design of Providence in removing the godly. from the evil--Hebrew, from the face of the evil, that is, both from the moral evil on every side (Isa 56:10-12), and from the evils about to come in punishment of the national sins, foreign invasions, &c. (Isa 56:9; Isa 57:13). So Ahijah's death is represented as a blessing conferred on him by God for his piety (Kg1 14:10-13; see also Kg2 22:20).
Open source ↗The righteous perisheth,.... Not eternally; he may fear he shall, by reason of sin and temptation; he may say his strength and hope are perished; and his peace and comfort may perish for a time; but he cannot perish everlastingly, because he is one that believes in Christ, and is justified by his righteousness, from whence he is denominated righteous; and such shall never perish, but have everlasting life: but the meaning is, that he perisheth as to his outward man, or dies corporeally, which is called perishing, Ecc 7:15 and so the Targum renders it, "the righteous die.'' Or it may be rendered, "the righteous man is lost" (b); not to himself, his death is a gain to him; but to the church, and to the world, which yet is not considered: and no man layeth it to heart; takes any notice of it, thinks at all about it, far from being concerned or grieved; instead of that, rather rejoice, and are pleased that they are rid of such persons; which will be the case when the witnesses are slain, Rev 11:10. The Targum is, "and no man lays my fear to heart;'' or on his heart; whereas such providences should lead men to fear the Lord, and seek to him, and serve him, as it did David, Psa 12:1, and merciful men are taken away; or "gathered" (c); out of the world, to their own people, to heaven; these are such who obtain mercy of the Lord, and show mercy to others, holy good men: the former character may respect the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, this his grace implanted in them, discovered by acts of mercy and goodness; for one and the same persons are intended: none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come; that there are evil times coming, great calamities, and sore judgments upon men; and therefore these righteous ones are gathered out of the world…
Open source ↗Whilst watchmen and shepherds, prophets and rulers, without troubling themselves about the flock which they have to watch and feed, are thus indulging their own selfish desires, and living in debauchery, the righteous man is saved by early death from the judgment, which cannot fail to come with such corruption as this. "The righteous perisheth, and no man taketh it to heart; and pious men are swept away, without any one considering that the righteous is swept away from misfortune. He entereth into peace: they rest upon their beds, whoever has walked straight before him." With "the righteous" the prophet introduces, in glaring contrast to this luxurious living on the part of the leading men of the nation, the standing figure used to denote the fate of its best men. With this prevailing demoralization and worldliness, the righteous succumbs to the violence of both external and internal sufferings. אבד, he dies before his time (Ecc 7:15); from the midst of the men of his generation he is carried away from this world (Psa 12:2; Mic 7:2), and no one lays it to heart, viz., the divine accusation and threat involved in this early death. Men of piety (chesed, the love of God and man) are swept away, without there being any one to understand or consider that (kı̄ unfolds the object to be considered and laid to heart, viz., what is involved in this carrying away when regarded as a providential event) the righteous is swept away "from the evil," i.e., that he may be saved from the approaching punishment (compare Kg2 22:20). For the prevailing corruption calls for punishment from God; and what is first of all to be expected is severe judgment, through which the coming salvation will force its way. In Isa 57:2 it is intimated that the righteous man and the pious do not lose the bles…
Open source ↗The prophet, in the close of the foregoing chapter, had condemned the watchmen for their ignorance and sottishness; here he shows the general stupidity and senselessness of the people likewise. No wonder they were inconsiderate when their watchmen were so, who should have awakened them to consideration. We may observe here, I. The providence of God removing good men apace out of this world. The righteous, as to this world, perish; they are gone and their place knows them no more. Piety exempts none from the arrests of death, nay, in persecuting times, the most righteous are most exposed to the violences of bloody men. The first that died died a martyr. Righteousness delivers from the sting of death, but not from the stroke of it. They are said to perish because they are utterly removed from us, and to express the great loss which this world sustains by the removal of them, not that their death is their undoing, but it often proves an undoing to the places where they lived and were useful. Nay, even merciful men are taken away, those good men that are distinguished from the righteous, for whom some would even dare to die, Rom 5:7. Those are often removed that could be worst spared; the fruitful trees are cut down by death and the barren left still to cumber the ground. Merciful men are often taken away by the hands of men's malice. Many good works they have done, and for some of them they are stoned. Before the captivity in Babylon perhaps there was a more than ordinary mortality of good men, so that there were scarcely any left, Jer 5:1. The godly ceased, and the faithful failed, Psa 12:1. II. The careless world slighting these providences, and disregarding them: No man lays it to heart, none considers it. There are very few that lament it as a public loss, very few tha…
Open source ↗57:1-2 This is a lament for the righteous who suffer in a wicked society. 57:1 the evil to come: Judgment that would come on the wicked nations. • protecting them: At times, God allows the godly to die in order to protect them from harsher times to come.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) — to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave… בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… מִשְׁכָּב (mishkâb, H4904) — a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) נָכֹחַ (nâkôach, H5228) — straightforward, i.e. (figuratively), equitable, correct, or (abstractly), integrity
Open source ↗קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… עָנַן (ʻânan, H6049) — figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity נָאַף (nâʼaph, H5003) — to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize זָנָה (zânâh, H2181) — to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely…
Open source ↗עָנַג (ʻânag, H6026) — to be soft or pliable, i.e. (figuratively) effeminate or luxurious רָחַב (râchab, H7337) — to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… אָרַךְ (ʼârak, H748) — to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively) לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… יֶלֶד (yeled, H3206) — something born, i.e. a lad or offspring פֶּשַׁע (peshaʻ, H6588) — a revolt (national, moral or religious) זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
Open source ↗חָמַם (châmam, H2552) — to be hot (literally or figuratively) אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) רַעֲנָן (raʻănân, H7488) — verdant; by analogy, new; figuratively, prosperous עֵץ (ʻêts, H6086) — a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks) שָׁחַט (shâchaṭ, H7819) — to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre) יֶלֶד (yeled, H3206) — something born, i.e. a lad or offspring נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… סָעִיף (çâʻîyph, H5585) — a fissure (of rocks); also a bough (as subdivided) סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
Open source ↗חַלָּק (challâq, H2511) — smooth נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… חֵלֶק (chêleq, H2506) — properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment גּוֹרָל (gôwrâl, H1486) — properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively,… שָׁפַךְ (shâphak, H8210) — to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also… נֶסֶךְ (neçek, H5262) — a libation; also a cast idol עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… מִנְחָה (minchâh, H4503) — a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually… נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a…
Open source ↗גָּבֹהַּ (gâbôahh, H1364) — elevated (or elated), powerful, arrogant נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… מִשְׁכָּב (mishkâb, H4904) — a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… זָבַח (zâbach, H2076) — to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice) זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the…
Open source ↗אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… דֶּלֶת (deleth, H1817) — something swinging, i.e. the valve of adoor מְזוּזָה (mᵉzûwzâh, H4201) — a door-post (as prominent) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… זִכְרוֹן (zikrôwn, H2146) — a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing) גָּלָה (gâlâh, H1540) — to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… רָחַב (râchab, H7337) — to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) מִשְׁכָּב (mishkâb, H4904) — a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חָזָה (châzâh, H2372) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have…
Open source ↗שׁוּר (shûwr, H7788) — properly, to turn, i.e. travel about (as a harlot or a merchant) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king שֶׁמֶן (shemen, H8081) — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) רַקֻּחַ (raqquach, H7547) — a scented substance שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) צִיר (tsîyr, H6735) — a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a… רָחוֹק (râchôwq, H7350) — remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used… שָׁפֵל (shâphêl, H8213) — to depress or sink (expectation figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive) שְׁאוֹל (shᵉʼôwl, H7585) — Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories…
Open source ↗יָגַע (yâgaʻ, H3021) — properly, to gasp; hence, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָאַשׁ (yâʼash, H2976) — to desist, i.e. (figuratively) to despond מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חָלָה (châlâh, H2470) — properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or…
Open source ↗דָּאַג (dâʼag, H1672) — be anxious יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten כָּזַב (kâzab, H3576) — to lie (i.e. deceive), literally or figuratively זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… חָשָׁה (châshâh, H2814) — to hush or keep quiet עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… יַעַל (yaʻal, H3276) — properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively;…
Open source ↗זָעַק (zâʻaq, H2199) — to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene… קִבּוּץ (qibbûwts, H6899) — a throng נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative הֶבֶל (hebel, H1892) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) חָסָה (châçâh, H2620) — to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in נָחַל (nâchal, H5157) — to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) סָלַל (çâlal, H5549) — to mound up (especially a turnpike); figurative, to exalt; reflexively, to oppose (as by… פָּנָה (pânâh, H6437) — to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc. דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb רוּם (rûwm, H7311) — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively) מִכְשׁוֹל (mikshôwl, H4383) — a stumbling-block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.
All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. For this is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will receive a proper burial, because only in him has the LORD, the God of Israel, found any good in the house of Jeroboam.
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.
And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.