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Selected Verse: Isaiah 55:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 55:4 |
Strong Concordance |
Behold, I have given [05414] him for a witness [05707] to the people [03816], a leader [05057] and commander [06680] to the people [03816]. |
| |
King James |
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
him--the mystical David (Eze 37:24-25; Jer 30:9; Hos 3:5). Given by God (Isa 49:6).
witness--He bore witness even unto death for God, to His law, claims, and plan of redeeming love (Joh 18:37; Rev 1:5). Revelation is a "testimony"; because it is propounded to be received on the authority of the Giver, and not merely because it can be proved by arguments.
commander--"preceptor" [HORSLEY]; "lawgiver" [BARNES].
to the people--rather, "peoples." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Behold, I have given him - This is evidently the language of God respecting the Messiah, or of David as representing the Messiah. Rosenmuller supposes that the name David here is used to designate the Messiah, and in support of this appeals to Eze 34:23-24; Eze 37:24-25; Jer 30:9; Hos 3:5. An examination of these passages will show that they all refer to the Messiah by the name of David; and it is morally certain that in the passage before us, the name David Isa 55:3 suggested the Messiah. It seems to me that this is to be regarded as a direct address respecting the Messiah, and that the object of the speaker here is to state a reason why he should be embraced. That reason was that God had constituted him as a leader. The Chaldee renders this, 'Lo, I have constituted him as a prince to the people, a king and ruler over all kingdoms.' Kimchi says that it means that the Messiah would be a monitor or a mediator between people and him who would accuse them. Grotius supposes that Jeremiah is intended here; but in that opinion he is destined undoubtedly to stand forever alone. The almost unbroken interpretation, from the earliest times, is that which refers it directly to the Messiah.
For a witness to the people - Noyes renders this, 'A ruler.' Rosenmuller, 'A monitor,' - one whose office it was publicly to admonish, or reprove others in the presence of witnesses. Jerome renders it, 'A witness.' The Septuagint, Μαρτύριον Marturion - 'A testimony.' The Chaldee (רב rab), 'A prince.' The Hebrew word (עד ‛ēd) means properly "a witness" Pro 19:5-9; then testimony, witness borne Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17; then a prince, chief, lawgiver, commander. Compare the use of the verb in Kg2 17:13; Psa 50:7; Psa 81:9; Lam 2:13. The parallelism requires us to understand it in this sense here - as one who stood forth to bear solemn testimony in regard to God to his law, and claims, and plans; and one who, therefore, was designated to be the instructor, guide, and teacher of people.
A leader - Chaldee, 'A king.' The idea is, that he would sustain the relation of a sovereign. One of the important offices of the Messiah is that of king.
A commander - Or, rather, a lawgiver. He would originate the laws and institutions of his people. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Behold - I have appointed, and will in due time actually give. Him - The David last mentioned, even Christ. A witness - To declare the will of God concerning the duty and salvation of men, to bear witness to truth, to confirm God's promises, and, among others, those which respect the calling of the Gentiles: to be a witness of both parties of that covenant made between God and men. The people - To all people. |
5 And [2532] from [575] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], who is the faithful [4103] witness [3144], and the first begotten [4416] of [1537] the dead [3498], and [2532] the prince [758] of the kings [935] of the earth [1093]. Unto him that loved [25] us [2248], and [2532] washed [3068] us [2248] from [575] our [2257] sins [266] in [1722] his own [846] blood [129],
37 Pilate [4091] therefore [3767] said [2036] unto him [846], Art [1488] thou [4771] a king [935] then [3766]? Jesus [2424] answered [611], Thou [4771] sayest [3004] that [3754] I [1473] am [1510] a king [935]. To [1519] this [5124] end was [1080] I [1473] born [1080], and [2532] for [1519] this [5124] cause came I [2064] into [1519] the world [2889], that [2443] I should bear witness [3140] unto the truth [225]. Every one [3956] that is [5607] of [1537] the truth [225] heareth [191] my [3450] voice [5456].
6 And he said [0559], It is a light thing [07043] that thou shouldest be my servant [05650] to raise up [06965] the tribes [07626] of Jacob [03290], and to restore [07725] the preserved [05341] [05336] of Israel [03478]: I will also give [05414] thee for a light [0216] to the Gentiles [01471], that thou mayest be my salvation [03444] unto the end [07097] of the earth [0776].
5 Afterward [0310] shall the children [01121] of Israel [03478] return [07725], and seek [01245] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428]; and shall fear [06342] the LORD [03068] and his goodness [02898] in the latter [0319] days [03117].
9 But they shall serve [05647] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428], whom I will raise up [06965] unto them.
24 And David [01732] my servant [05650] shall be king [04428] over them; and they all shall have one [0259] shepherd [07462]: they shall also walk [03212] in my judgments [04941], and observe [08104] my statutes [02708], and do [06213] them.
25 And they shall dwell [03427] in the land [0776] that I have given [05414] unto Jacob [03290] my servant [05650], wherein your fathers [01] have dwelt [03427]; and they shall dwell [03427] therein, even they, and their children [01121], and their children's [01121] children [01121] for ever [05769]: and my servant [05650] David [01732] shall be their prince [05387] for [05704] ever [05769].
13 What thing shall I take to witness [05749] [05749] for thee? what thing [04100] shall I liken [01819] to thee, O daughter [01323] of Jerusalem [03389]? what shall I equal [07737] to thee, that I may comfort [05162] thee, O virgin [01330] daughter [01323] of Zion [06726]? for thy breach [07667] is great [01419] like the sea [03220]: who can heal [07495] thee?
9 There shall no strange [02114] god [0410] be in thee; neither shalt thou worship [07812] any strange [05236] god [0410].
7 Hear [08085], O my people [05971], and I will speak [01696]; O Israel [03478], and I will testify [05749] against thee: I am God [0430], even thy God [0430].
13 Yet the LORD [03068] testified [05749] against Israel [03478], and against Judah [03063], by [03027] all the prophets [05030], and by all the seers [02374], saying [0559], Turn [07725] ye from your evil [07451] ways [01870], and keep [08104] my commandments [04687] and my statutes [02708], according to all the law [08451] which I commanded [06680] your fathers [01], and which I sent [07971] to you by [03027] my servants [05650] the prophets [05030].
17 Thou shalt not kill [07523].
13 Thou shalt not kill [07523].
5 A false [08267] witness [05707] shall not be unpunished [05352], and he that speaketh [06315] lies [03577] shall not escape [04422].
6 Many [07227] will intreat [02470] the favour [06440] of the prince [05081]: and every man is a friend [07453] to him [0376] that giveth gifts [04976].
7 All the brethren [0251] of the poor [07326] do hate [08130] him: how much more do his friends [04828] go far [07368] from him? he pursueth [07291] them with words [0561], yet they are wanting to him.
8 He that getteth [07069] wisdom [03820] loveth [0157] his own soul [05315]: he that keepeth [08104] understanding [08394] shall find [04672] good [02896].
9 A false [08267] witness [05707] shall not be unpunished [05352], and he that speaketh [06315] lies [03577] shall perish [06].
3 Incline [05186] your ear [0241], and come [03212] unto me: hear [08085], and your soul [05315] shall live [02421]; and I will make [03772] an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285] with you, even the sure [0539] mercies [02617] of David [01732].
5 Afterward [0310] shall the children [01121] of Israel [03478] return [07725], and seek [01245] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428]; and shall fear [06342] the LORD [03068] and his goodness [02898] in the latter [0319] days [03117].
9 But they shall serve [05647] the LORD [03068] their God [0430], and David [01732] their king [04428], whom I will raise up [06965] unto them.
24 And David [01732] my servant [05650] shall be king [04428] over them; and they all shall have one [0259] shepherd [07462]: they shall also walk [03212] in my judgments [04941], and observe [08104] my statutes [02708], and do [06213] them.
25 And they shall dwell [03427] in the land [0776] that I have given [05414] unto Jacob [03290] my servant [05650], wherein your fathers [01] have dwelt [03427]; and they shall dwell [03427] therein, even they, and their children [01121], and their children's [01121] children [01121] for ever [05769]: and my servant [05650] David [01732] shall be their prince [05387] for [05704] ever [05769].
23 And I will set up [06965] one [0259] shepherd [07462] over them, and he shall feed [07462] them, even my servant [05650] David [01732]; he shall feed [07462] them, and he shall be their shepherd [07462].
24 And I the LORD [03068] will be their God [0430], and my servant [05650] David [01732] a prince [05387] among [08432] them; I the LORD [03068] have spoken [01696] it.