Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Isaiah 62:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 62:6	Strong Concordance	I have set [06485] watchmen [08104] upon thy walls [02346], O Jerusalem [03389], which shall never [08548] hold their peace [02814] day [03117] nor night [03915]: ye that make mention [02142] of the LORD [03068], keep not silence [01824],
	King James	I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
I--Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah. watchmen upon . . . walls--image from the watches set upon a city's wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings (Isa 52:7-8); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Isa 21:6-11; Isa 56:10; Eze 3:17; Eze 33:7). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen. ye that . . . mention . . . Lord--Hebrew, "ye that are the Lord's remembrancers"; God's servants who by their prayers "put God in remembrance" of His promises (Isa 43:26); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises (Psa 119:49; Jer 14:21).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

I--Isaiah speaking in the person of the Messiah.

watchmen upon . . . walls--image from the watches set upon a city's wall to look out for the approach of a messenger with good tidings (Isa 52:7-8); the good tidings of the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, prefiguring the return from the present dispersion (compare Isa 21:6-11; Isa 56:10; Eze 3:17; Eze 33:7). The watches in the East are announced by a loud cry to mark the vigilance of the watchmen.

ye that . . . mention . . . Lord--Hebrew, "ye that are the Lord's remembrancers"; God's servants who by their prayers "put God in remembrance" of His promises (Isa 43:26); we are required to remind God, as if God could, which He cannot, forget His promises (Psa 119:49; Jer 14:21).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I have set watchmen upon thy walls - (See the notes at Isa 21:6-11). The speaker here is undoubtedly Yahweh; and by watchmen he means those whom he had appointed to be the instructors of his people - the ministers of religion. The name 'watchmen' is often given to them (Eze 3:17; Eze 33:7; see the notes at Isa 52:8; Isa 56:10). Which shall never hold their peace - The watches in the East are to this day performed by a loud cry as they go their rounds. This is done frequently in order to mark the time, and also to show that they are awake to their duty. "The watchmen in the camp of the caravans go their rounds, crying one after another, 'God is one; He is merciful'; and often add, 'Take heed to yourselves'" - (Tavernier). The truth here taught is, that they who are appointed to be the ministers of religion should be ever watchful and unceasing in the discharge of their duty. Ye that make mention of the Lord - Margin, 'That are the Lord's remembrancers.' These are evidently the words of the prophet addressing those who are watchmen, and urging them to do their duty, as he had said Isa 62:1 he was resolved to do his, Lowth renders this, 'O ye that proclaim the name of Yahweh.' Noyes, 'O ye that praise Yahweh.' But this does not express the sense of the original as well as the common version. The Hebrew word המזכירים hamazekiyriym, from זכר zâkar, "to remember") means properly those bringing to remembrance, or causing to remember. It is a word frequently applied to the praise of God, or to the celebration of his worship Psa 20:7; Psa 38:1; Psa 45:17; Psa 70:1; Psa 102:12. In such instances the word does not mean that they who are engaged in his service cause Yahweh to remember, or bring things to his recollection which otherwise he would forget; but it means that they would keep up his remembrance among the people, or that they proclaimed his name in order that he might not be forgotten. This is the idea here. It is not merely that they were engaged in the worship of God; but it is, that they did this in order to keep up the remembrance of Yahweh among people. In this sense the ministers of religion are 'the remembrancers' of the Lord. Keep not silence - Hebrew, 'Let there be no silence to you.' That is, be constantly employed in public prayer and praise.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Watchmen stationed upon the walls of Zion (says the third strophe) do not forsake Jehovah till He has fulfilled all His promise. "Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, have I stationed watchmen; all the day and all the night continually they are not silent. O ye who remember Jehovah, leave yourselves no rest! And give Him no rest, till He raise up, and till He set Jerusalem for a praise in the earth." As the phrase hiphqı̄d ‛al signifies to make a person an overseer (president) over anything, it seems as though we ought to render the sentence before us, "I have set watchmen over thy walls." But hiphqı̄d by itself may also mean "to appoint" (Kg2 25:23), and therefore עלח־ומתיך may indicate the place of appointment (lxx ἐπὶ τῶν τειχέων σου, upon thy walls: ̔Ιερουσαλήμ κατέστησα φύλακας). Those who are stationed upon the walls are no doubt keepers of the walls; not, however, as persons whose exclusive duty it is to keep the walls, but as those who have committed to them the guarding of the city both within and without (Sol 5:7). The appointment of such watchmen presupposes the existence of the city, which is thus to be watched from the walls. It is therefore inadmissible to think of the walls of Jerusalem as still lying in ruins, as the majority of commentators have done, and to understand by the watchmen pious Israelites, who pray for their restoration, or (according to b. Menachoth 87a; cf., Zac 1:12) angelic intercessors. The walls intended are those of the city, which, though once destroyed, is actually imperishable (Isa 49:16) and has now been raised up again. And who else could the watchmen stationed upon the walls really be, but prophets who are called tsōphı̄m (e.g., Isa 52:8), and whose calling, according to Ezek 33, is that of watchmen? And if prophets are meant, who else can the person appointing them be but Jehovah Himself? The idea that the author of these prophecies is speaking of himself, as having appointed the shōmerı̄m, must therefore be rejected. Jehovah gives to the restored Jerusalem faithful prophets, whom He stations upon the walls of the city, that they may see far and wide, and be heard afar off. And from those walls does their warning cry on behalf of the holy city committed to their care ascent day and night to Jehovah, and their testimony go round about to the world. For after Jerusalem has been restored and re-peopled, the further end to be attained is this, that Jehovah should build up the newly founded city within (cōnēn the consequence of bânâh, Num 21:27, and ‛âsâh, Isa 45:18; Deu 32:6; cf., Isa 54:14 and Psa 87:5), and help it to attain the central post of honour in relation to those without, which He has destined for it. Such prophets of the times succeeding the captivity (nebhı̄'ı̄m 'achărōnı̄m; cf., Zac 1:4) were Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Haggai stands upon the walls of Jerusalem, and proclaims the glory of the second temple as surpassing that of the first. Zechariah points from Joshua and Zerubbabel onwards to the sprout of Jehovah, who is priest and prince in one person, and builds the true temple of God. Malachi predicts the coming of the Lord to His temple, and the rising of the Sun of righteousness. Under the eyes of these prophets the city of God rose up again, and they stand upon its pinnacles, and look thence into the glorious future that awaits it, and hasten its approach through the word of their testimony. Such prophets, who carry the good of their people day and night upon their anxious praying hearts, does Jehovah give to the Jerusalem after the captivity, which is one in the prophet's view with the Jerusalem of the last days; and in so lively a manner does the prophet here call them up before his own mind, that he exclaims to them, "Ye who remind Jehovah, to finish gloriously the gracious work which He has begun," give yourselves to rest (dŏmi from dâmâh = dâmam, to grow dumb, i.e., to cease speaking or working, in distinction from châshâh, to be silent, i.e., not to speak or work), and allow Him no rest till He puts Jerusalem in the right state, and so glorifies it, that it shall be recognised and extolled as glorious over all the earth. Prophecy here sees the final glory of the church as one that gradually unfolds itself, and that not without human instrumentality. The prophets of the last times, with their zeal in prayer, and in the exercise of their calling as witnesses, form a striking contrast to the blind, dumb, indolent, sleepy hirelings of the prophet's own time (Isa 56:10).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Watchmen stationed upon the walls of Zion (says the third strophe) do not forsake Jehovah till He has fulfilled all His promise. "Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, have I stationed watchmen; all the day and all the night continually they are not silent. O ye who remember Jehovah, leave yourselves no rest! And give Him no rest, till He raise up, and till He set Jerusalem for a praise in the earth." As the phrase hiphqı̄d ‛al signifies to make a person an overseer (president) over anything, it seems as though we ought to render the sentence before us, "I have set watchmen over thy walls." But hiphqı̄d by itself may also mean "to appoint" (Kg2 25:23), and therefore עלח־ומתיך may indicate the place of appointment (lxx ἐπὶ τῶν τειχέων σου, upon thy walls: ̔Ιερουσαλήμ κατέστησα φύλακας). Those who are stationed upon the walls are no doubt keepers of the walls; not, however, as persons whose exclusive duty it is to keep the walls, but as those who have committed to them the guarding of the city both within and without (Sol 5:7). The appointment of such watchmen presupposes the existence of the city, which is thus to be watched from the walls. It is therefore inadmissible to think of the walls of Jerusalem as still lying in ruins, as the majority of commentators have done, and to understand by the watchmen pious Israelites, who pray for their restoration, or (according to b. Menachoth 87a; cf., Zac 1:12) angelic intercessors. The walls intended are those of the city, which, though once destroyed, is actually imperishable (Isa 49:16) and has now been raised up again. And who else could the watchmen stationed upon the walls really be, but prophets who are called tsōphı̄m (e.g., Isa 52:8), and whose calling, according to Ezek 33, is that of watchmen? And if prophets are meant, who else can the person appointing them be but Jehovah Himself? The idea that the author of these prophecies is speaking of himself, as having appointed the shōmerı̄m, must therefore be rejected. Jehovah gives to the restored Jerusalem faithful prophets, whom He stations upon the walls of the city, that they may see far and wide, and be heard afar off. And from those walls does their warning cry on behalf of the holy city committed to their care ascent day and night to Jehovah, and their testimony go round about to the world. For after Jerusalem has been restored and re-peopled, the further end to be attained is this, that Jehovah should build up the newly founded city within (cōnēn the consequence of bânâh, Num 21:27, and ‛âsâh, Isa 45:18; Deu 32:6; cf., Isa 54:14 and Psa 87:5), and help it to attain the central post of honour in relation to those without, which He has destined for it. Such prophets of the times succeeding the captivity (nebhı̄'ı̄m 'achărōnı̄m; cf., Zac 1:4) were Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Haggai stands upon the walls of Jerusalem, and proclaims the glory of the second temple as surpassing that of the first. Zechariah points from Joshua and Zerubbabel onwards to the sprout of Jehovah, who is priest and prince in one person, and builds the true temple of God. Malachi predicts the coming of the Lord to His temple, and the rising of the Sun of righteousness. Under the eyes of these prophets the city of God rose up again, and they stand upon its pinnacles, and look thence into the glorious future that awaits it, and hasten its approach through the word of their testimony. Such prophets, who carry the good of their people day and night upon their anxious praying hearts, does Jehovah give to the Jerusalem after the captivity, which is one in the prophet's view with the Jerusalem of the last days; and in so lively a manner does the prophet here call them up before his own mind, that he exclaims to them, "Ye who remind Jehovah, to finish gloriously the gracious work which He has begun," give yourselves to rest (dŏmi from dâmâh = dâmam, to grow dumb, i.e., to cease speaking or working, in distinction from châshâh, to be silent, i.e., not to speak or work), and allow Him no rest till He puts Jerusalem in the right state, and so glorifies it, that it shall be recognised and extolled as glorious over all the earth. Prophecy here sees the final glory of the church as one that gradually unfolds itself, and that not without human instrumentality. The prophets of the last times, with their zeal in prayer, and in the exercise of their calling as witnesses, form a striking contrast to the blind, dumb, indolent, sleepy hirelings of the prophet's own time (Isa 56:10).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Day nor night - There shall be a vigilant and industrious ministry. Ye - That is, are his servants. And here especially are meant his servants in ordinary, his remembrancers, such as put God in mind of his promise, and such as make the Lord to be remembered, putting his people in mind of him.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence - The faithful, and in particular the priests and Levites, are exhorted by the prophet to beseech God with unremitted importunity (compare Luk 18:1, etc.) to hasten the redemption of Sion. The image in this place is taken from the temple service; in which there was appointed a constant watch, day and night, by the Levites: and among them this seems to have belonged particularly to the singers, see Ch1 9:33. Now the watches in the east, even to this day, are performed by a loud cry from time to time of the watchmen, to mark the time, and that very frequently, and in order to show that they themselves are constantly attentive to their duty. Hence the watchmen are said by the prophet, Isa 52:8, to lift up their voice; and here they are commanded, not to keep silence; and the greatest reproach to them is, that they are dumb dogs; they cannot bark; dreamers; sluggards, loving to slumber, Isa 56:10. "The watchmen in the camp of the caravans go their rounds crying one after another, 'God is one, he is merciful:' and often add, 'Take heed to yourselves.'" Tavernier, Voyage de Perse, 54:1 chap. 10. The hundred and thirty-fourth Psalm gives us an example of the temple watch. The whole Psalm is nothing more than the alternate cry of two different divisions of the watch. The first watch addresses the second, reminding them of their duty; the second answers by a solemn blessing. The address and the answer seem both to be a set form, which each division proclaimed, or sung aloud, at stated intervals, to notify the time of the night: - First Chorus "Come on now, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah; Ye that stand in the house of Jehovah in the nights; Lift up your hands towards the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah." Second Chorus "Jehovah bless thee out of Sion; He that made heaven and earth." "Ye who stand in the place of the watch, in the house of the sanctuary of the Lord; and ye praise through the nights;" - says the Chaldee paraphrase on the second line. And this explains what is here particularly meant by proclaiming, or making remembrance of, the name of Jehovah: the form, which the watch made use of on these occasions, was always a short sentence, expressing some pious sentiment, of which Jehovah was the subject; and it is remarkable, that the custom in the east in this respect also still continues the very same; as appears by the example above given from Tavernier. And this observation leads to the explanation of an obscure passage in the Prophet Malachi, Mal 2:12. "Jehovah will cut off the man that doeth this; The watchman and the answerer, from the tabernacles of Jacob; And him that presenteth an offering to Jehovah God of hosts." ער וענה er veoneh, the master and the scholar, says our translation, after the Vulgate: the son and the grandson, says the Syriac and Chaldee, as little to the purpose: Arias Montanus has given it vigilantem et respondentem, "the watchman and the answerer;" that is, the Levite and "him that presenteth an offering to Jehovah," that is, the priest. - L. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. Is not this clause an address to the ministers of Christ, to continue in supplication for the conversion of the Jewish people? Kimchi seems to think that the watchmen are the interceding angels!

Top

²¹ Do not abhor [05006] us, for thy name's [08034] sake, do not disgrace [05034] the throne [03678] of thy glory [03519]: remember [02142], break [06565] not thy covenant [01285] with us.

⁴⁹ ZAIN. Remember [02142] the word [01697] unto thy servant [05650], upon which thou hast caused me to hope [03176].

²⁶ Put me in remembrance [02142]: let us plead [08199] together [03162]: declare [05608] thou, that thou mayest be justified [06663].

⁷ So thou, O son [01121] of man [0120], I have set [05414] thee a watchman [06822] unto the house [01004] of Israel [03478]; therefore thou shalt hear [08085] the word [01697] at my mouth [06310], and warn [02094] them from me.

¹⁷ Son [01121] of man [0120], I have made [05414] thee a watchman [06822] unto the house [01004] of Israel [03478]: therefore hear [08085] the word [01697] at my mouth [06310], and give them warning [02094] from me.

¹⁰ His watchmen [06822] are blind [05787]: they are all ignorant [03045], they are all dumb [0483] dogs [03611], they cannot [03201] bark [05024]; sleeping [01957], lying down [07901], loving [0157] to slumber [05123].

⁶ For thus hath the Lord [0136] said [0559] unto me, Go [03212], set [05975] a watchman [06822], let him declare [05046] what he seeth [07200].
⁷ And he saw [07200] a chariot [07393] with a couple [06776] of horsemen [06571], a chariot [07393] of asses [02543], and a chariot [07393] of camels [01581]; and he hearkened [07181] diligently [07182] with much [07227] heed [07182]:
⁸ And he cried [07121], A lion [0738]: My lord [0136], I stand [05975] continually [08548] upon the watchtower [04707] in the daytime [03119], and I am set [05324] in my ward [04931] whole nights [03915]:
⁹ And, behold, here cometh [0935] a chariot [07393] of men [0376], with a couple [06776] of horsemen [06571]. And he answered [06030] and said [0559], Babylon [0894] is fallen [05307], is fallen [05307]; and all the graven images [06456] of her gods [0430] he hath broken [07665] unto the ground [0776].
¹⁰ O my threshing [04098], and the corn [01121] of my floor [01637]: that which I have heard [08085] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], the God [0430] of Israel [03478], have I declared [05046] unto you.
¹¹ The burden [04853] of Dumah [01746]. He calleth [07121] to me out of Seir [08165], Watchman [08104], what of the night [03915]? Watchman [08104], what of the night [03915]?

⁷ How beautiful [04998] upon the mountains [02022] are the feet [07272] of him that bringeth good tidings [01319], that publisheth [08085] peace [07965]; that bringeth good tidings [01319] of good [02896], that publisheth [08085] salvation [03444]; that saith [0559] unto Zion [06726], Thy God [0430] reigneth [04427] !
⁸ Thy watchmen [06822] shall lift up [05375] the voice [06963]; with the voice [06963] together [03162] shall they sing [07442]: for they shall see [07200] eye [05869] to eye [05869], when the LORD [03068] shall bring again [07725] Zion [06726].

¹² But thou, O LORD [03068], shalt endure [03427] for ever [05769]; and thy remembrance [02143] unto all [01755] generations [01755].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329], A Psalm of David [01732], to bring to remembrance [02142]. Make haste, O God [0430], to deliver [05337] me; make haste [02363] to help [05833] me, O LORD [03068].

¹⁷ I will make thy name [08034] to be remembered [02142] in all [01755] generations [01755]: therefore shall the people [05971] praise [03034] thee for ever [05769] and ever [05703].

¹ A Psalm [04210] of David [01732], to bring to remembrance [02142]. O LORD [03068], rebuke [03198] me not in thy wrath [07110]: neither chasten [03256] me in thy hot displeasure [02534].

⁷ Some trust in chariots [07393], and some in horses [05483]: but we will remember [02142] the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] our God [0430].

¹ For Zion's [06726] sake will I not hold my peace [02814], and for Jerusalem's [03389] sake I will not rest [08252], until the righteousness [06664] thereof go forth [03318] as brightness [05051], and the salvation [03444] thereof as a lamp [03940] that burneth [01197].

⁸ Thy watchmen [06822] shall lift up [05375] the voice [06963]; with the voice [06963] together [03162] shall they sing [07442]: for they shall see [07200] eye [05869] to eye [05869], when the LORD [03068] shall bring again [07725] Zion [06726].

⁴ Be ye not as your fathers [01], unto whom the former [07223] prophets [05030] have cried [07121], saying [0559], Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]; Turn [07725] ye now from your evil [07451] ways [01870], and from your evil [07451] doings [04611]: but they did not hear [08085], nor hearken [07181] unto me, saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

⁵ And of Zion [06726] it shall be said [0559], This and that man [0376] was born [03205] in her: and the highest [05945] himself shall establish [03559] her.

¹⁴ In righteousness [06666] shalt thou be established [03559]: thou shalt be far [07368] from oppression [06233]; for thou shalt not fear [03372]: and from terror [04288]; for it shall not come near [07126] thee.

⁶ Do ye thus requite [01580] the LORD [03068], O foolish [05036] people [05971] and unwise [02450]? is not he thy father [01] that hath bought [07069] thee? hath he not made [06213] thee, and established [03559] thee?

¹⁸ For thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] that created [01254] the heavens [08064]; God [0430] himself that formed [03335] the earth [0776] and made [06213] it; he hath established [03559] it, he created [01254] it not in vain [08414], he formed [03335] it to be inhabited [03427]: I am the LORD [03068]; and there is none else.

²⁷ Wherefore they that speak in proverbs [04911] say [0559], Come [0935] into Heshbon [02809], let the city [05892] of Sihon [05511] be built [01129] and prepared [03559]:

¹⁶ Behold, I have graven [02710] thee upon the palms of my hands [03709]; thy walls [02346] are continually [08548] before me.

¹² Then the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] answered [06030] and said [0559], O LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], how long wilt thou not have mercy [07355] on Jerusalem [03389] and on the cities [05892] of Judah [03063], against which thou hast had indignation [02194] these threescore and ten [07657] years [08141]?

⁷ The watchmen [08104] that went about [05437] the city [05892] found [04672] me, they smote [05221] me, they wounded [06481] me; the keepers [08104] of the walls [02346] took away [05375] my veil [07289] from me.

²³ And when all the captains [08269] of the armies [02428], they and their men [0582], heard [08085] that the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] had made Gedaliah [01436] governor [06485], there came [0935] to Gedaliah [01436] to Mizpah [04709], even Ishmael [03458] the son [01121] of Nethaniah [05418], and Johanan [03110] the son [01121] of Careah [07143], and Seraiah [08304] the son [01121] of Tanhumeth [08576] the Netophathite [05200], and Jaazaniah [02970] the son [01121] of a Maachathite [04602], they and their men [0582].

¹² The LORD [03068] will cut off [03772] the man [0376] that doeth [06213] this, the master [05782] and the scholar [06030], out of the tabernacles [0168] of Jacob [03290], and him that offereth [05066] an offering [04503] unto the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

³³ And these are the singers [07891], chief [07218] of the fathers [01] of the Levites [03881], who remaining in the chambers [03957] were free [06362] [06359]: for they were employed in that work [04399] day [03119] and night [03915].

¹ And [1161] he spake [3004] [2532] a parable [3850] unto them [846] [4314] to this end, that men ought [1163] always [3842] to pray [4336], and [2532] not [3361] to faint [1573];