ISAIAS - Chapter 52

Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition.

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ISAIAS - Chapter 52

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Isaias lii.

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 1. Thee. Judea was no more laid waste by its ancient enemies. The persecution of Epiphanes did not continue long. Many have attacked the Church; but they cannot overcome her, nor will she cease to preach the truth, and to continue pure and holy.

Ver. 3. Money. The Chaldeans acted impolitically in leaving the country without inhabitants, and Cyrus will derive no immediate advantage from your return. (Calmet) --- The Jews had not injured the Chaldeans, nor mankind the devil. But both had offended God, who out of mercy paid their ransom. (Worthington)

Ver. 4. Assyrian. Pharao, (Sa; Tirinus) or rather Nabuchodonosor, (Calmet) and the princes of Assyria, who acted tyrannically. (Haydock)

Ver. 5. Long, by the Chaldeans, weak Jews, and strangers, who misconstrue my conduct towards my people, and represent it as the effect of injustice, or of weakness.

Ver. 6. Here. Jesus Christ appears, the Redeemer foretold so long before.

Ver. 7. Peace. He comes like a conqueror to save his people. It may also be applied to the prophets and apostles, (Calmet) as St. Paul explains it, Romans x. 15. (Menochius)

Ver. 8. Watchmen, prophets. The angels sung at the birth of Christ, Luke ii. 14.

Ver. 10. Arm. The Saviour, Luke i. 51.

Ver. 11. Lord, the Levites departing from Babylon, 1 Esdras i. 7., and Numbers iii. 6., and iv. 5., &c. (Calmet) --- St. Paul proves hence that communication with infidels in spiritual things is always unlawful, 2 Corinthians vi. 17. (Worthington)

Ver. 13. Servant, Christ. In vain do the Jews attempt to apply this to any other. It is wonderful that Grotius should follow their steps, and understand Jeremias to be meant; though elsewhere he allows that the prophet speaks only of the Messias. (De Verit. v. 19.) --- This author [Grotius] has been of great prejudice to religion. The Chaldean and many modern Jews have been compelled by evidence to apply this to the Messias. See Geir., &c. Jesus was pleased to assume the form of a servant, Philippians ii. 7.

Ver. 14. Of men, who have disfigured the countenance of our Saviour with buffets, &c. The Jews would not receive him under this abject form, though it had been foretold equally with his elevation. (Calmet)

Ver. 15. Sprinkle with baptism, (Haydock) and his manifold graces. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "so many nations shall wonder at him." (Haydock) --- Mouth, out of reverence. How many great princes have submitted to his yoke? (Calmet) --- Beheld. The Gentiles (Menochius) embrace the faith, at the sight of Christ's miracles. (Calmet)

Bible Text & Cross-references:

Under the figure of the deliverance from the Babylonian captivity, the Church is invited to rejoice for her redemption from sin. Christ's kingdom shall be exalted.

1 Arise, arise, put on thy strength, O Sion, put on the garments of thy glory, O Jerusalem, the city of the holy One: for henceforth the uncircumcised, and the unclean, shall no more pass through thee.

2 Shake thyself from the dust, arise, sit up, O Jerusalem: loose the bonds from off thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion.

3 For thus saith the Lord: You were sold gratis, and you shall be redeemed without money.

4 For thus saith the Lord God: *My people went down into Egypt at the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without any cause at all.

5 And now, what have I here, saith the Lord: for my people is taken away gratis? They that rule over them, treat them unjustly, saith the Lord, *and my name is continually blasphemed all the day long.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name in that day: for I myself that spoke, behold, I am here.

7 *How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall reign.

8 The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall convert Sion

9 Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the Gentiles: *and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

11 Depart, depart, go ye out from thence, *touch no unclean thing: go out of the midst of her, be ye clean, you that carry the vessels of the Lord.

12 For you shall not go out in a tumult, neither shall you make haste by flight: for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will gather you together.

13 Behold, my servant shall understand, he shall be exalted, and extolled, and shall be exceedingly high.

14 As many have been astonished at thee, so shall his visage be inglorious among men, and his form among the sons of men.

15 He shall sprinkle many nations, kings shall shut their mouth at him: *for they to whom it was not told of him, have seen: and they that heard not, have beheld.

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4: Genesis xlvi. 6.

5: Ezechiel xxxvi. 20.; Romans ii. 24.

7: Nahum i. 15.; Romans x. 15.

10: Psalm xcvii. 3.

11: 2 Corinthians vi. 17.

15: Romans xv. 21.