The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

. fear not, BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT but JUSSIVE in meaning4. for #4 “open the eyes,” BDB 824, KB 959, Niphal IMPERFECT5. for #5 “open the ears,” same VERB as #46. for #6 “leap like a deer,” BDB 194, KB 222, Piel IMPERFECT7. for #7 “tongue of dumb will shout for joy,” BDB 943, KB 1247, Qal IMPERFECTThis is the message that Jesus sent to John the Baptist while he was in prison (cf. Matt. 11:4-5;Luke 7:20-22). The new age is reflected in the ministry of Jesus!35:4 Notice what YHWH promises to do for His covenant people.1. He comes with vengeance, BDB 668, cf. 34:8; 59:17; 61:2; 63:4; Deut. 32:25; Jer. 50:282. His recompense also comes, BDB 168, cf. 59:18 (twice); 66:6, also note 65:63. He will save them, BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil JUSSIVE, cf. 25:9; 33:22; 38:20; 45:17; 49:25;59:1; 63:1,5,9; 64:535:6 “For waters will break forth in the wilderness” The blooming of nature goes back to vv. 1,2.The outward sign of God’s spiritual presence and blessing is nature’s wonderful display of beauty andgrowth (cf. v. 7).35:7 “In the haunt of jackals” The Peshitta and KJV translate this word (BDB 1072) “dragons.” Wehave found from the Dead Sea Scrolls that animals listed in the OT often refer to the idols of thesurrounding nations, therefore, this either refers to (1) a deserted place or (2) the residence of thedemonic (cf. 34:11-15).The literary reason for this poetic line is that the dry dens of the jackals are now filled with waterand can support swamp grass.}NASB “its resting place”NKJV “where each lay”NRSV “a swamp”REB “their lairs”The MT has %7"9, BDB 918, “its resting place.” The NRSV changes it to %7"-, (see NIDOTTE,vol. 1, p. 692-693). The DSS scroll of Isaiah has “he lies down.”} “Grass becomes reeds and rushes” The grass will grow as tall as reeds and rushes to show theluxurious growth of God’s blessing symbolized in nature.35:8 “the Highway of Holiness” This is a common theme in the book of Isaiah (cf. 26:7; 40:3-4;42:13). This same metaphor of a royal visit is used to describe the coming of the Messiah. John theBaptist claims he fulfilled the prophecy of Mal. 4:5 in preparing the way for the Lord. This is ametaphor for preparation of a physical road, but it has spiritual implications referring to repentance.35:9 “No lion will be there” The fact that vicious animals will be absent or changed into tamecompanions is a sign of a blessing of God (cf. Isa. 11:6-9). It is also a reversal of the threat of Lev.26:22.} “the ransomed” This term was first used in connection with the dedication of the firstborn child toGod (cf. Exod. 13:13,15). The primary idea here is of deliverance from bondage at a set price. Therelationship between “redeemed” (BDB 145 I, KB 169, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) in v. 9 and“ransomed” (BDB 804, KB 911, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) in v. 10 is repeated in 40:1-3. See SpecialTopic at 29:22.343