English · KJV

Theodoret of Cyrus

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 1,374 passages across 50 books

Commentary

761–780 of 1,374
Isaiah 51:20

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.

By the slumber, he has indicated their indolence, and by the cooked vegetables their laxness. But what he adds is even harsher than what he has said before: “They that are full of the anger of the Lord are caused to faint by the Lord God.” By their iniquity they draw my anger, and by reason of my anger, they are deprived of my kind attention and despoiled of every kind of strength.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:51.20

Isaiah 51:23

But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

He has indicated both the arrogance of the enemies and the distress of the city. He says, If you had requested my alliance, you would have prevailed over those who waged war on you; but since you did not want to do this, you have been abased even to the level of the ground.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:51.23

Isaiah 52:1

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

He calls the lower city “Jerusalem,” and the city on high “Zion,” but both together are one city. This is why he promises restoration to both; and, since foreign nations crossed through it without fear when its inhabitants had been taken captive, he is promising deliverance from these foreigners.… It is due to their sins that they have been sold, but it is by the benevolence of God that they have obtained deliverance.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:52.1-3

Isaiah 52:4

For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

His question is a matter of style meant to show the strangeness of the happening: did you not go to Egypt? he says. Why then have you come back from there? “Thus says the Lord, because my people was taken for nothing, you wonder and howl.” You are struck with amazement, he says, in deploring the captivity, because, despite the title of “my people” that you carry, you have suffered these misfortunes. Well, do not wonder, but consider how “on account of you my name is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles.” The fact that you are justifiably undergoing these misfortunes is not so insupportable as the fact that I am blasphemed because of you and that the Gentiles think my weakness is the cause of the bad fortune that you have endured.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:52.5

Isaiah 52:10

The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

The God of the universe will show his power, he says, to all the nations—for he gives to his power the name “arm”—and all people will know the Provider of salvation.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:52.10

Isaiah 52:11

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

When the Romans were on the point of making a campaign against Jerusalem, all those who had accepted the message exiled themselves in other cities, for they had learned of the misfortunes that would strike Jerusalem. Thus, it is the Lord in person who commanded them to do this: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near,” and again: “Then, let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let him who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.” Therefore, because they knew these events in advance, they went out and escaped the misfortunes of the siege of the city, while the Savior in person guided them, directed their steps toward the Gentiles and assembled the church derived from the Gentiles. Since we also have learned of these events, let us, therefore, flee disbelief; let us persevere in the faith; let us guard the commandments of God and let us proceed on the right path, with the Lord Jesus to guide our way.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 16:52.12

Isaiah 52:15

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

For not all believed, but those who did believe admired to the highest point the mystery of piety. “And kings shall keep their mouths shut.” At the manifest demonstration of God’s power, those who formerly persecuted him and had dared to blaspheme will restrain their tongues from slander. Then he adds in a clearer vein: “For they to whom no report was brought concerning him shall see; and they who have not heard shall consider.” For those who did not receive the prophetic predictions, but who served idols, will see, thanks to the heralds of truth, the might of him who was proclaimed to them, and they will know his power. After the predictions concerning the Gentiles, he also prophesies the incredulity of the Jews.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:52.15

Isaiah 53:4

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

And next he teaches the forms of dishonor and shame, “A man being in sorrow.” He points out the nature that received the suffering, for his body was nailed to the cross, but his divinity made the passion its own. “And he was familiar with sickness.” This was said about his humanity. For to be courageous and philosophical touches not divine but human nature. “For his face was turned away. It was not valued or appreciated.” The three translators render it this way, “And like a hiding of the face from him, he was made nothing and not appreciated.” That is, he hid the divine energy and chose suffering and did not seek vengeance on others. For as he was on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This teaches us the reasons for the passion: “He bore our sicknesses and suffered for us.” Symmachus translated, “Indeed, he personally has taken on our sicknesses and endured our pains.” We deserved death for those sins we had committed, and having received this penalty, he received death on our behalf.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:53.3-4

Isaiah 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The offenses of all were not equal, and there was not only one way of being impious; for the idols of the Egyptians and those of the Phoenicians were not the same, those of the Greeks were different, and those of the Scythians were something else. Nevertheless, although the forms of error were different, we had all in a common manner abandoned the true God, and by this we resembled sheep who have gone astray and are exposed to the wolves.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:53.6

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

It was fitting for him to heal like by like and to recall the other wandering sheep by becoming a sheep himself. He became a sheep, without being changed into one, or without being altered or without quitting his own essence.… For, according to Isaiah, he was sheared as well as slaughtered. For he endured death in his humanity. But as God he remained alive and impassible and gave the fleece of his body to the shearers.

ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE 10:29-30

Isaiah 53:10

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Having thus proclaimed in advance the iniquity of the people, he addresses to them an exhortation to repent—for he saw in advance those among them who, after these events, would have the faith. Of this number was the divine Paul; of this number were the three thousand men and the many thousands—and he says, “If you can give an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived offspring.” If you acknowledge your impiety, and if you request salvation, you will obtain life eternal; for this is what he has called “long-lived.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:53.10

Isaiah 54:1

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

And through these prophecies, the God of the universe declares that in his overflowing love for human beings he is not only “Lord” and “Father” but that he also calls himself “husband” and “groom.” This prophecy teaches that the woman who was deserted produced more children than the one who had a husband.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:54.1

Isaiah 54:3

For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

He accordingly bids the barren one to fill the world with houses of prayer and to make them left and right, that is to say, in the south and the north. One is not, however, mistaken if one gives the name of “stakes” to the holy prophets, to the apostles and to the martyrs, hidden in the earth, as the tent stakes are; these are the ones who maintain the tabernacle of the church, holding it upright with their doctrines as if with ropes. They are also called “foundations.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:54.2

Isaiah 54:9

For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

He says, “Remember the covenants made with Noah and recognize their truth. I have promised never again to destroy the earth in such a way. Having the first covenant as a pledge, believe that you will always enjoy my love, and I will firmly guard your peace, and I will never dissolve this marriage.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:54.9-10

Isaiah 54:13

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Symmachus translated, “The Lord who takes pity on you says, lowly one, who has not been comforted, I have mercy for you. For I have seen you wandering aimlessly, as if surrounded by the spirits of deceit that have restless thoughts.” … He calls godly public behavior a “city.” The marks of the saints are various. But all are equally pleasing in God’s sight. For that reason he calls them all precious stones, even if they have various characters. By coal is symbolized God’s burning love. Sapphire represents the person who hides his virtue, for the hue of sapphire is a deep one. By “jasper” … is designated, I think, the luster of miracle working.… Then Isaiah leaves the figurative way of speaking to put things more clearly: “All your sons shall be taught of the Lord.” He has called figuratively “stones,” the appearance of virtue. The peace of God is here promised. Paul refers to this construction when he says, “Like a skilled architect I laid the foundation.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:54.11-14

Isaiah 54:16

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

This the Lord has taught in turn in the holy Gospels: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world.” He gives it to those who provide proof of the righteousness that he has established by his laws: “For I was hungry,” he says, “and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink” and the rest.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:54.17

Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Behold what [Isaiah] has shown here, before indicating the road of righteousness. For it is thanks to all-holy baptism that “we are justified freely,” according to the divine apostle: “by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” It is this the prophetic text likewise allows [us] to understand: “And all that have no money, go and buy, and eat and drink wine and fat without money or price.” The divine Scripture often calls righteousness “money.” “The oracles of the Lord are pure oracles; as silver tried in the fire, proved in a furnace of earth.” As for those who live with iniquity, “call them rejected silver, for the Lord has rejected them.” …Here he rejected the sacrifices of the law.… The prophetic text teaches that these sacrifices gave no nourishment to the soul.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:55.1-2

Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

I will fulfill these covenants that had been made to David for them, clothing the human nature from the line of David according to the promise and bringing forth the New Testament.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:55.2-3

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

He says, “When you who seek have found, when you have called and have found pardon, flee the former road of ungodliness and immorality and show God your face, not your back. For he will grant you mercy and give you forgiveness of sins.”

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:55.7

Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We stand far apart from each other, as far as the heaven is from the earth. For you hate me, while I love you. You avoid me, while I call you. You fight me, while I work for your benefit.

COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 17:55.8-9

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