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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Isaiah 27:1–6. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The prophet is here singing of judgment and mercy,
I.Of judgment upon the enemies of God's church (Isa 27:1), tribulation to those that trouble it, Th2 1:6.
When the Lord comes out of his place, to punish the inhabitants of the earth (Isa 26:21), he will be sure to punish leviathan, the dragon that is in the sea, every proud oppressing tyrant, that is the terror of the mighty, and, like the leviathan, is so fierce that none dares stir him up, and his heart as hard as a stone, and when he raises up himself the mighty are afraid, Job 41:10, Job 41:24, Job 41:25. The church has many enemies, but commonly some one that is more formidable than the rest. So Sennacherib was in his day, and Nebuchadnezzar in his, and Antiochus in his; so Pharaoh had been formerly, and is called leviathan and the dragon, Isa 51:9; Psa 74:13, Psa 74:14; Eze 29:3. The New Testament church has had its leviathans; we read of a great red dragon ready to devour it, Rev 12:3. Those malignant persecuting powers are here compared to the leviathan for bulk, and strength, and the mighty bustle they make in the world, - to dragons for their rage and fury, - to serpents, piercing serpents, penetrating in their counsels, quick in their motions, and which, if they once get in their head, will soon wind in their whole body, - crossing like a bar (so the margin), standing in the way of all their neighbours and obstructing them, - to crooked serpents, subtle and insinuating, but perverse and mischievous. Great and mighty princes, if they oppose the people of God, are in God's account as dragons and serpents, the plagues of mankind; and the Lord will punish them in due time. They are too big for men to deal with and call to an account, and therefore the great God will take the matter into his own hands. He has a sore, and great, and strong sword, wherewith to do execution upon them when the measure of their iniquity is full and their day has come to fall. It is emphatically expressed in the original: The Lord with his sword, that cruel one, and that great one, and that strong one, shall punish this unwieldy, this unruly criminal; and it shall be capital punishment: He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea; for the wages of his sin is death. This shall not only be a prevention of his doing further mischief, as the slaying of a wild beast, but a just punishment for the mischief he has done, as the putting of a traitor or rebel to death. God has a strong sword for the doing of this, variety of judgments sufficient to humble the proudest and break the most powerful of his enemies; and he will do it when the day of execution comes: In that day he will punish, his day which is coming, Psa 37:13. This is applicable to the spiritual victories obtained by our Lord Jesus over the powers of darkness. He not only disarmed, spoiled, and cast out, the prince of this world, but with his strong sword, the virtue of his death and the preaching of his gospel, he does and will destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, that great leviathan, that old serpent, the dragon. He shall be bound, that he may not deceive the nations, and that is a punishment to him (Rev 20:2, Rev 20:3); and at length, for deceiving the nations, he shall be cast into the lake of fire, Rev 20:10.
II.Of mercy to the church.
In that same day, when God is punishing the leviathan, let the church and all her friends be easy and cheerful; let those that attend her sing to her for her comfort, sing her asleep with these assurances; let it be sung in her assemblies,
1.That she is God's vineyard, and is under his particular care, Isa 27:2, Isa 27:3. She is, in God's eye, a vineyard of red wine. The world is as a fruitless worthless wilderness; but the church is enclosed as a vineyard, a peculiar place, and of value, that has great care taken of it and great pains taken with it, and from which precious fruits are gathered, wherewith they honour God and man. It is a vineyard of red wine, yielding the best and choicest grapes, intimating the reformation of the church, that it now brings forth good fruit unto God, whereas before it brought forth fruit to itself, or brought forth wild grapes, Isa 5:4. Now God takes care,
(1.)Of the safety of this vineyard: I the Lord do keep it. He speaks this as glorying in it that he is, and has undertaken to be, the keeper of Israel. Those that bring forth fruit to God are and shall be always under his protection. He speaks this as assuring us that they shall be so: I the Lord, that can do every thing, but cannot lie nor deceive, I do keep it; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. God's vineyard in this world lies much exposed to injury; there are many that would hurt it, would tread it down and lay it waste (Psa 80:13); but God will suffer no real hurt or damage to be done it, but what he will bring good out of. He will keep it constantly, night and day, and not without need, for the enemies are restless in their designs and attempts against it, and, both night and day, seek an opportunity to do it a mischief. God will keep it in the night of affliction and persecution, and in the day of peace and prosperity, the temptations of which are no less dangerous. God's people shall be preserved, not only from the pestilence that walketh in darkness, but from the destruction that wasteth at noon-day, Psa 91:6. This vineyard shall be well fenced.
(2.)Of the fruitfulness of this vineyard: I will water it every moment, and yet it shall not be overwatered. The still and silent dews of God's grace and blessing shall continually descend upon it, that it may bring forth much fruit. We need the constant and continual waterings of the divine grace; for, if that be at any time withdrawn, we wither, and come to nothing. God waters his vineyard by the ministry of the word by his servants the prophets, whose doctrine shall drop as the dew. Paul plants, and Apollos waters, but God gives the increase; for without him the watchman wakes and the husbandman waters in vain.
2.That, though sometimes he contends with his people, yet, upon their submission, he will be reconciled to them, Isa 27:4, Isa 27:5. Fury is not in him towards his vineyard; though he meets with many things in it that are offensive to him, yet he does not seek advantages against it, nor is extreme to mark what is amiss in it. It is true if he find in it briers and thorns instead of vines, and they be set in battle against him (as indeed that in the vineyard which is not for him is against him), he will tread them down and burn them; but otherwise, "If I am angry with my people, they know what course to take; let them humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and so take hold of my strength with a sincere desire to make their peace with me, and I will soon be reconciled to them, and all shall be well." God sees the sins of his people and is displeased with them; but, upon their repentance, he turns away his wrath. This may very well be construed as a summary of the doctrine of the gospel, with which the church is to be watered every moment.
(1.)Here is a quarrel supposed between God and man; for here is a battle fought, and peace to be made. It is an old quarrel, ever since sin first entered. It is, on God's part, a righteous quarrel, but, on man's part, most unrighteous.
(2.)Here is a gracious invitation given us to make up this quarrel, and to get these matters in variance accommodated: "Let him that is desirous to be at peace with God take hold of his strength, of his strong arm, which is lifted up against the sinner to strike him dead; and let him by supplication keep back the stroke. Let him wrestle with me, as Jacob did, resolving not to let me go without a blessing; and he shall be Israel - a prince with God." Pardoning mercy is called the power of our Lord; let him take hold of that. Christ is the arm of the Lord, Isa 53:1. Christ crucified is the power of God (Co1 1:24); let him by a lively faith take hold of him, as a man that is sinking catches hold of a bough, or cord, or plank, that is within his reach, or as the malefactor took hold of the horns of the altar, believing that there is no other name by which he can be saved, by which he can be reconciled.
(3.)Here is a threefold cord of arguments to persuade us to do this.
[1.]Time and space are given us to do it in; for fury is not in God; he does not carry it towards us as great men carry it towards their inferiors, when the one is in a fault and the other in a fury. Men in a fury will not take time for consideration; it is, with them, but a word and a blow. Furious men are soon angry, and implacable when they are angry; a little thing provokes them, and no little thing will pacify them. But it is not so with God; he considers our frame, is slow to anger, does not stir up all his wrath, nor always chide.
[2.]It is in vain to think of contesting with him. If we persist in our quarrel with him, and think to make our part good, it is but like setting briers and thorns before a consuming fire, which will be so far from giving check to the progress of it that they will but make it burn the more outrageously. We are not an equal match for Omnipotence. Woe unto him therefore that strives with his Maker! He knows not the power of his anger.
[3.]This is the only way, and it is a sure way, to reconciliation: "Let him take this course to make peace with me, and he shall make peace; and thereby good, all good, shall come unto him." God is willing to be reconciled to us if we be but willing to be reconciled to him.
3.That the church of God in the world shall be a growing body, and come at length to be a great body (Isa 27:6): In times to come (so some read it), in after-times, when these calamities are overpast, or in the days of the gospel, the latter days, he shall cause Jacob to take root, deeper root than ever yet; for the gospel church shall be more firmly fixed than ever the Jewish church was, and shall spread further. Or, He shall cause those of Jacob that come back out of their captivity, or (as we read it) those that come of Jacob, to take root downward, and bear fruit upward, Isa 37:31. They shall be established in a prosperous state, and then they shall blossom and bud, and give hopeful prospects of a great increase; and so it shall prove, for they shall fill the face of the world with fruit. Many shall be brought into the church, proselytes shall be numerous, some out of all the nations about that shall be to the God of Israel for a name and a praise; and the converts shall be fruitful in the fruits of righteousness. The preaching of the gospel brought forth fruit in all the world (Col 1:6), fruit that remains, Joh 15:16.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
(Verse 6) Those who come out from the root of Jacob will flourish and grow Israel: and they will fill the face of the world with their offspring. LXX: The sons of Jacob who come: Israel will flourish and bloom, and its fruits will fill the earth. After the Apostles, preaching the Gospel in the whole world, have said: We will make peace for Christ, peace will be made for you, those who come from the seed of Jacob and have reached the Apostolic dignity will be called sons of Jacob. Then Israel will sprout and flourish, seeing that the teachings of its children have filled the entire world, and have brought forth abundant fruits that it had not brought while remaining in Judaea.
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Summary
Isaiah 27:6 presents a profound prophetic vision of Israel's future restoration and global influence. Following a period of divine judgment and purification, the verse promises that God Himself will firmly establish His people, causing them to flourish with vibrant life and abundant spiritual fruit. This flourishing will not be confined to Israel but will extend universally, signifying their ultimate purpose to bless and impact the entire world with the knowledge and goodness of God, ultimately culminating in the pervasive spread of God's redemptive truth.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is situated within a section of Isaiah (chapters 24-27) often designated "Isaiah's Apocalypse," which broadly outlines God's universal judgment upon the earth and His subsequent, glorious restoration of His covenant people. Chapter 27, in particular, describes the defeat of God's cosmic and earthly enemies, the purification of Israel, and the ingathering of the scattered remnant. Isaiah 27:6 serves as a climactic promise, looking beyond the immediate historical realities of exile and hardship to a future era when God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham will result in unprecedented prosperity, stability, and expansive influence for His people. It is a vision of hope and divine vindication following severe chastisement, signaling the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan.
Historical & Cultural Context
The prophecy of Isaiah was delivered during a tumultuous period for Israel, marked by the rise of powerful empires (Assyria, Babylon) that threatened and eventually led to the exile of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. The agricultural imagery of rooting, blossoming, budding, and bearing fruit would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society, symbolizing stability, vitality, and prosperity—qualities often lost during periods of war, famine, and displacement. The promise of "taking root" would counter the experience of being uprooted and scattered, while "filling the face of the world with fruit" would echo and expand upon the ancient promises made to the patriarchs that their descendants would be a blessing to all the families of the earth. The vision transcends immediate historical circumstances, pointing to God's long-term plan for Israel's ultimate role among the nations as a conduit of divine truth and blessing.
Key Themes
The verse powerfully articulates several core theological themes. Firstly, Divine Initiative and Sovereignty is paramount, emphasized by the opening phrase, "He shall cause them." This transformation is entirely God's work, a sovereign act of restoration and empowerment, underscoring that Israel's flourishing is not by human might but by divine decree. Secondly, Restoration and Security are depicted through the metaphor of "taking root," signifying deep establishment, stability, and an unshakeable foundation after periods of instability and displacement. This speaks to God's commitment to re-plant His people securely. Thirdly, Flourishing and Abundance are conveyed by the imagery of "blossom and bud," leading to the extensive production of "fruit." This speaks to vibrant spiritual and numerical growth, a rich outpouring of God's blessings upon His people. Finally, Global Impact and Blessing to the Nations is the ultimate outcome, as Israel is prophesied to "fill the face of the world with fruit." This theme aligns with other prophetic passages envisioning Israel as a light to the Gentiles and the spread of God's truth and righteousness to the ends of the earth, fulfilling God's original purpose for His chosen people to mediate His blessings universally.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root signifies to "root" or "strike into the soil," and by implication, to be firmly established or deeply grounded. In the context of Isaiah 27:6, it conveys a powerful image of stability and security, contrasting with the previous chapters that describe Israel's uprooting and scattering due to judgment. It implies a divinely initiated process of re-establishment, ensuring a secure and permanent dwelling for God's people, suggesting an enduring and unshakeable foundation.
This primitive root means "to fill" or "be full of" in a wide range of applications, both literally and figuratively. It can denote completion, abundance, or saturation. Here, in the context of Israel filling "the face of the world with fruit," it speaks to an overflowing, pervasive, and comprehensive abundance that extends globally, suggesting not just a mere presence but a transformative influence that saturates the entire inhabited earth with its produce.
Derived from a root meaning "to produce," this noun refers to "produce," "fruit," or "increase." In an agricultural context, it is the natural yield of a plant. Figuratively, as used in this verse, it represents the spiritual blessings, righteousness, truth, and knowledge of God that emanate from a restored and flourishing Israel. It signifies the tangible outcome of God's work in His people, which is then shared universally as a testament to His goodness and power.
Verse Breakdown
"He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root:"
This opening clause immediately highlights God's sovereign agency ("He shall cause"). The phrase "them that come of Jacob" refers to the descendants of Jacob, Israel, emphasizing their lineage and covenant identity, signifying the continuity of God's promises to His chosen people. "To take root" signifies a divinely orchestrated process of re-establishment, stability, and security for a people who had experienced displacement and dispersion. It is a promise of being firmly planted and grounded by God's hand, ensuring their enduring presence and purpose.
"Israel shall blossom and bud,"
This clause continues the agricultural metaphor, describing the vibrant, initial stages of growth and vitality. "Blossom and bud" indicate a renewal of life, productivity, and beauty after a period of barrenness or judgment. It speaks to an internal spiritual and numerical flourishing within the nation of Israel, a sign of God's life-giving presence among them, indicating a period of renewed vigor and internal prosperity.
"and fill the face of the world with fruit."
This culminating phrase expands the vision from internal flourishing to global impact. The "fruit" represents the blessings, truth, and righteousness that God's restored people will produce, which includes the knowledge of God and His redemptive plan. To "fill the face of the world" (Hebrew: pânîym H6440, têbêl H8398, referring to the inhabited earth) signifies a pervasive, comprehensive, and universal spread of this divine produce. It points to Israel's ultimate role as a channel of God's blessing and knowledge to all nations, fulfilling the ancient Abrahamic covenant.
Literary Devices
Isaiah 27:6 is rich with agricultural imagery, centrally employing an extended metaphor where Israel is likened to a deeply rooted, blossoming, and fruit-bearing plant. This metaphor powerfully conveys themes of stability, vitality, growth, and productivity, illustrating God's nurturing care. The progression from "take root" to "blossom and bud" and finally to "fill... with fruit" illustrates a natural, organic development from secure establishment to abundant output, creating a sense of dynamic growth. The phrase "fill the face of the world" uses a form of personification for the world, giving it a "face" that can be filled, emphasizing the comprehensive and pervasive nature of Israel's influence across the globe. The use of "Jacob" and "Israel" in parallelism reinforces the singular identity of God's covenant people, while the overall structure of the verse builds from divine action ("He shall cause") to internal transformation and then to external, global impact, creating a sense of escalating promise and climax.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This prophetic utterance in Isaiah 27:6 stands as a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, even in the face of Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment. It underscores the divine intention for Israel to be not merely a recipient of blessing but a conduit of blessing to the entire world. The imagery of rooting, blossoming, and bearing fruit speaks to a spiritual vitality that originates from God's restorative power, leading to a pervasive global impact. This vision extends beyond a purely ethnic or nationalistic interpretation, pointing to God's grand redemptive plan for all humanity through His chosen people, ultimately fulfilled in the spiritual Israel, the Church, which spreads the "fruit" of the Gospel to every corner of the earth.
Reflection and Application
Isaiah 27:6 offers profound encouragement and direction for believers today. It reminds us that our spiritual vitality and fruitfulness are not self-generated but are the direct result of God's gracious work within us. Just as Israel was promised to be deeply rooted and abundantly fruitful, so too are we, as spiritual Israel, called to be firmly established in Christ, drawing our life and sustenance from Him. This rooting in faith enables us to "blossom and bud" in our personal lives, producing the beautiful fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Moreover, our individual fruitfulness is never meant to be insular; it is designed by God to contribute to the global expansion of His kingdom. We are called to participate in "filling the face of the world with fruit" by sharing the transforming truth of the Gospel, demonstrating God's character, and living out His righteousness in a way that impacts our communities and extends to the nations, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who is "Jacob" and "Israel" referring to in this prophecy?
In Isaiah 27:6, "Jacob" and "Israel" primarily refer to the literal descendants of the patriarch Jacob, who was renamed Israel. This prophecy specifically concerns the nation of Israel, God's chosen covenant people, and their future restoration. However, in a broader theological sense, especially from a New Testament perspective, "Israel" can also refer to the spiritual people of God, which includes all who believe in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, who are grafted into the promises made to Abraham (see Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29). The prophecy anticipates a future flourishing that encompasses both the physical restoration of the Jewish people and the spiritual expansion of God's kingdom through the Church.
What does it mean for Israel to "fill the face of the world with fruit"?
This powerful imagery signifies a comprehensive and pervasive global influence. "Fruit" here represents the spiritual blessings, truth, righteousness, and the knowledge of God that emanate from a restored and vibrant Israel. It implies that the blessings and revelation entrusted to Israel would not be confined to their borders but would spread universally, impacting and transforming all nations. Historically, this began with the spread of monotheism and the Law, but its ultimate fulfillment is seen in the global dissemination of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which originated from Israel and now "fills the face of the world" through the Church, the spiritual inheritors of Israel's mission (see Acts 1:8).
How does this prophecy relate to the Church today?
The Church, composed of believers from every nation, is often understood as the spiritual fulfillment and continuation of God's purposes for Israel, particularly in its mission to be a light to the nations. Just as God promised to cause Israel to "take root" and "blossom and bud," He establishes and empowers the Church to grow in spiritual vitality. The command to "fill the face of the world with fruit" finds its contemporary expression in the Church's mandate to make disciples of all nations, bearing the fruit of the Spirit and sharing the life-transforming message of the Gospel. Thus, this prophecy serves as an enduring reminder of God's desire for His people—both ancient Israel and the modern Church—to be deeply rooted in Him, abundantly fruitful, and globally impactful for His glory.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Isaiah 27:6, with its vibrant imagery of rooting, blossoming, and global fruitfulness, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the new covenant He inaugurated. Jesus is the true vine (as declared in John 15:1), and His followers, the branches, are enabled to "take root" deeply in Him, drawing life and nourishment directly from His divine presence. Through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, Christ established the spiritual Israel—the Church—as a new entity, deeply rooted not in a physical land but in the person of God's Son. It is through abiding in Him that believers "blossom and bud," producing the spiritual fruit of righteousness, love, and transformed lives (as described in John 15:5). The prophecy that Israel would "fill the face of the world with fruit" is gloriously realized through the global mission of the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to spread the Gospel to every nation. The "fruit" now is the knowledge of God in Christ, the salvation He offers, and the transformative power of His kingdom, which is indeed expanding to "fill the face of the world" as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20. Thus, Isaiah 27:6 is a beautiful foretelling of the Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, and globally impactful work of redemption that continues through His body, the Church, until His glorious return.