Isaiah 32

Isaiah 32:1-20

1-8. Characteristics of the future age. 9-14. A warning of coming desolation to the over-confident people. 15-20. Afterwards shall be a peaceful and prosperous future.

1. The ideal future.
2. Men will defend and protect their inferiors instead of oppressing them.
3. Cp. Isaiah 29:18. 5f. Moral confusion shall cease; men shall be taken at their true value, their character being clearly seen in their actions.
4. Hypocrisy] RV ‘profaneness.’
5. By.. stand] RV ‘in liberal things shall he continue.’ 9-14. Cp. Isaiah 3:16-26.
6. Many.. years] RM ‘Days above a year,’ i.e. in little more than a year.
7. Lament.. teats] RV ‘smite upon the breasts,’ a gesture of despairing lamentation over the desolated vineyards.
8. Multitude.. city] RV ‘populous city.’
9. A limit is set to the desolation. A bright future is in store, when the outward transformation of the country will correspond with the moral reformation (Isaiah 32:16). This change alike in man and in nature is attributed,’ to an outpouring of the divine and life-giving spirit.
10. When] RV ‘but’: a judgment is to precede the time of peace just described. Coming, etc.] RV ‘in the downfall of the forest,’ i.e. of the Assyrian. The city] Jerusalem too must be humbled.
11. Refers to the bright future again, when the land shortly to be desolate (Isaiah 32:13-14) shall be fully cultivated. Beside all waters] for the land will be everywhere irrigated (Isaiah 30:25).