Isaiah 40

Isaiah 40:1

Be. Septuagint, “comfort my people.” Let them not be dejected. (Haydock) — The end of the captivity, and still more the coming of the Messias, afford consolation, (Calmet) and to this the prophet chiefly alludes. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:2

Evil. Hebrew and some Latin copies have, “warfare.” — Double. A rigorous chastisement, Apocalypse xviii. 6. (Calmet)

Isaiah 40:3

God, that he may conduct his people from Babylon. (Sanchez) — Yet the prophet speaks chiefly of John the Baptist, (Matthew iii. 3.; Calmet) who is evidently foretold. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:4

Plain. For the captives, or the conversion of the world, Baruch v. 6.

Isaiah 40:5

Glory. God will rescue his people. Christ will redeem mankind.

Isaiah 40:6

Field. On the downfall of the empire of Babylon, the Jews were liberated.

Isaiah 40:8

CHAPTER XL.

Isaiah 40:9

Thou, female. How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good tidings! (Romans x. 15.) (Haydock) — Thus a feminine noun is applied to Solomon, Ecclesiastes i. Prophets make known to all the coming of the Saviour. (Calmet) — Christ preaches from the mountain, and his apostles over the world. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:10

Him. Christ will reward and punish, Jeremias xxxi. 16., and Luke ii. 34.

Isaiah 40:11

Young, or have lately had young lambs, f'9ctas. Jesus is the good shepherd, John x. 14.

Isaiah 40:12

Who. He now proceeds to shew the difference between God and idols. — Fingers, is not expressed in Hebrew, which may denote the epha, Psalm lxxix. 6. (Calmet) — God’s power and goodness in the works of the creation, shew what he will do for man. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:15

Dust. Hebrew caddak, (Haydock) “as dok fallen.” (Symmachus) — It may signify an atom. (St. Jerome) — If all nations be only like a drop, what portion of it do I occupy? (Calmet; ver. 17.)

Isaiah 40:18

Image. Catholics never pretend to represent the Deity, when they depict the Father as a venerable old man, &c. The do not adore pictures, as our adversaries would insinuate. If we were disposed to cavil, we might bring the same charge against them. For a few weeks ago, “a beautiful altar-piece, painted and presented by the lady of major general Cheney, was put in Horn-sea church, representing Christ blessing the bread and wine.” But Protestants can confine such things to their proper use, and Catholic must adore them. (Haydock) — “Such things the Jew, Apella, may believe: not I.” (Horace)

Isaiah 40:19

Silver. Is God like these idols? (Haydock) — Who knows not that the workman is better than they are? (Wisdom xiii. 11.) (Calmet)

Isaiah 40:20

Wood. Hebrew hamsuccan, (Haydock) which Septuagint, Chaldean, and St. Jerome explain of a sort of wood used for idols. Moderns take it to be “a rich,” or rather “a poor man. He who is mean in his offering, chooses wood that,” &c. (Calmet) (Protestants)

Isaiah 40:21

Beginning, by the light of nature, and (Worthington) has not Moses declared that God alone created the world? (Haydock) — His power and goodness herein convince us that he will not deny grace. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:22

Locusts, compared with the greatest animals. — Nothing. Hebrew, “a curtain.” Septuagint, Syriac, “vault, (Calmet) or chamber,” Greek: kamaran.

Isaiah 40:23

Searchers. Hebrew, “princes to nothing.” (Protestants) — Philosophers know nothing independently of God, nor can they subsist without him. (Worthington)

Isaiah 40:26

Host of heaven, the stars, &c., Genesis ii. 1., and Psalm cxlvi. 4.

Isaiah 40:27

Judgment, or conduct, (Genesis xl. 13.; Calmet) as if God minded not our affairs.

Isaiah 40:31

Eagles, who grow young, when they get new feathers, Psalm cii. 5. (St. Jerome) — In this and the following 26 chapters the prophet chiefly comforts his people, as he had rebuked them for their crimes in the first part. (Worthington)