Isa 32:1-8 | JFB | STEP | The times of purity and happiness which shall follow the defeat of the enemies of Jehovah's people ( ). The period of wrath before that happy state ( ). The assurance of the final prosperity of the Church is repeated ( ). 1. king-- not Hezekiah, who was already on the throne, whereas a future time is contemplated. If he be meant at all, it can only be as a type of Messiah the King, to whom alone the language is fully applicable ( ; ; see on ). The kingdom shall be transferred from the world kings, who have exercised their power against God, instead of for God, to the rightful King of kings ( ; , ). princes-- subordinate; referring to all in authority under Christ in the coming kingdom on earth, for example, the apostles, &c. ( ; ; ; , 27; 3:21).

‏ Isaiah 32:1-8

CHAPTER 32 Is 32:1-20. Messiah's Kingdom; Desolations, to Be Succeeded by Lasting Peace, the Spirit Having Been Poured Out.

The times of purity and happiness which shall follow the defeat of the enemies of Jehovah's people (Is 32:1-8). The period of wrath before that happy state (Is 32:9-14). The assurance of the final prosperity of the Church is repeated (Is 32:15-20).

1. king--not Hezekiah, who was already on the throne, whereas a future time is contemplated. If he be meant at all, it can only be as a type of Messiah the King, to whom alone the language is fully applicable (Ho 3:5; Zec 9:9; see on Is 11:3-5). The kingdom shall be transferred from the world kings, who have exercised their power against God, instead of for God, to the rightful King of kings (Eze 21:27; Da 7:13, 14).

princes--subordinate; referring to all in authority under Christ in the coming kingdom on earth, for example, the apostles, &c. (Lu 22:30; 1Co 6:2; 2Ti 2:12; Re 2:26, 27; 3:21).

2. a man--rather, the man Christ [Lowth]; it is as "the Son of man" He is to reign, as it was as Son of man He suffered (Mt 26:64; Joh 5:27; 19:5). Not as Maurer explains, "every one of the princes shall be," &c.

rivers--as refreshing as water and the cool shade are to the heated traveller (Is 35:6, 7; 41:18).

3. them that see--the seers or prophets.

them that hear--the people under instruction (Is 35:5, 6).

4. rash--rather, "the hasty"; contrast "shall not make haste" (Is 28:16); the reckless who will not take time to weigh religious truth aright. Or else, the well-instructed [Horsley].

stammers--those who speak confusedly on divine things (compare Ex 4:10-12; Jr 1:6; Mt 10:19, 20). Or, rather, those drunken scorners who in stammering style imitated Isaiah's warnings to mock them [Maurer] (Is 28:7-11, 13, 14, 22; 29:20); in this view, translate, "speak uprightly" (agreeably to the divine law); not as English Version, referring to the distinctness of articulation, "plainly."

5. vile--rather, "fool" [Lowth]; that is, ungodly (Psa 14:1; 74:18).

liberal--rather, "noble-minded."

churl--rather, "fraudulent" [Gesenius].

bountiful--religiously. The atheistic churl, who envies the believer his hope "full of immortality," shall no longer be held as a patriot struggling for the emancipation of mankind from superstition [Horsley].

6. vile ... villainy--rather, "the (irreligious) fool ... (his) folly."

will speak--rather, "present"; for (so far is the "fool" from deserving the epithet "noble-minded") the fool "speaketh" folly and "worketh," &c.

hypocrisy--rather, "profligacy" [Horsley].

error--impiety, perverse arguments.

hungry--spiritually (Mt 5:6).

7. churl--"the fraudulent"; this verse refers to the last clause of Is 32:5; as Is 32:6 referred to its first clause.

speaketh right--pleadeth a just cause (Is 29:21); spiritually, "the poor man's cause" is the divine doctrine, his rule of faith and practice.

8. liberal--rather, "noble-minded."

stand--shall be approved under the government of the righteous King.