Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 51 calls Israel to LOOK-TO-THE-ROCK-FROM-WHICH-YOU-WERE-CUT (Abraham, vv. 1–3), promises everlasting-salvation (vv. 4–8), and contains-the-CUP-OF-WRATH passage (vv. 17–23). Verse 6's 'the heavens shall vanish like smoke … but my salvation shall be forever' anticipates 2 Peter 3:10–13.
Notable Variants
51:1 'look to the rock from which you were hewn' — Abraham-the-rock; 51:6 'heavens vanish like smoke' → 2 Peter 3:10–13; 51:9 'awake, awake … as in days of old' creation-victory recall; 51:17 CUP-OF-WRATH → Rev 14:10, 16:19.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 51 = LXX Isaiah 51. 23 verses.
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.
'Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug' tracks MT. ROCK-FROM-WHICH-HEWN — Abraham. Matt 3:9 ('God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham') extends — though-with-Christological-twist.
Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.
'Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him' tracks MT. ABRAHAM-AND-SARAH-AS-ROCK-AND-QUARRY. Romans 4 (Abraham's-faith) extends Christologically.
For the LORD comforts Zion; He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness shall be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of song.
'For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song' tracks MT. ZION-LIKE-EDEN. Eschatological-paradise-restoration. Revelation 22 New-Jerusalem-with-tree-of-life Christologically-extends.
Give heed to me, my people, and listen to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice as a light to the peoples.
'Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples' tracks MT.
My righteousness draws near; my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples. The coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope.
'My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait' tracks MT.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who dwell on it will die in like manner. But my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be broken.
'Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed' tracks MT. HEAVENS-VANISH-LIKE-SMOKE. 2 Peter 3:10–13 ('the heavens will pass away with a roar … the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved') extends. The eschatological-cosmic-renewal.
Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law: do not fear the reproach of mortals, and do not be dismayed at their revilings.
'Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their reviling' tracks MT.
For the moth will eat them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.
'For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations' tracks MT.
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago! Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
'Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?' tracks MT. RAHAB-AND-DRAGON cut-and-pierced. Creation-combat with-chaos. Revelation 12:9 dragon-overthrow Christologically-extends.
Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a road for the redeemed to pass over?
'Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?' tracks MT. RED-SEA-CROSSING memory.
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
'And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away' tracks MT. // Isa 35:10. Eschatological-return-with-joy.
I, I am He who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass?
'I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass' tracks MT. AFRAID-OF-MAN-WHO-DIES. Hebrews 13:6 ('what can man do to me?') extends.
You have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy. But where is the wrath of the oppressor?
'And have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy?' tracks MT.
He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die in the pit, nor shall his bread be lacking.
'He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking' tracks MT.
For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar — the LORD of hosts is His name.
'I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar — the LORD of hosts is his name' tracks MT.
I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, planting the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, You are my people.
'And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion: You are my people' tracks MT.
Rouse yourself, rouse yourself! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His wrath — the bowl of the cup of staggering you have drunk; you have drained it.
'Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering' tracks MT. CUP-OF-WRATH. Revelation 14:10, 16:19, 18:6 ('the cup of God's wrath') Christologically-extends. Gethsemane's 'let this cup pass from me' (Matt 26:39) Christologically-engages.
There is no one to guide her among all the children she has borne; there is no one to take her by the hand among all the children she has raised.
'There is none to guide her among all the sons she has borne; there is none to take her by the hand among all the sons she has brought up' tracks MT.
These two things have befallen you — who will grieve for you? — devastation and destruction, famine and sword — who can comfort you?
'These two things have happened to you — who will console you? — devastation and destruction, famine and sword; who will comfort you?' tracks MT.
Your children have fainted; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net, full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God.
'Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God' tracks MT.
Therefore hear this, you afflicted one, drunk, but not with wine:
'Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine' tracks MT.
This is what your Lord says, the LORD, your God who pleads the cause of His people: Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering — the bowl of the cup of my wrath. You shall drink of it no more.
'Thus says your Lord, the LORD, your God who pleads the cause of his people: Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more' tracks MT. CUP-TAKEN-AWAY. Christologically — Christ-takes-the-cup-of-wrath in-Gethsemane and-cross.
And I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who said to you, Bow down, that we may walk over you. And you made your back like the ground, like a street for them to walk on.
'And I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you: Bow down, that we may pass over; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over' tracks MT. CUP-GIVEN-TO-TORMENTORS — judgment-reversal.