Ephesians 5:14

“Wherefore he saith, &c.] Either the man that is light in the Lord, who reproves the unfruitful works of darkness; or else the Holy Ghost by Paul, who here speaks after the manner of the prophets; or God, or the Spirit, or the Scripture; (see <590406>James 4:6); but where is it said? some think the apostle refers to (<230902>Isaiah 9:2); others to (<232619>Isaiah 26:19); others to (<236001>Isaiah 60:1); some are of opinion the words are cited out of an apocryphal book of Jeremy, or from some writing now lost; and some have thought them to be a saying of Christ, that was fresh in memory: it may not be improper to observe what Maimonides says f60, that “the blowing of the trumpet in the…”

“Wherefore--referring to the whole foregoing argument (Eph 5:8, Eph 5:11, Eph 5:13). Seeing that light (spiritual) dispels the pre-existing darkness, He (God) saith . . . (compare the same phrase, Eph 4:8). Awake--The reading of all the oldest manuscripts is "Up!" or, "Rouse thee!" a phrase used in stirring men to activity. The words are a paraphrase of Isa 60:1-2, not an exact quotation. The word "Christ," shows that in quoting the prophecy, he views it in the light thrown on it by its Gospel fulfilment. As Israel is called on to "awake" from its previous state of "darkness" and "death" (Isa 59:10; Isa 60:2), for that her Light is come; so the Church, and each individual is similarly called…”

“Wherefore he saith - Margin, or “it.” Διὸ λέγει Dio legei. The meaning may be, either that the Lord says, or the Scripture. Much difficulty has been experienced in endeavoring to ascertain “where” this is said. It is agreed on all hands that it is not found, in so many words, in the Old Testament. Some have supposed that the allusion is to Isaiah 26:19, “Thy dead men shall live - awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs,” etc. But the objections to this are obvious and conclusive. (1) This is not a quotation of that place, nor has it a “resemblance” to it, except in the word “awake.” (2) The passage in Isaiah refers to a different matter, and has a…”

“Wherefore he - God. Saith - In the general tenor of his word, to all who are still in darkness. Awake thou that steepest - In ignorance of God and thyself; in stupid insensibility. And arise from the dead - From the death of sin. And Christ shall give thee light - Knowledge, holiness, happiness. Ephesians 5:15”

“he: or, it Awake: Isa 51:17, Isa 52:1, Isa 60:1; Rom 13:11, Rom 13:12; Co1 15:34; Th1 5:6; Ti2 2:26 \*marg. arise: Eph 2:5; Isa 26:19; Eze 37:4-10; Joh 5:25-29, Joh 11:43, Joh 11:44; Rom 6:4, Rom 6:5, Rom 6:13; Col 3:1 Christ: Joh 8:12, Joh 9:5; Act 13:47; Co2 4:6; Ti2 1:10 Ephesians 5:15”