Isaiah 2:9

“And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself, &c.] Both high and low, rich and poor, bow down unto, humble themselves before, and worship idols made by the hands of men: the words for the “mean man” and “the great man” are µda and çya, “Adam” and “Ish”; and which are also interpreted by Jarchi of little or mean men, and of princes and mighty ones: therefore forgive them not; their sins of soothsaying, covetousness, and idolatry; and such that worship the beast and his image shall not be forgiven, but drink of the wine of divine wrath, and be tormented with fire for ever and ever, (<661409>Revelation 14:9-11). These are either the words of the prophet to the Lord…”

“mean--in rank: not morally base: opposed to "the great man." The former is in Hebrew, Adam, the latter, ish. boweth--namely, to idols. All ranks were idolaters. forgive . . . not--a threat expressed by an imperative. Isaiah so identifies himself with God's will, that he prays for that which he knows God purposes. So Rev 18:6.”

“And the mean man - That is, the man in humble life, the poor, the low in rank - for this is all that the Hebrew word here - אדם 'âdâm - implies. The distinction between the two words here used - אדם 'âdâm as denoting a man of humble rank, and אישׁ 'ı̂ysh as denoting one of elevated rank - is one that constantly occurs in the Scriptures. Our word “mean” conveys an idea of moral baseness and degradation, which is not implied in the Hebrew. Boweth down - That is, before idols. Some commentators, however, have understood this of bowing down in “affliction,” but the other is probably the true interpretation. And the great man - The men in elevated rank in life. The expressions together mean…”

“The great man - Men of all ranks fall down and worship idols. Isaiah 2:10”

“the mean: Isa 5:15; Psa 49:2; Jer 5:4, Jer 5:5; Rom 3:23; Rev 6:15-17 humbleth: Isa 57:9; Col 2:18, Col 2:23 therefore: Isa 27:11; Jos 24:19; Jer 18:23; Mar 3:29 Isaiah 2:10”

“It was a state ripe for judgment, from which, therefore, the prophet could at once proceed, without any further preparation, to the proclamation of judgment itself."Thus, then, men are bowed down, and lords are brought low; and forgive them - no, that Thou wilt not." The consecutive futures depict the judgment, as one which would follow by inward necessity from the worldly and ungodly glory of the existing state of things. The future is frequently used in this way (for example, in Isa 9:7.). It was a judgment by which small and great, i.e., the people in all its classes, were brought down from their false eminence. "Men" and "lords" (âdâm and ish, as in Isa 5:15; Psa 49:3, and Pro 8:4, and…”