Isaiah Chapter 25

Old Testament Major Prophet 12 Verses

What is Isaiah 25 about?

The great OT evangelist — judgment on Israel and the nations, the four Servant Songs, and the vision of the glorious new creation. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1O Jehovah, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things, [even] counsels of old, in faithfulness [and] truth.
2For thou hast made of a city a heap, of a fortified city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
3Therefore shall a strong people glorify thee; a city of terrible nations shall fear thee.
4For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
5As the heat in a dry place wilt thou bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
6And in this mountain will Jehovah of hosts make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that covereth all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
8He hath swallowed up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it.
9And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
10For in this mountain will the hand of Jehovah rest; and Moab shall be trodden down in his place, even as straw is trodden down in the water of the dung-hill.
11And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst thereof, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth [his hands] to swim; but [Jehovah] will lay low his pride together with the craft of his hands.
12And the high fortress of thy walls hath he brought down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“O Lord, thou [art] my God, &c.] Not by creation and providence only, but by covenant and grace. This is the first and foundation blessing of grace, and secures all the rest; in this true happiness consists, and is preferable to every other enjoyment; the knowledge of it is come at in effectual calling, and by the witnessing of the Spirit; it is the highest attainment of grace to be assured of it; and though it is not always seen and known, it will always remain, and will be the glory of the New Jerusalem state, (<662103>Revelation 21:3,7). These are the words, Aben Ezra says, either of the prophet, or of the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“CONTINUATION OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH CHAPTER. THANKSGIVING FOR THE OVERTHROW OF THE APOSTATE FACTION, AND THE SETTING UP OF JEHOVAH'S THRONE ON ZION. (Isa 25:1-12) wonderful-- (Isa 9:6). counsels of old-- (Isa 42:9; Isa 46:10). Purposes planned long ago; here, as to the deliverance of His people. truth--Hebrew, Amen; covenant-keeping, faithful to promises; the peculiar characteristic of Jesus (Rev 3:14).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“O Lord, thou art my God - The prophet speaks, not in his own name, but in the name of the people that would be delivered from bondage. The sense is, that Yahweh had manifested himself as their covenant-keeping God; and that in view of his faithfulness in keeping his promises, they now had demonstration that he was their God. I will exalt thee - A form of expression often used to denote praise Psalms 118:28; Psalms 145:1, meaning that the worshipper would exalt God in the view of his own mind, or would regard him as above all other beings and objects. For thou hast done wonderful things - On the meaning of the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“O Lord - The prophet reflecting upon those great and glorious prophecies which he had delivered, interrupts the course of his prophecies, and breaks forth into a solemn celebration of God's wonderful works. Thy counsels - From which all thy works proceed, and which thou hast from time to time revealed to thy prophets and people, which were of old, being conceived from all eternity, are true and firm, and shall certainly be accomplished. Isaiah 25:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“25:1-12 The second part of the Little Apocalypse (see study note on 24:1–27:13) describes praise for God’s judgment (25:1-5, 11-12) and salvation (25:6-9). 25:1-5 Isaiah here praises God for protecting the needy (see 12:1-6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“thou art: Isa 26:13, Isa 61:10; Exo 15:2; Ch1 29:10-20; Psa 99:5, Psa 118:28, Psa 145:1, Psa 146:2; Rev 5:9-14, Rev 7:12 thou hast: Psa 40:5, Psa 46:10, Psa 78:4, Psa 98:1, 107:8-43, Psa 111:4; Dan 4:2, Dan 4:3; Rev 15:3 thy counsels: Isa 28:29, Isa 46:10; Num 23:19; Psa 33:10, Psa 33:11; Jer 32:17-24; Eze 38:17-23; Rom 11:25-29; Eph 1:11; Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18; Rev 19:11 Isaiah 25:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The first echo is Isa 25:1-8, or more precisely Isa 25:1-5. The prophet, whom we already know as a psalmist from Isa 12:1-6, now acts as choral leader of the church of the future, and praises Jehovah for having destroyed the mighty imperial city, and proved Himself a defence and shield against its tyranny towards His oppressed church. "Jehovah, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name, that Thou hast wrought wonders, counsels from afar, sincerity, truth. For Thou hast turned it from a city into a heap of stones, the steep castle into a ruin; the palace of the barbarians from being a city, to be…”
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