Isaiah 25:7

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 25:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that covereth all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that covereth all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
Isaiah 25:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, &c.] Or, “the covering of the face”f493; that which has covered the face of all people; that darkness which has been spread over them, partly by Mahomet, and his Alcoran, and partly by the pope of Rome, and his party; the covering of human doctrines and traditions seems chiefly intended, which now will be removed, as well as all Pagan and Mahometan darkness, through the clear ministration of the everlasting Gospel, which will be spread with power, and in its purity, throughout the whole world; (see <236001>Isaiah 60:1-3) more especially this may respect the light and glory of the New Jerusalem state, in which…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“face of . . . covering--image from mourning, in which it was usual to cover the face with a veil (Sa2 15:30). "Face of covering," that is, the covering itself; as in Job 41:13, "the face of his garment," the garment itself. The covering or veil is the mist of ignorance as to a future state, and the way to eternal life, which enveloped the nations (Eph 4:18) and the unbelieving Jew (Co2 3:15). The Jew, however, is first to be converted before the conversion of "all nations"; for it is "in this mountain," namely, Zion, that the latter are to have the veil taken off (Psa 102:13, Psa 102:15-16, Psa 102:21-22; Rom 11:12).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And he will destroy - Hebrew, ‘He will swallow up,’ that is, he will abolish, remove, or take away. In this mountain the face of the covering - In mount Zion, or in Jerusalem. This would be done in Jerusalem, or on the mountains of which Jerusalem was a part, where the great transactions of the plan of redemption would be accomplished. The word ‘face’ here is used as it is frequently among the Hebrews, where the face of a thing denotes its aspect. or appearance, and then the thing itself. Thus ‘the face of God’ is put for God himself; the ‘face of the earth’ for the earth itself; and the ‘face of the vail’ means the veil itself, or the appearance of the veil. To cover the head or the face…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The face - The covering of the face. The veil - The ignorance of God, and of the true religion, which then was upon the Gentiles, and now is upon the Jews. Isaiah 25:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he will: Isa 60:1-3; Mat 27:51; Luk 2:32; Act 17:30; Co2 3:13-18; Eph 3:5, Eph 3:6, Eph 4:18; Eph 5:8; Heb 9:8, Heb 9:24, Heb 10:19-21 destroy: Heb. swallow up cast: Heb. covered Isaiah 25:8”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Although the feast is one earth, it is on an earth which has been transformed into heaven; for the party-wall between God and the world has fallen down: death is no more, and all tears are for ever wiped away. "And He casts away upon this mountain the veil that veiled over all peoples, and the covering that covered over all nations. He puts away death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah wipes the tear from every face; and He removes the shame of His people from the whole earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it." What Jehovah bestows is followed by what He puts away. The "veil" and "covering" (massēcâh, from nâsac = mâsâc, Isa 22:8, from sâcac, to weave, twist, and twist over = to cover) are not…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification