Isaiah 5:30

“And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea, &c.] That is, the Romans against the Jews; whose attacks upon them should be with so much fierceness and power, that it should be like the roaring of the sea, which is very dreadful, and threatens with utter destruction; the roaring of the sea and its waves is mentioned among the signs preceding Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans, (<422125>Luke 21:25): and if [one] look unto the land: the land of Judea, when wasted by the Romans, or while those wars continued between them and the Jews; or “into it”f107 behold darkness; great affliction and tribulation being signified by darkness and dimness; (see <230821>Isaiah 8:21…”

“sorrow, and the light is darkened--Otherwise, distress and light (that is, hope and fear) alternately succeed (as usually occurs in an unsettled state of things), and darkness arises in, &c. [MAURER]. heavens--literally, "clouds," that is, its sky is rather "clouds" than sky. Otherwise from a different Hebrew root, "in its destruction" or ruins. HORSLEY takes "sea . . . look unto the land" as a new image taken from mariners in a coasting vessel (such as all ancient vessels were), looking for the nearest land, which the darkness of the storm conceals, so that darkness and distress alone may be said to be visible. Isaiah is outside, near the altar in front of the temple. The doors are supposed…”

“They shall roar against them - The army that shall come up shall roar against the Jews. The image of “the roaring of the sea” indicates the great number that would come; that of the roaring of the “lion” denotes their fierceness and terror. And if one look unto the land - This expression has given some perplexity, because it is supposed not to be full or complete. The whole image, it has been supposed (see “Lowth”), would be that of looking “upward” to the heaven for help, and then to the land, or “earth;” compare Isaiah 8:22, where the same expression is used. But there is no need of supposing the expression defective. The prophet speaks of the vast multitude that was coming up and roaring…”

“Sorrow - Darkness; that is, sorrow; the latter word explains the former. The heavens - When they look up to the heavens, as men in distress usually do, they see no light there. Next: Isaiah Chapter 6”

“5:30 day of destruction (literally that day; see study note on 2:5-22). • In Old Testament prophecy, darkness represents the experience of God’s alienation, wrath, and judgment (see also 8:22), while light stands for his holy presence (see especially 60:2, 19).”

“like: Psa 93:3, Psa 93:4; Jer 6:23, Jer 50:42; Luk 21:25 if one look: Isa 8:22, Isa 13:10; Exo 10:21-23; Jer 4:23-28; Lam 3:2; Eze 32:7, Eze 32:8; Joe 2:10; Amo 8:9; Mat 24:29; Luk 21:25, Luk 21:26; Rev 6:12, Rev 16:10, Rev 16:11 sorrow: or, distress and the light: etc. or, when it is light, it shall be dark in the destructions thereof Next: Isaiah Chapter 6”

“"And it utters a deep roar over it in that day like the roaring of the sea: and it looks to the earth, and behold darkness, tribulation, and light; it becomes night over it in the clouds of heaven." The subject to "roars" is the mass of the enemy; and in the expressions "over it" and "it looks" (nibbat; the niphal, which is only met with here, in the place of the hiphil) the prophet has in his mind the nation of Judah, upon which the enemy falls with the roar of the ocean - that is to say, overwhelming it like a sea. And when the people of Judah look to the earth, i.e., to their own land, darkness alone presents itself, and darkness which has swallowed up all the smiling and joyous aspect…”