Isaiah 55:13

“Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree, &c.] The meaning of which either is, that instead of wicked men, comparable to briers and thorns for their being fruitless and useless, harmful and pernicious, under a curse, and their end to be burned, there good men, comparable to fruitful and beautiful trees, shall be; which was eminently true when the Gospel was preached in the Gentile world; (see <233501>Isaiah 35:1-10 41:19,20) so the Targum, “instead of the ungodly shall rise up righteous persons, and instead of sinners shall rise up such as are afraid to sin;” or else the sense is, that such who are like briers and thorns in their…”

“thorn--emblem of the wicked (Sa2 23:6; Mic 7:4). fir tree--the godly (Isa 60:13; Psa 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Rom 6:19. brier--emblem of uncultivation (Isa 5:6). myrtle--Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Psa 92:13-14). for a name . . . everlasting sign--a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jer 13:11; Jer 33:9). Next: Isaiah Chapter 56”

“Instead of the thorn - (Compare the notes at Isaiah 11:6-8; Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 41:19; Isaiah 42:20). The word rendered ‘thorn’ (נעצוּץ na‛ătsûts) occurs only here and in Isaiah 7:19. It evidently means a thorn, hedge, or thorny-bush. Shall come up the fir tree - (ברושׁ berôsh; see the notes at Isaiah 14:8; Isaiah 37:24; Isaiah 60:13; Zechariah 11:2). A change would be produced in the moral condition of man as great as if in the natural world the rough and useless thorn should be succeeded by the beautiful and useful cypress (compare Isaiah 60:13). And instead of the brier - The brier is everywhere an emblem of desolation, and of an uncultivated country (see Isaiah 5:6; Isaiah 7:23-24).…”

“Instead - Whereas your land was filled with thorns and briars, as was foretold, they shall be rooted out, and it shall be planted with fir - trees and myrtle - trees, and such other trees, as are useful either for fruit or for delight. The church shall be delivered from pernicious things, and replenished with all divine graces and blessings. It - This wonderful change shall bring much honour to God. A sign - For a monument, of God's infinite power, and faithfulness, and love to his people to all succeeding generations. Next: Isaiah Chapter 56”

“55:13 Redemption is like the transformation from desert to forest (see also 35:1; 41:19; 60:13). • great honor to the Lord’s name: God’s glory will be more and more visible to humanity as his redemption takes effect.”

“of the thorn: Isa 11:6-9, Isa 41:19, Isa 60:13, Isa 60:21, Isa 61:3; Mic 7:4; Rom 6:19; Co1 6:9-11; Co2 5:17 for a: Isa 43:21; Jer 13:11, Jer 33:9; Luk 2:14; Joh 15:8; Eph 3:20, Eph 3:21; Pe1 2:9, Pe1 2:10; Pe1 4:11 an everlasting: Isa 54:10; Jer 50:5 Next: Isaiah Chapter 56”