Isaiah 57:2

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 57:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.
Isaiah 57:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 57

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He shall enter into peace, &c.] Or “shall go in peace”f1118; the righteous man goes in peace now; he has peace from his justifying righteousness; he has peace through believing in Christ; he has peace in, though not from, his obedience and holiness of life; and he has peace in the midst of the many trials he is exercised with; and he goes out of the world in peace, with great serenity and tranquillity of mind, as Simeon desired he might, having views of an interest in Christ, and in the glories of another world; and as soon as he is departed from hence he enters into peace, into a state where there is everything that makes for peace; there is the God of peace; there is Christ, the Prince of…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Or, "he entereth into peace"; in contrast to the persecutions which he suffered in this world (Job 3:13, Job 3:17). The Margin not so well translates, "he shall go in peace" (Psa 37:37; Luk 2:29). rest--the calm rest of their bodies in their graves (called "beds," Ch2 16:14; compare Isa 14:18; because they "sleep" in them, with the certainty of awakening at the resurrection, Th1 4:14) is the emblem of the eternal "rest" (Heb 4:9; Rev 14:13). each one walking in . . . uprightness--This clause defines the character of those who at death "rest in their beds," namely, all who walk uprightly.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He shall enter into peace - Lowth, ‘He shall go in peace.’ So the margin. Vulgate, ‘Peace shall come.’ Septuagint, ‘His sepulture (ἡ ταφὴ αὐτοῦ hē taphē autou) shall be in peace.’ The idea is, that by his death the righteous man shall enter into rest. He shall get away from conflict, strife, agitation, and distress. This may either refer to the peaceful rest of the grave, or to that which awaits the just in a better world. The direct meaning here intended is probably the former, since the grave is often spoken of as a place of rest. Thus Job Job 3:17, speaking of the grave, says: There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary be at rest. The connection here seems also to…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He - This just and merciful man shall enter into a state of rest, where he shall be out of the reach of the approaching miseries. They - just men. Here is a sudden change of the number, which is very frequent in the prophets. Beds - In their graves, which are not unfitly called their beds, as their death is commonly called sleep in scripture. Isaiah 57:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“57:2 The wicked would not be able to rest in peace (57:21).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“He shall: Job 3:17; Ecc 12:7; Mat 25:21; Luk 16:22; Co2 5:1, Co2 5:8; Phi 1:23; Rev 14:13 enter into: or, go in, Luk 2:29, Luk 7:50 rest: Isa 14:18; Ch2 16:14; Eze 32:25 in his uprightness: or before him, Gen 17:1; Luk 1:6 Isaiah 57:3”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification