Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 49:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, &c.] Or, “he hath put his words in my mouth as a sharp sword,” as the Targum; namely, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and is sharper than a twoedged sword, and is said to come out of the mouth of Christ, (<490617>Ephesians 6:17 <580412>Hebrews 4:12 <660116>Revelation 1:16), with which he pierces into and cuts the hearts of men, and lays open all their sin and unrighteousness, and cuts down the worst and best in men, and slays all his enemies; so his mouth was as a sharp sword in the days of his flesh, to inveigh against the sins and to refute the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees; as it will be, in the latter day, to smite the nations of the earth, (<661915>Revelation 19:15,21): “in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me”; in his counsels and purposes of old, and in his providence; “in the shadow of his power hath he protected me,” as the Targum; thus he hid, and protected him from Herod’s cruelty in his infancy; and from the rage and malice of the Scribes and Pharisees, who sought often to lay hands on him, and take away his life before his time. The Jews talk very much of the Messiah’s being hid under the throne of glory. Aben Ezra’s remark, that the phrase, “he hath hid me”, answers to the scabbard of a sword, before mentioned, is not amiss: and made me a polished shaft; or, “choice arrow”f964; which being polished at the point, or well oiled, and shining, pierces the deeper, So the doctrines of Christ, the words of his mouth, are compared to bright and sharp arrows, which make cutting work, and give great pain where they come; as they sometimes do like arrows, swiftly, suddenly, and with great force and power, (<194505>Psalm 45:5). Kimchi observes, that he speaks of a sharp sword with respect to the Jews that were near, where a sword could reach them; and of a polished shaft or arrow with respect to the Gentiles afar off, which must be cast after them: in his quiver hath he hid me, meaning his secret purposes, and his powerful protection, as before; which he compares to a quiver, a case in which arrows are put, because mention had been made of a polished shaft or arrow before.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
