Isaiah 46:12
12. stout-hearted—stubborn in resisting God (Ps 76:5; Ac 7:51).
far from righteousness— (Isa 59:9; Hab 2:4).Isaiah 51:5
5. righteousness . . . near—that is, faithful fulfilment of the promised deliverance, answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause (Isa 46:13; 56:1; Ro 10:8, 9). Ye follow after "righteousness"; seek it therefore, from Me, and you will not have far to go for it (Isa 51:1).
arms—put for Himself; I by My might. judge— (Isa 2:3, 4; Ps 98:9). isles, &c.— (Isa 60:9). arm— (Ro 1:16), "the power of God unto (the Gentiles as well as the Jews) salvation."Isaiah 56:1
1. judgment—equity. John the Baptist preached similarly a return to righteousness, as needed to prepare men for Messiah's first coming (Lu 3:3, 8-14). So it shall be before the second coming (Mal 4:4-6).
near to come— (Mt 3:2; 4:17), also as to the second coming (Isa 62:10, 11; Lu 21:28, 31; Ro 13:11, 12; Heb 10:25). righteousness—answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means righteousness which bringeth salvation (Isa 46:13; Ro 3:25, 26).Isaiah 61:10-11
10. Zion (Isa 61:3) gives thanks for God's returning favor (compare Lu 1:46, 47; Hab 3:18).
salvation . . . righteousness—inseparably connected together. The "robe" is a loose mantle thrown over the other parts of the dress (Ps 132:9, 16; 149:4; Re 21:2; 19:8). decketh himself with ornaments—rather "maketh himself a priestly headdress," that is, a magnificent headdress, such as was worn by the high priest, namely, a miter and a plate, or crown of gold worn in front of it [AQUILA, &c.]; appropriate to the "kingdom of priests," dedicated to the offering of spiritual sacrifices to God continually (Ex 19:6; Re 5:10; 20:6). jewels—rather, "ornaments" in general [BARNES].11. (Isa 45:8, 55:10, 11; Ps 72:3; 85:11).
bud—the tender shoots. praise— (Isa 60:18; 62:7).Romans 10:6-8
6. But the—justifying
righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise—"speaketh thus"—its language or import is to this effect (quoting in substance De 30:13, 14). Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down, &c.—that is, "Ye have not to sigh over the impossibility of attaining to justification; as if one should say, oh! if I could but get someone to mount up to heaven and fetch me down Christ, there might be some hope, but since that cannot be, mine is a desperate case."7. Or, Who shall descend, &c.—another case of impossibility, suggested by Pr 30:4, and perhaps also Am 9:2 —probably proverbial expressions of impossibility (compare Ps 139:7-10; Pr 24:7, &c.).
8. But what saith it? It saith—continuing the quotation from De 30:14.
The word is nigh thee—easily accessible. in thy mouth—when thou confessest Him. and in thine heart—when thou believest on Him. Though it is of the law which Moses more immediately speaks in the passage quoted, yet it is of the law as Israel shall be brought to look upon it when the Lord their God shall circumcise their heart "to love the Lord their God with all their heart" (Ro 10:6); and thus, in applying it, the apostle (as OLSHAUSEN truly observes) is not merely appropriating the language of Moses, but keeping in the line of his deeper thought. that is, the word of faith, which we preach—that is, the word which men have to believe for salvation (compare 1Ti 4:6).