
Text -- Isaiah 59:12 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Isa 59:12 - -- The word here signifies sins of an high nature, such as wherein there is much of man's will against light: rebellious sins.
The word here signifies sins of an high nature, such as wherein there is much of man's will against light: rebellious sins.

Wesley: Isa 59:12 - -- They admit of no excuse; for they are acted before thee, and multiplied against thee, whereby thou art justly provoked to deny us all help.
They admit of no excuse; for they are acted before thee, and multiplied against thee, whereby thou art justly provoked to deny us all help.

As so many witnesses produced proves our guilt.

Calvin -> Isa 59:12
Calvin: Isa 59:12 - -- 12.For our iniquities are multiplied before thee He confirms what he formerly said, namely, that the people act unjustly in accusing God of cruelty, ...
12.For our iniquities are multiplied before thee He confirms what he formerly said, namely, that the people act unjustly in accusing God of cruelty, and in not understanding that they are justly punished for their iniquities, the huge mass of which towers up to heaven; and in this sense the Prophet says that they “are multiplied.” There is also much weight in the phrase “before thee;” for the Prophet descends into himself, and acknowledges the righteous judgment of God, which was hidden from men. Thus he intended to point out an implied contrast between the judgment of God and the judgment of men, who flatter themselves, and do not consider their sins; but God, who is a just judge, does not the less on that account reprove them, or pay any attention to the frivolous excuses under which they endeavor to shelter themselves. For this reason he does not reckon it enough simply to condemn the people, but says that they have “multiplied” their sins, that is, in many respects they are guilty before God. He acknowledges, therefore, that the Lord is righteous, and performs the part of an excellent judge; since nothing good or right is found among men; and therefore he adds, —
Our sins have testified against us, ( or, answer 140 to us.) Witnesses are not summoned, or brought from heaven; but the Jews are rebuked and condemned by the testimony of conscience. That mode of expression ought to be carefully observed; for it shows that God does not need many proofs, since our sins hold us to be sufficiently convicted. We must not, therefore, strive with God, as if he punished us unjustly, or chastised us too severely; for our sins openly proclaim what we are, and God does not need additional proofs.
For our iniquities are with us Instead of “with us,” some render
And we know our sins When he says that the Jews “know their sins,” he does not mean that their hearts are truly affected by them, for in that case repentance follows; but he declares that, although they desire to escape the judgment of God, the testimony of their own conscience binds and holds them fast, so that it is vain for them to cavil or seek an excuse. He speaks in the first person, as if he were one of the great body of the people. This is very customary; but at the same time he shows that this evil prevails through the whole body to such an extent that not one member is whole or sound; and, although he may plead his own cause before God, yet, because iniquity is diffused through every part of the body, he acknowledges that he is one of the diseased members and is infected by the general contagion. Nor is there any contradiction in having formerly spoken of himself as not sharing the general guilt, and now laying aside all distinction, and including himself along with others.
TSK -> Isa 59:12
TSK: Isa 59:12 - -- our transgressions : Isa 1:4; Ezr 9:6; Jer 3:2, Jer 5:3-9, Jer 5:25-29, Jer 7:8-10; Eze 5:6, Eze 7:23, Eze 8:8-16; Eze 16:51, Eze 16:52, Eze 22:2-12, ...
our transgressions : Isa 1:4; Ezr 9:6; Jer 3:2, Jer 5:3-9, Jer 5:25-29, Jer 7:8-10; Eze 5:6, Eze 7:23, Eze 8:8-16; Eze 16:51, Eze 16:52, Eze 22:2-12, Eze 22:24-30, 23:2-49, Eze 24:6-14; Hos 4:2; Mat 23:32, Mat 23:33; 1Th 2:15, 1Th 2:16

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Isa 59:12
Barnes: Isa 59:12 - -- Our sins testify against us - Hebrew, ‘ Answer against us.’ The idea is, that their past lives had been so depraved that they became...
Our sins testify against us - Hebrew, ‘ Answer against us.’ The idea is, that their past lives had been so depraved that they became witnesses against them (compare the notes at Isa 3:9).
We know them - We recognize them as our sins, and we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that we are transgressors.
Poole -> Isa 59:12
Poole: Isa 59:12 - -- Our transgressions: the word here signifies sins of a high nature; such as wherein there is much of man’ s will against light; rebellious sins. ...
Our transgressions: the word here signifies sins of a high nature; such as wherein there is much of man’ s will against light; rebellious sins.
Are multiplied before thee: q.d. They admit of no excuse; for they are acted before thee, and multiplied against thee, whereby thou art justly provoked to deny us all help.
Our sins testify every sin that is charged upon is like so many witnesses produced to prove the guilt of our consciences; or, as the Hebrew word, do answer ; and so some make it an elegant metaphorical allusion to the echo, which, as it returns the voice again, so those judgments they cry out of are but the meritorious repercussion of their sins. They had been cruel to others, neither had they executed judgment and justice, and here they suffer all kind of cruelties and indignities from the Chaldeans, as the true and just representation or echo of their own works: see a personal instance in Adoni-bezek, Jud 1:6,7 .
Our transgressions are with us i.e. we lie under the guilt of them, they are a burden to us; God hath not yet forgiven them.
As for our iniquities we know them; we are convinced of them; our guilty consciences must own and acknowledge them, Ps 2 3 . It notes either their conviction or sorrow, or both. See Jer 14:7 . Or, we know what are those sins thou art so angry with us for; and this is favoured by the sequel, where they seem to particularize those sins in the following verses.
Gill -> Isa 59:12
Gill: Isa 59:12 - -- For our transgressions are multiplied before thee,.... Not only an increase of immorality among the people in common, but among professors of religion...
For our transgressions are multiplied before thee,.... Not only an increase of immorality among the people in common, but among professors of religion; and as their transgressions are committed against the Lord, so they are in his sight taken notice of and observed by him, are loathsome and abominable to him, and call aloud for his judgments on them:
and our sins testify against us; God is a witness against us, in whose sight our sins are done; and our consciences are witnesses against us, which are as a thousand witnesses; and there is no denying facts; our sins stare us in the face, and we must confess our guilt: or, "our sins answer against us" c; as witnesses called and examined answer to the questions put, so our sins, being brought as it were into open court, answer and bear testimony against us; or it must be owned, our punishment for our sins answers to them; it is the echo of our sins, what they call for, and righteously comes upon us:
for our transgressions are with us; or, "on us" d; in our minds, on our consciences, loading us with guilt; continually accusing and condemning us; are manifest to us, as the Targum; too manifest to be denied:
and as for our iniquities, we know them; the nature and number of them, and the aggravating circumstances that attend them; and cannot but own and acknowledge them, confess, lament, and bewail them; an enumeration of which follows.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Isa 59:12 Heb “indeed [or “for”] our rebellious deeds (are) with us, and our sins, we know them.”
Geneva Bible -> Isa 59:12
Geneva Bible: Isa 59:12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our ( k ) sins testify against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniqu...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Isa 59:1-21
TSK Synopsis: Isa 59:1-21 - --1 The calamities of the Jews not owing to want of saving power in God, but to their own enormous sins.16 Salvation is only of God.20 The covenant of t...
MHCC -> Isa 59:9-15
MHCC: Isa 59:9-15 - --If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace. The sins of thos...
Matthew Henry -> Isa 59:9-15
Matthew Henry: Isa 59:9-15 - -- The scope of this paragraph is the same with that of the last, to show that sin is the great mischief-maker; as it is that which keeps good things f...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Isa 59:12-13
Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 59:12-13 - --
The people have already indicated by על־כּן in Isa 59:9 that this benighted, hopeless state is the consequence of their prevailing sins; they ...
Constable: Isa 56:1--66:24 - --V. Israel's future transformation chs. 56--66
The last major section of Isaiah deals with the necessity of livin...

Constable: Isa 56:1--59:21 - --A. Recognition of human inability chs. 56-59
It is important that God's people demonstrate righteousness...

Constable: Isa 58:1--59:21 - --2. The relationship of righteousness and ritual chs. 58-59
The structure of this section is simi...

Constable: Isa 59:1-15 - --What Israel did 59:1-15a
As mentioned above, this second segment of the section dealing ...
