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Text -- Isaiah 59:12 (NET)

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Context
59:12 For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, and our sins testify against us; indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds; we know our sins all too well.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Sin | Repentance | Prayer | Lies and Deceits | Isaiah, The Book of | Isaiah | ISAIAH, 1-7 | Conscience | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- 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.

Wesley: Isa 59:12 - -- As so many witnesses produced proves our guilt.

As so many witnesses produced proves our guilt.

Wesley: Isa 59:12 - -- Are still unforgiven.

Are still unforgiven.

Wesley: Isa 59:12 - -- We are convinced of them.

We are convinced of them.

JFB: Isa 59:12 - -- (Dan 9:5, &c.).

(Dan 9:5, &c.).

JFB: Isa 59:12 - -- Antithesis.

Antithesis.

JFB: Isa 59:12 - -- That is, we are conscious of them (Job 12:3, Margin; Job 15:9).

That is, we are conscious of them (Job 12:3, Margin; Job 15:9).

JFB: Isa 59:12 - -- Acknowledge they are our iniquities.

Acknowledge they are our iniquities.

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 אתנו ( ittanu) ”upon us;” but I choose rather to adhere to the strict meaning of the word. 141 Men practice evasions, and assume various shapes, in order to appear righteous; but in vain, for they carry with them their iniquities, from which they cannot extricate themselves; as God, in condemning Cain, (Gen 4:7) declares that “sin keepeth watch before the door;“ so that any one who despises the judgment of God shall in vain attempt to escape by his rebellion.

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 - -- 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, ...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

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 - -- 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 - -- 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.

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Commentary -- 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 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...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

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 - --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 - -- 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 - -- 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 ...

Constable: Isa 59:9-15 - --Israel's confession 59:9-15a Isaiah, speaking for the sinful Israelites (cf. 6:5), first acknowledged the consequences of their behavior (vv. 9-11) an...

Guzik: Isa 59:1-21 - --Isaiah 59 - The Reality Check A. The sin God sees. 1. (1) The problem of God's people: what the cause is not. Behold, the Lord's hand is not short...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Isaiah (Book Introduction) ISAIAH, son of Amoz (not Amos); contemporary of Jonah, Amos, Hosea, in Israel, but younger than they; and of Micah, in Judah. His call to a higher deg...

JFB: Isaiah (Outline) PARABLE OF JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD. (Isa. 5:1-30) SIX DISTINCT WOES AGAINST CRIMES. (Isa. 5:8-23) (Lev 25:13; Mic 2:2). The jubilee restoration of posses...

TSK: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah has, with singular propriety, been denominated the Evangelical Prophet, on account of the number and variety of his prophecies concerning the a...

TSK: Isaiah 59 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Isa 59:1, The calamities of the Jews not owing to want of saving power in God, but to their own enormous sins; Isa 59:16, Salvation is on...

Poole: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT THE teachers of the ancient church were of two sorts: 1. Ordinary, the priests and Levites. 2. Extraordinary, the prophets. These we...

Poole: Isaiah 59 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 59 Sin separates between God and us, Isa 59:1,2 . Murder, theft, falsehood, injustice, cruelty, Isa 59:3-8 . Calamity for sin, Isa 59:9-15 ...

MHCC: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and...

MHCC: Isaiah 59 (Chapter Introduction) (Isa 59:1-8) Reproofs of sin and wickedness. (Isa 59:9-15) Confession of sin, and lamentation for the consequences. (Isa 59:16-21) Promises of deliv...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Isaiah Prophet is a title that sounds very great to those that understand it, t...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah 59 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have sin appearing exceedingly sinful, and grace appearing exceedingly gracious; and, as what is here said of the sinner's sin (...

Constable: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and writer The title of this book of the Bible, as is true of the o...

Constable: Isaiah (Outline) Outline I. Introduction chs. 1-5 A. Israel's condition and God's solution ch. 1 ...

Constable: Isaiah Isaiah Bibliography Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah. 1846, 1847. Revised ed. ...

Haydock: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS. INTRODUCTION. This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, (Ecclesiasticus xlviii. 25.) the great prophet; from t...

Gill: Isaiah (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH This book is called, in the New Testament, sometimes "the Book of the Words of the Prophet Esaias", Luk 3:4 sometimes only t...

Gill: Isaiah 59 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 59 As the former chapter declares the hypocrisy and formality of professors of religion; this expresses the errors and heres...

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