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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE PROPHET ISAIAH

CHAPTER SIX:
TEMPLE VISION AND A VOLUNTEER

Isaiah 6:1-7 – Isaiah’s Vision of Yehowah’s Temple

IS6:1 During the year King Uzziah died 273 I had a vision 274 of Y^eH^oW^aH 275 [John 12:41] sitting upon a highly exalted throne. 276 His glory [John 12:41] filled the Temple. 277

273	King Uzziah died: Compare 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 26:33.

274	I had a vision: Or, I saw. Portions of this vision are referenced in the Gospels and elsewhere. Compare similar visions. [Ezekiel 1:11; 10:21; Revelation 4:2]

275	YeHoWaH: Jehovah is the central figure in the vision though others are mentioned. John 12:41 records, in the context of Jehovah, “Isaiah said this because he saw [Jehovah’s] glory.” [John 12:41] Though some Trinitarian bias would make this Jesus, the context does not support it.

276	A highly exalted throne: Or, KJV: high and lifted up; NJB: high and lofty. [1 Kings 22:19; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:2]

277	His glory filled the Temple: Or, LXX: the house was full of his glory; RHM: skirts; JPS: robe; NJB: train. The Hebrew is literally “palace.” [NJB: sanctuary; VUL: temple] [John 12:41 uses DOXES as does the LXX.]

IS6:2 [Angelic] Seraphim 278 stood at attention before Him. 279 Each had six wings [Revelation 4:8]: two covered the face, two covered the feet, and with two they flew.

278	Seraphim: Or, Seraphs. The LXX Greek is SERAPHIM. The Hebrew is SARAPH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8314, majestic beings before God] Some see three general divisions of celestial beings: sheraphs, cherubs, angels.

279	Stood at attention before Him: Or, LXX: stood around; JPS: stood in attendance; RHM: standing above him; NJB: above him stood; KJV: above it stood. Some versions see “it” as applying to the throne, others “him.”

IS6:3 And they kept calling to one another, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is Y^eH^oW^aH [Revelation 4:8] of [angelic] armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” 280 [John 12:41]

280	The whole earth is filled with His glory: Or, KJV: the whole earth is full of his glory; NJB: his glory fills the whole earth; RHM: the fulness of the whole earth is his glory; JPS: his presence fills all the earth.

IS6:4 Then the foundations of the Temple-entrance 281 shook at the sound of the one who cried out. The House was filled with smoke. 282 [Revelation 15:8]

281	Temple-entrance: Or, LXX: lintel; JPS: doorposts [Hebrew uncertain]; RHM: foundations of the porch [entrance-hall]; NJB: door-posts; KJV: posts of the door.

282	The House was filled with smoke: Or, NJB: temple. The word “house” [or, sanctuary] is often a synonym for “temple.” The language is the same as that at Revelation 15:8. It is possible the “smoke” is that of the incense smoke. [Hebrews 9:4; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-5]

IS6:5 It was then I said: “Woe is me! All is lost! 283 For I am a man of impure lips, 284 and I live among a people of impure lips. O, my eyes have beheld the King, 285 Y^eH^oW^aH of [angelic] armies!”

283	All is lost: Or, LXX: for I am pricked to the heart; JPS: I am lost; RHM: undone; NJB: I am lost.

284	Impure lips: Or, KJV: unclean; JPS: [footnote: speaking impiety]. As a human sinner who has inherited sin from Adam. [Job 14:4] Note Paul’s argument in this regard in Romans 3:13, 14. The prophet shows his humility in recognizing before God his state as a human being.

285	Beheld the King: Isaiah does not actually see The God but a vision of Him as Moses before him and others after Him. [Genesis 32:30; Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 John 4:12]

IS6:6 Then one of the Seraphim flew toward me. In his hand he held a red-hot coal taken from the altar with tongs. IS6:7 He then touched my mouth, and said: “Behold! This has touched your lips, so all your mistakes 286 are removed, and your sin is covered by propitiation.” 287

286	Mistakes: Or, LXX: iniquities; JPS: guilt.

287

Your sin is covered by propitiation: Or, KJV: thy sin is purged; NJB: forgiven; RHM: by propitiation be covered; JPS: your sin be purged away; LXX: purge off thy sins. God may forgive the sins of anyone He pleases. [Psalm 51:2; Micah 7:18; Zechariah 3:4] The Hebrew for “propitiation” is KAIPHAR [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3722, atonement, pacify, reconciliation]. Compare 1 John 2:1, 2] It seems clear that in the OT there was a qualified degree of forgiveness compared to that of the NT and the Christian Saints.

Isaiah 6:8-13 – “Here I Am!”

IS6:8 Next I heard the voice of Y^eH^oW^aH, saying, “Whom will I send, and who will go for us?” 288 I responded: “Here I am, send me!” 289

288	Us: This simple word is viewed differently. Compare Genesis 1:26. It may be God and the angels, or include His Son. On the Son’s “pre-existence” see John 1:1, 18; 17:5.

289	Send me: The willingness of the prophet to serve Jehovah no matter the assignment is a lesson for all believers. Compare 1 Samuel 3:8; Psalm 110:3; Matthew 4:20. All believers must be willing to volunteer for God’s usage in any assignment.

IS6:9 Then He told me: “Go 290 and tell this people, ‘Keep hearing, but never understanding! 291 Keep looking, but never perceive!’

290	Go: Compare Matthew 28:19.

291	Keep hearing, but never understanding: Or, LXX: hear indeed, but you will not understand; RHM: hear on, but do not discern; NJB: listen and listen, but never understand. Jesus quotes this at Matthew 13:14, 15. Paul quotes it at Acts 28:26, 27.

IS6:10 Make the heart of this people sluggishly unresponsive. 292 Make their ears heavy with unhearing. 293 Paste their eyes shut. Otherwise they will see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and then their hearts will understand and return to a healing for themselves.” [Matthew 13:14, 15; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26]

292	Sluggishly unresponsive: Or, KJV: make fat; NJB: heart coarse; JPS: dull that people’s mind; RHM: stupefy thou the heart; LXX: become gross. Literally, “fat.” [Hebrew, SHAMAN (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #8080)]

293	Heavy with unhearing: Or, LXX: dull of hearing; RHM: their ears make thou heavy; JPS: stop its ears; NJB: ears dull. Note the echo at Hebrews 5:11.

IS6:11 Then I asked: “O Y^eH^oW^aH, how long?” 294 And He answered, “Until that time 295 when all the cities are desolate 296[Revelation 16:19] without an inhabitant! [Until] the houses are without humans! [Until] the land is wasted through desolation! 297

294	How long: A question often asked by God’s servants throughout the ages. [Psalm 6:3; 13:1, 3; 74:9; 79:5; 90:13; Daniel 8:13; 12:6; Habakkuk 1:2; 2:6; Revelation 6:10] This has caused some “ravenous wolves” to take advantage spiritually and materially of the sheep. [Luke 21:8; Acts 20:29]

295	Until that time: Compare Luke 21:8; Acts 1:7-9.

296	Cities are desolate: Or, KJV: cities be wasted; NJB: towns are in ruins; JPS: towns lie waste; LXX: until the cities be deserted. [Compare Revelation 16:19] The same occurred before the Assyrians in the 7th Century BC, the Babylonians in the 5th Century BC, and the Romans in the 1st Century AD.

297	The land is wasted through desolation: That is, unto the end of Jerusalem and Judah near the end of the 5th Century BC. Possibly the words apply again at 70 AD. Note EREMOSEOS [desolation] at Matthew 24:15. Revelation predicts the final desolation of cities. [Revelation 16:19]

IS6:12 [Until] Y^eH^oW^aH has moved far away from humans and there is great abandonment throughout the land. IS6:13 And yet, there will remain a tenth 298 [Revelation 11:13] even though the land may yet be consumed again. 299 Just like a great tree – a truly massive tree – though it is chopped down will still have a stump 300 – just so a Holy Seed will remain as its root. 301

298	A tenth: Interestingly the words are used in Revelation 11:13.

299	The land may yet be consumed again: Or, LXX: and again it shall be for a spoil; NJB: stripped again; RHM: thought it again be consumed. Jerusalem was desolated on three major occasions: by the Babylonians at the end of the 5th Century BC, and again in 70 AD by the Romans.

300	A stump: Or, KJV: substance; RHM: stock; LXX: acorn. Despite all the woes pronounced above there is hope for a remnant. Compare Job 14:7-9. Though Israel be destroyed a remnant will be saved. [Romans 11:7]

301	Holy Seed will remain as its root: Or, NJB: their stock is a holy seed; JPS: stump; KJV: substance. In each case of the desolation of Israel and Judah a holy stump remained to restore Jerusalem. Jesus infers the same at Matthew 24:22. [Romans 11:7; Galatians 3:16, 29]