The Armor of God

Isaiahchapter 59

21 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 357 cross-references outward and receives 397 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Iniquity, not any weakness in Jehovah, blocks salvation: his hand is not shortened nor his ear heavy, but sins have separated the people from their God (vv. 1-2). The indictment piles up images — hands defiled with blood, adders' eggs, spiders' webs, feet running to shed innocent blood — and Paul quotes verses 7-8 in Romans 3:15-17 as evidence of universal sin. The voice shifts to confession: the people grope for the wall like the blind while truth falls in the street (vv. 9-15). Jehovah sees there is no justice and no intercessor, so his own arm brings salvation; he puts on righteousness as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation (vv. 16-18). "A Redeemer will come to Zion" (v. 20) — quoted in Romans 11:26-27 of Israel's future salvation — sealed by a covenant of Spirit and word that never departs (v. 21).

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

17–21 The Armor of God

1 Behold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.

4 None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

5 They hatch adders’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

6 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths.

8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.