Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
judgment of God more clearly by figures, which are fitted to produce an effect on sluggish minds.
The lofty people of the earth. 390 By the "lofty ones" we must understand those eminent persons who held a higher rank than others; for this is more wonderful than if the common people had fallen. Yet if it be thought preferable to explain it as relating peculiarly to the Jews, I have no objection; for although the Assyrians and Egyptians excelled them in wealth and power, still the Jews held the highest rank in this respect, that they had been adopted by God. But I prefer the other exposition, which makes the meaning to be, that the Lord would inflict punishment, not only on common people, but also on those who surpassed others in rank and splendor.
5. And the earth was deceitful. 391 Others render it "defiled" or "polluted," because( כנףchānăph) means "to be wicked." Both renderings may be appropriate; but the next verse appears to demand that we explain it to mean false; for he appears to illustrate and exhibit it more fully immediately afterwards, when he says that "the earth has been consumed by a curse."
Under its inhabitants. Whether( תהתtăhăth) be translated "Under its inhabitants," or, "On account of its inhabitants," is of little importance. There is a kind of mutual bargain between the land and the husbandmen, that it gives back with usury what it has received: if it does not, it deceives those who cultivate it. But he assigns a reason, imputing blame to them, that they render it barren by their wickedness. It is owing to our fault that it does not nourish us or bring forth fruit, as God appointed to be done by the regular order of nature; for he wished that it should hold the place of a mother to us, to supply us with food; and if it change its nature and order, or lose its fertility, we ought to attribute it to our sins, since we ourselves have reversed the order which God had appointed; otherwise the earth would never deceive us, but would perform her duty.
Because they have transgressed the laws. He immediately assigns the reason why the earth is unfaithful, and deceives her inhabitants. It is because those who refuse to honor God their Father and supporter, will justly be deprived of food and nourishment. Here he peculiarly holds up to shame the revolt of his nation, because it was baser and less excusable than all the transgressions of those who had never been taught in the school of God. The word( תורהtōrāh) is applied to "the Law," because it denotes instruction; but here, in the plural number,( תורתtōrōth,) it denotes all the instruction that is contained in the "Law." But as the "Law" contains both commandments and promises, he adds two parts for the purpose of explanation.
They have changed the ordinance. The Hebrew word( חקchōk) means "an ordinance," and on that account some think that it denotes ceremonies, and others that it denotes morals. We may render it "commandments;" and I understand it to mean not only ceremonies, but everything that belongs to
390"The haughty people of the earth. (Heb. the height of the people.)" — Eng. Ver. 391"The earth also is defiled." — Eng. Ver. "The earth is even polluted." — Stock. "And the land has been profaned." — Alexander