Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH
17. Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.
17. Ideo decalvabit Dominus verticem filiarum Sion, et Dominus pudenda earum nudabit.
18. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
18. In die illa auferet Dominus ornamentum crepitaculorum, et reticula, et lunulas,
19. The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 19. Olfactoria, armillas, et mitras, 20. The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
20. Tiaras, crurum ornatus, vittas, bullas, et inaures, 21. The rings, and nose-jewels, 21. Annulos et monilia narium, 22. The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping-pins,
22. Mutatorias vestes, palliola, pepla, et acus, 23. The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 23. Specula, et sindones, calyptras et theristra. 24. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well-set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
24. Et erit pro suavi aromate putredo, et pro cinctura laceratio, et pro cincinnus calvitium; pro balteo cinctura sacci, adustio pro venustate.
25. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. 25. Viri tui in gladio cadent, et robur tuum in bello. 26. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she, being desolate, shall sit upon the ground
26. Moerebunt ac lugebunt portae ejus; et ipsa desolata humi jacebit.
1. For, behold. We stated, a little before, that this is the same subject which the Prophet began to treat towards the close of the former chapter; for he warns the Jews that their wealth, however great it may be, will be of no avail to prevent the wrath of God, which, when it has once been kindled, will burn up all their defenses. Hence it follows that they are chargeable with excessive madness, when, in order to drive away their alarm, they heap up their forces, strength, and warlike accoutrements, consultations, armor, abundant supply of provisions, and other resources.
The demonstrative particle( ,הנהhinneth,) "behold," is employed not only to denote certainty, but to express the shortness of time, as if Isaiah caused wicked men to be eye-witnesses of the event; for it frequently happens that