Chapter commentary
Isaiah Chapter 46
1
Isa 46:1-13.
繁體中文
English original
Isa 46:1-13.
BABYLON'S IDOLS COULD NOT SAVE THEMSELVES, MUCH LESS HER. BUT GOD CAN AND WILL SAVE ISRAEL: CYRUS IS HIS INSTRUMENT.
1. Bel--the same as the Phœnician Baal, that is, lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the center of one of the two parts into which the city was divided, the palace being in the center of the other. Identical with the sun, worshipped on turrets, housetops, and other high places, so as to be nearer the heavenly hosts (Saba)
(Jer 19:13; 32:29; Zep 1:5).
GESENIUS identifies Bel with the planet Jupiter, which, with the planet Venus (under the name Astarte or Astaroth), was worshipped in the East as the god of fortune, the most propitious star to be born under (see on
Isa 65:11).
According to the Apocryphal book, Bel and the Dragon, Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
boweth . . . stoopeth--falleth prostrate
(Isa 10:4; 1Sa 5:3, 4; Ps 20:8).
Nebo--the planet Mercury or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of heaven, answering to the Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is shown by the many proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzar-adan, Nabonassar, &c.
were upon--that is, were a burden (supplied from the following clause) upon. It was customary to transport the gods of the vanquished to the land of the conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually to keep down the subject people
(1Sa 5:1, &c.; Jer 48:7; 49:3; Da 11:8).
carriages--in the Old English sense of the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading
(Ac 21:15),
"carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the images which used to be carried by you formerly in your solemn processions [MAURER].
were heavy loaden--rather, are put as a load on the beasts of burden [MAURER]. HORSLEY translates, "They who should have been your carriers (as Jehovah is to His people,
Isa 46:3, 4)
are become burdens" (see on
Isa 46:4).
2
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繁體中文
2. deliver——從仇敵手中。
burden——他們放在牲畜上的偶像
(Isa 46:1).
themselves——即神祇本身，此處也與其偶像有所區分。
English original
2. deliver--from the enemies' hands.
burden--their images laid on the beasts
(Isa 46:1).
themselves--the gods, here also distinguished from their images.
3
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繁體中文
3. 與上文形成對比：巴比倫的偶像非但不能承載其百姓安全前行，自己反成了負重之畜的擔子，被搬走；而耶和華卻從母腹直到年老，懷搋祂的百姓安然無恙
(Isa 63:9;
De 32:11;
Ps 71:6, 18).
神將自己比作溫柔抱著孩子的奶媽；試對比摩西的話
(Nu 11:12).
English original
3. in contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from bearing its people safely are themselves borne off, a burden to the laden beast; but Jehovah bears His people in safety even from the womb to old age
(Isa 63:9; De 32:11; Ps 71:6, 18).
God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast Moses' language
(Nu 11:12).
4
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繁體中文
4. old age——因「你們」——「你」——「你」在希伯來文中並不存在，這意思比英文譯本更為廣泛，當然也包括猶太人從嬰孩到其歷史較成熟階段的全程
(Isa 47:6).
I am he——即始終如一的那位
(Ps 102:27;
Joh 8:24;
Heb 13:8).
I will bear . . . carry——我不僅不需要像偶像那樣被背負和搬運
(Isa 46:1).
English original
4. old age--As "your"--"you"--"you," are not in the Hebrew, the sentiment is more general than English Version, though of course it includes the Jews from the infancy to the more advanced age of their history
(Isa 47:6).
I am he--that is, the same
(Ps 102:27; Joh 8:24; Heb 13:8).
I will bear . . . carry--Not only do I not need to be borne and carried Myself, as the idols
(Isa 46:1).
5
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繁體中文
5.
(Isa 40:18, 25).
English original
5.
(Isa 40:18, 25).
6
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繁體中文
6.
(Isa 40:19, 20; 41:7.)
他們從錢囊中慷慨傾出黃金，為偶像不惜代價。他們的慷慨使那些以無代價之物敬拜神的信徒之吝嗇相形見絀。罪向來是代價高昂的服事。
English original
6.
(Isa 40:19, 20; 41:7.)
They lavish gold out of their purses and spare no expense for their idol. Their profuseness shames the niggardliness of professors who worship God with what cost them nothing. Sin is always a costly service.
7
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7. cry . . . can . . . not . . . save——
(Isa 45:20，
與之相對的是
Isa 45:19).
English original
7. cry . . . can . . . not . . . save--
(Isa 45:20,
with which contrast
Isa 45:19).
8
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繁體中文
8. show yourselves men——當棄絕如前文所示的拜偶像之幼稚行為
(1Co 14:20; 16:13; Eph 4:14)。
要作大丈夫就必須敬虔；因人是照著「神的形像」造的，唯有與神聯合才達到他真正的尊嚴；virtue（美德）一詞源於拉丁文 vir，「人」。
bring . . . to mind——宜作「放在心上」。
transgressors——對猶太人中拜偶像者所說的話。
English original
8. show yourselves men--Renounce the childishness of idolatry as shown in what precedes
(1Co 14:20; 16:13; Eph 4:14).
In order to be manly we must be godly; for man was made "in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; virtue is derived from the Latin vir, "a man."
bring . . . to mind--rather, "lay it to heart."
transgressors--addressed to the idolaters among the Jews.
9
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9. former——即耶和華獨一神格的證據，來自應驗的預言與神為以色列所作的介入
(Isa 45:5)。
English original
9. former--namely, proofs of the sole Godship of Jehovah, from predictions fulfilled, and interpositions of God in behalf of Israel
(Isa 45:5).
10
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10.
(Isa 45:21; 41:22, 23; 44:26)。
yet——希伯來文中無此字。譯作「那未曾行過的事」〔HORSLEY〕。
do all my pleasure——
(Isa 53:10; Ro 9:19)。
English original
10.
(Isa 45:21; 41:22, 23; 44:26).
yet--not in the Hebrew. Translate, "What had not been done" [HORSLEY].
do all my pleasure--
(Isa 53:10; Ro 9:19).
11
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11. ravenous bird——古列如此稱呼，是因他從遙遠的波斯地區快速進軍、擒獵物（見
Isa 41:2；
Isa 41:25；
Jer 49:22；
Eze 17:3 註釋）。
古列的軍旗也是一支矛上的金鷹（見異教史家 XENOPHON, 7，那裡幾乎用同一個字，aetos，如此處的 ayit）。
executeth my counsel——
(Isa 44:28; 45:13)。
巴比倫在奧秘意義上代表背道的派系：其偶像的毀滅象徵將來一切偶像崇拜與不信的普遍根除。
purposed . . . also do it——
(Isa 43:13)。
English original
11. ravenous bird--Cyrus so called on account of the rapidity of his marches from the distant regions of Persia to pounce on his prey (see on
Isa 41:2;
Isa 41:25;
Jer 49:22;
Eze 17:3).
The standard of Cyrus, too, was a golden eagle on a spear (see the heathen historian, XENOPHON, 7, where almost the same word is used, aetos, as here, ayit).
executeth my counsel--
(Isa 44:28; 45:13).
Babylon represents, mystically, the apostate faction: the destruction of its idols symbolizes the future general extirpation of all idolatry and unbelief.
purposed . . . also do it--
(Isa 43:13).
12
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繁體中文
12. stout-hearted——頑固地抵擋神
(Ps 76:5; Ac 7:51)。
far from righteousness——
(Isa 59:9; Hab 2:4)。
English original
12. stout-hearted--stubborn in resisting God
(Ps 76:5; Ac 7:51).
far from righteousness--
(Isa 59:9; Hab 2:4).
13
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繁體中文
13. 臨近——與「遠離」相對
（賽 46:12； 賽 51:5，56:1，61:10、11； 羅 10:6-8）。
公義——對應平行句中的「拯救」；因此此處意為「我公義的拯救」；稱為公義，因證明神應許的真實，且其設計不妥協反而維護了祂的公義
（賽 42:21； 羅 3:26）。
錫安……我的榮耀——宜作「我要在錫安賜下救恩；在以色列（我要賜下）我的榮耀」
〔HORSLEY〕。
（賽 63:11； 詩 14:7； 路 2:32）。
English original
13. near--antithetical to "far"
(Isa 46:12; Isa 51:5; 56:1; 61:10, 11; Ro 10:6-8).
righteousness--answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means here, "my righteous deliverance"; righteous, because proving the truth of God's promises, and so contrived as to not compromise, but vindicate, His righteousness
(Isa 42:21; Ro 3:26).
Zion . . . my glory--rather, "I will give salvation in Zion; to Israel (I will give) my glory" [HORSLEY].
(Isa 63:11; Ps 14:7; Lu 2:32).
Isa 46:1-13.
巴比倫的偶像不能自救，更不能救她。但神能、也必救以色列：居魯士是祂的工具。
1. Bel——與腓尼基人的巴力相同，意為「主」，巴比倫的主神；著名的巴比倫塔即為其而建，位於該城兩區之一的中心，宮殿則在另一區的中心。與太陽等同，在角樓、屋頂及其他高處受拜，以求更接近天上的眾軍（Saba）
(Jer 19:13; 32:29; Zep 1:5).
GESENIUS 將伯爾等同於木星，木星與金星（以亞斯他錄之名）在東方被當作命運之神敬拜，被視為出生時最有利的星宿（見
Isa 65:11).
據次經《Bel and the Dragon》，伯爾被居魯士推倒。
boweth . . . stoopeth——俯伏於地
(Isa 10:4; 1Sa 5:3, 4; Ps 20:8).
Nebo——占星術中的水星或赫密士。天上的書記，相當於埃及的阿努比斯。其敬拜之廣泛，可從許多以此構成的專有名稱看出：尼布甲尼撒、尼布撒拉旦、拿波納撒爾等。
were upon——即（由下文補足）成為重擔在……之上。戰敗者的神祇被運到征服者的土地上，征服者以為這樣更能有效地壓制服屬之民
(1Sa 5:1,
&c.; Jer 48:7; 49:3; Da 11:8).
carriages——古英語意指所攜帶之物，即你們所抬的神像：行李
(Ac 21:15)
中的「carriages」指所載之物，而非車輛。或作，從前你們在莊嚴遊行中所抬的神像 [MAURER]。
were heavy loaden——不如譯作被當作重載放在馱獸之上 [MAURER]。HORSLEY 譯作：「本該作你們抬運者的（如耶和華之於祂的百姓，
Isa 46:3, 4)
反而成了重擔」（見
Isa 46:4).