Isaiah 12:5

Isa 12:5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth.

Ver. 5. Sing unto the Lord.] Or, Sing of the Lord. Sing a concise and short song, amputatis omnibus supervacaneis.

He hath done excellent things.] Heb., Excellence or majesty. All other spiritual blessings meet in our redemption by Christ, as the lines do in the centre, streams in the fountain.

This is known in all the earth.] Or, Let this be known; let all the world ring of it. As when the Argives were delivered by the Romans from the tyranny of the Macedonians and Spartans, the air was so dissipated with their acclamations and outcries, that the birds that flew over the place fell down amazed to the ground. {a}

{a} Plutarch.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Sing, &c.--alluding to Exo 15:21.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(5) For he hath done excellent things.—Here, again, the Hebrew indicates an echo from Exo_15:1 : “He hath triumphed gloriously.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

5. excellent things] “Excellence,” ch. Isa_26:10; cf. Exo_15:1.

this is known] Better as R.V. let this be known.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Sing unto the Lord,.... Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, vocally and together, as Gospel churches, to the glory of God; or "sing the Lord" (u), let him be the subject matter of the song, as in Isa 12:2 sing how great and good he is; sing what he is in himself, and what he is to others:

for he hath done excellent things; he hath wrought out an excellent salvation, which excels all others, being of a spiritual nature, complete and everlasting: it is emphatically a great one, in which God is glorified in all his perfections, and which issues in the eternal glory and happiness of his people. He has brought in an excellent righteousness, a righteousness that excels any righteousness of the creature, men or angels; it being the righteousness of God, a perfect, pure, and spotless one, which serves for many, even all his spiritual seed, and is everlasting: he has offered up an excellent sacrifice, a sacrifice that excels all that were offered up under the law; in the matter, which is himself; in the use and efficacy of it, to atone for sin, and take it away; in the continuance of that efficacy, and in its acceptableness unto God: and he has obtained an excellent victory over all his and his people's enemies, sin, Satan, the world, and death, and made them sharers in his conquests; reference seems to be had to Exo 15:1,

this is known in all the earth; that such a salvation is finished; such a righteousness is brought in; that peace, pardon, and atonement, are procured, and all enemies are conquered; for the Gospel publishing all this has been sent into all the world, and will be more fully preached throughout it in the latter day.

(u) "canite Jehovam", Cocceius; Sept.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Sing unto the Lord - This is the same expression which occurs in the song of Moses Exo 15:21. Isaiah evidently had that in his eye.

He hath done excellent things - Things that are exalted (גאות gê'ûth); that are worthy to be celebrated, and had in remembrance; things that are majestic, grand, and wonderful.

This is known in all the earth - Or, more properly, ‘Let this be known in all the earth.’ It is worthy of being celebrated everywhere. It should be sounded abroad through all lands. This expresses the sincere desire of all who are redeemed, and who are made sensible of the goodness and mercy of God the Saviour. The instinctive and the unceasing wish is, that the wonders of the plan of redeeming mercy should be everywhere known among the nations, and that all flesh should see the salvation of our God.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The knowledge of this glorious work of our redemption by the Messiah shall no longer be confined to Israel’s land, as it hitherto hath been; but shall reach to all nations.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

5. Sing unto the Lord — Praise Jehovah by singing, perhaps with instruments, is intended. It is the same as in Exo_15:1.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things. This is another quotation, very slightly modified, from the song of Moses, in which these words were part of the refrain. (Exo_15:1, Exo_15:21) This is known; rather, let this be known; i.e. publish it noise it abroad.

God honored through his mercies.

"Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things." A comprehensive term, summing up all that God had done for his people through the long ages, The Hebrew indicates an echo from Exo_15:1, "He hath triumphed gloriously." Reviewing God"s wondrous workings, we may regard them from three points of view.

I THEY ARE THINGS WHICH WE OUGHT TO ADMIRE.

II THEY ARE THINGS WHICH WE OUGHT TO STUDY.

III THEY ARE THINGS WHICH WE OUGHT TO FEEL. Because of their graciousness to us as frail, and their mercifulness to us as sinners. The great glory of God is his mercy. Christ is the embodiment of mercy. "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works towards the sons of men!" Thy mercy "endureth forever. R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

“Praise Jehovah (by singing, and perhaps with instruments) because He has done elevation (or sublimity, (i.e., a sublime deed). Known is this (or be this) in all the earth,” means properly to play upon stringed instruments, then to sing with an accompaniment, then to sing in general, then to praise by singing or by music generally. In this last sense it may govern the noun directly. The English Version, excellent things, is too indefinite. The English Version supplies is, and makes the last clause an appeal to the whole world for the truth of the thing celebrated. Most of the recent versions make it an imperative expression, exhorting to a general diffusion of the truth.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Isaiah continues to tell what the people will say when the king rules.

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel

"because the Holy One of Israel, who lives among you, is mighty" or "because the Holy One of Israel is mighty and he lives among you"

translationWords

Yahweh

glory

know

earth

joy

Zion

Holy One

Israel

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

זמרו Sing. Comp. זמרת the best fruit (Gen. 43:11). Lit. Give the best and choicest thing.

מודעת Known. Participle Hophal.

גאות Excellent thing. Feminine, as seen by the affix.ת

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.