Isaiah 54:17

Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.

Ver. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.] But shall be, as the poets feign of Ajax’s sword, which so long as he used against men, his enemies, served for help and defence; but after he began to abuse it to the harm of harmless beasts, it turned into his own bowels.

And every tongue thou shalt condemn.] As the eclipsed moon, by keeping her motion, wades out of the shadow, and recovers her splendour, so shalt thou when slandered. See Psa 37:6. {See Trapp on "Psa 37:6"}

This is the heritage.] Given them freely, and for perpetuity.

And their righteousness.] The clearing up of their wronged innocence.

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.

Isa_54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper

Worthless weapons

I.

GLANCE AT THE WEAPONS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED AGAINST THE CHURCH COLLECTIVELY.

1. The first weapon that we notice is an old one--Infidelity. Nothing can be more palpable than this--humanity refuses to be infidel.

2. Behold another of these hostile implements is the weapon of persecution. A weak weapon, nevertheless.

II. AS REGARDS THE CHURCH INDIVIDUALLY NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST IT SHALL PROSPER.

1. The weapon of slander shall not prosper.

2. The weapon of doubt.

3. The weapon of death. (T. R. Stevenson.)

The godly mans heritage

I. THE ARMOURY OF SATAN. The enemy of souls is likened by our Lord to a strong man armed; He commands principalities and powers; skilled in hostilities, He has different modes of attack; He employs a great variety of weapons.

1. Persecution. And yet, when we estimate the results of persecution, we have to confess it has not prospered. It has been mightily restrained, and its remains have been turned to the praise of God. It has purified the Church, and given new impetus to the truth. Sometimes it has united the despised forces of Zion, so that their strength has been greatly increased.

2. Temptation. With this weapon the archer sorely wounded our first parents, and he has ever since too successfully hurled it against their progeny. But it does not prosper; it strips us of self-confidence, eradicates pride, drives us for safety to the Hiding Place, and presses upon us the constant necessity for that shield of faith which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked. You cannot afford to despise temptations; but you need not despair under them while you call in the aid engaged to you.

3. False teaching. Clothed as an angel of light, the tempter first instilled error into the mind of Eve, before he could produce disobedience. It is no light affliction to have the minds view of Divine truth perverted. Various, however, as are the shades of false teaching, they do not prosper--they flourish for a time like grass upon the housetops, but they fill no mans bosom with harvest sheaves. The Word of God outlives them all. Each of those weapons was directed with fullest force against the Son of God.

II. THE WORLDLY MANS MALICE. Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. The slightest whisper of suspicion is greedily sought after, if it cast but a shadow on the character of any saint, and it, is repeated till it grows to calumnious dimensions, and eateth as doth a canker. The worst manifestation of this malignant plague is that which makes its appearance within the Church: when those who should be the guardians become the assailants of a brothers character, and prejudice and suspicion displace confidence and charity. In the ease of the true Christian, integrity of life will disappoint all the aspersions of the wicked.

III. THE GODLY MANS VINDICATION. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord. What an inheritance it is! It comprises all the blessings contained in Gods Word; and the fulfilment of all His gracious, promises. (W. G. Lewis.)

The Christians heritage

I. THE CHRISTIANS EXPERIENCE.

1. Weapons are formed against him. No Christian need expect aught else. As Israels experience in the wilderness, so the Christians in the world.

2. Tongues rise against him. From the days of Cain it has been so, and will be so to the end. So they treated the Lord, and so they will treat His disciples.

II. THY CHRISTIANS SECURITY.

1. No weapon shall prosper. The Christians enemies may be mighty, malignant, crafty, constant; but more mighty, more wise, more watchful, more indefatigable and loving is his protector.

2. Every tongue he shall condemn.

(1) He shall do it himself by well-doing (1Pe_2:15).

(2) God shall do it for him.

(3) It shall be done sufficiently on earth (Psa_37:6).

(4) Perfectly in eternity (Job_19:25).

See also Zec_3:1-10. Let Christians see to it that they so live that men speaking evil of them shall do it falsely, and God shall fully vindicate them. Who has this security? and in answer see--

III. THE CHRISTIANS CHARACTER. The servants of the Lord. This security is described as--

IV. THY CHRISTIANS HERITAGE; and this description may teach us--

1. That while the Christian is a servant, he is also a son and heir.

2. That his security is a thing not of merit, but of inheritance. It is a legacy secured to him by the death of Christ. It is the Fathers good pleasure to give them the kingdom.

3. We may be sure that a heritage from God is a certain possession. He is without variableness or shadow of turning.

V. THE CHRISTIANS TITLE. Perhaps this last clause had been better translated uniformly with previous one: And this is their righteousness (justification) from Me. But taking it as we have It, we may interpret it as teaching us

1. That the Christians justification is of God. It is the righteousness which is of God by faith.

2. That the Christians sanctification is of God. It is He who worketh in him to will and to do of Gods good pleasure.

3. That boasting is excluded. What hast thou that thou hast not received?

4. That security is perfect; for if God justify, who can condemn Rom_8:34)? and if God sanctify, He will perfect that which concerneth us. This clause thus explains as well as ratifies the promise, and, farther, it tells us how we may secure this promise for ourselves. Righteousness we have not by nature, righteousness we cannot attain of ourselves--but righteousness we may receive from God. (D. Jamison, B. A.)

Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord

Justification through imputed righteousness

In these words, which are spoken of all true believers, more particularly, we may observe--

I. THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD, AND OF ALL THE GLORIOUS PRIVILEGES THAT THEY ENJOY OR ARE ENTITLED TO. It is a righteousness; such a righteousness as answers all the demands of the Divine law, a righteousness with which God is well pleased.

II. HOW BELIEVERS BECOME POSSESSED OF THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, They have it not of themselves. It is not a righteousness wrought out by them or inherent in them, but a righteousness which they have of God. God, in the person of the Father, devised and provided it; God, in the person of the Son, wrought it out for them. It is also through the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to believe the report of the Gospel, and receive Christ exhibited and freely offered to them in it, that they come to be actually possessed of this righteousness.

III. THE INTEREST THAT BELIEVERS HAVE IN THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS THE GROUND OF THEIR JUSTIFICATION. It is called their righteousness. Though it is not theirs originally or subjectively, it is theirs really. It is theirs by the free gift of God.

IV. THE CERTAINTY OF THE GREAT AND IMPORTANT TRUTH ASSERTED IN THE TEXT, namely, that the righteousness of believers, or that righteousness by which they are justified, and on which their title to everlasting life and all the blessings of salvation is wholly founded, is a righteousness which they have not of themselves, but of God, or by His free gift and gracious imputation. This is what Jehovah Himself declares and attests in the plainest manner: Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord. (D. Wilson.)

The excellent properties and qualities of that righteousness by which believers are justified

It is--

1. A perfect righteousness.

2. A Divine righteousness.

3. A justice-satisfying righteousness.

4. A law-magnifying righteousness.

5. A God-glorifying righteousness.

6. A righteousness that is freely given to the unworthy and the guilty.

7. An everlasting righteousness. (D. Wilson.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

THE CHRISTIAN’S HERITAGE

Isa_54:17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, &c.

I. THE CHRISTIAN’S EXPERIENCE.

1. Weapons are formed against him. No Christian need expect aught else. As Israel’s experience in the wilderness, so the Christian’s in the world. The devil will try to hinder his progress, &c The world, too, in various ways—by its cares, snares, &c. The law in his members also will war against the law of his mind. He must fight his way, “fight the good fight of faith,” fight under the banner “Jehovah-Nissi,” fight, “putting on the whole armour of God.”

2. Tongues rise against him. From the days of Cain it has been so, and will be so to the end. Christians need not think it strange if they are mocked, maligned, misrepresented, all manner of evil said against them. So they treated the Lord, and so they will treat His disciples (Joh_15:9). But while this shall be, more or less, the experience of every Christian, learn, over against it—

II. THE CHRISTIAN’S SECURITY.

1. No weapon shall prosper. His enemies may be mighty, &c. but more mighty, wise, watchful, indefatigable and loving is his protector. He is perfectly safe. This does not mean, however, that he is not to use expedients—to watch and pray, to resist and strive.

2. Every tongue he shall condemn. (I.) He shall do it himself by welldoing (1Pe_2:15).

(2.) God shall do it for him.

(3.) It shall be done sufficiently on earth (Psa_37:6).

(4.) Perfectly in eternity (Job_19:25).

3. Let Christians see to it that they so live that men speaking evil of them shall do it “falsely,” and God shall fully vindicate them.

But now the question comes, Who has this security? and in answer see—

III. THE CHRISTIAN’S CHARACTER. “The servants of the Lord.” Only real Christians, to whom this security is given, i.e., those whose faith is a real root within and bears corresponding fruit without. Many arrogate such promises as this who have no right to them. They only who keep the precepts reap the promises. We must be servants if we would be safe. It is he who serves that the Lord preserves; none other (Mat_7:21).

This secunty is further described as—

IV. THE CHRISTIAN’S HERITAGE. This description may teach us—

1. That while he is a servant, he is also a son—son and heir. Each believer may say with John (1Jn_3:1-2).

2. That his security is a thing not of merit, but of inheritance. It is a legacy secured to him by the death of Christ (Luk_12:32).

3. We may be sure that a heritage from God is a certain possession (Jas_1:17).

V. THE CHRISTIAN’S TITLE.

1. The Christian’s justification is of God (Php_3:9).

2. His sanctification is of God (Php_2:13).

3. Boasting is excluded. “What hast thou that thou hast not received?”

4. His security is perfect. If God justify, who can condemn? (Rom_8:34.) And if God sanctify, He will perfect that which concerneth us. This clause thus explains as well as ratifies the promise, and, further, it tells us how we may secure this promise for ourselves. Righteousness we have not by nature; we cannot attain it of ourselves; but we may receive it from God. Let us seek it by faith in Christ, and He will be “the Lord our righteousness,” and then this glorious heritage is ours. What a different one from that of the wicked (Job_20:1-29).—David Jamison, B.A.: The Homiletic Quarterly, vol. iv. p. 538.

WORTHLESS WEAPONS

Isa_54:17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper

Old castles contain many relics of the past, and on the walls hang many weapons of ancient date. To such a place the Church may be likened. A divine and secure citadel, it contains not a few victorious trophies—signs of its enemies’ defeat.

I. Some of the weapons that have been used against the Church collectively.

1. The first that we notice is very old. It was employed against Noah, Job, David, all who have been called to do great things for God. What is its name? Infidelity. But it has not prospered. Humanity refuses to be infidel. Sinners abound, not sceptics. Atheism, like physical deformity, is the exception, not the rule. The soul must have something to live upon. Again and again the foes of Christianity have become its converts in their very attempts to destroy it: Athenagoras, Gilbert West, Lord Lyttelton.

2. Behold another of these hostile implements. Its edge is keen; it gleams with cruel hate; there are crimson stains on it. Its name? Persecution. It has inflicted frightful, gaping wounds; it has taken many an innocent life; history is full of records of its merciless deeds. But it is a weak weapon, nevertheless. It has purified the Church oftentimes, by driving away the hypocrites and leaving the true believers; it has increased the Church by scattering abroad its preachers, who in new fields have made fresh converts; but it has not destroyed the Church. It has not prospered.

II. But the promise is true of the individual believer as well as of the Church. How hopeful, how happy, ought every believer to be! The soul of the good man is invulnerable.

1. The weapon of SLANDER shall not prosper. At one time or another all God’s servants are attacked by it. But in the end none of them is any the worse for it. God will take care of the reputations of His people. Are you slandered? Do as David did (Psa_119:6). So you may smile at your calumniators. The hour of your vindication is at hand (Psa_37:5-6).

2. The weapon of DOUBT shall not prosper. Like other men, the believer is assailed by doubts; but they do but cause him, as they did John the Baptist (Mat_11:2-3), to apply to Christ for their solution; and by Him he is settled and grounded in the truth, to which he clings the more firmly because he remembers how nearly he lost it.

3. The weapon of DEATH shall not prosper. He who trusts in God’s mercy through the substitution of Jesus Christ need not be alarmed at this weapon. You probably recollect handsome, brave Sir Walter Raleigh’s remark when he put his finger on the edge of the horrible axe which was speedily to end his life: “It is a sharp medicine, but it is a cure for all ills.”—T. R. Stevenson: Christian World Pulpit, vol. iii. pp. 244.

The meaning of this is that the Church of God cannot be destroyed.

I. GOD’S CHURCH HAS ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED OPPOSITION.

It has been persecuted. Its Divine origin has been and is disputed. There have always been enemies that have sought its destruction, &c.

That the Head of the Church should expose His truth to attack at all, is strange at first sight. But,

1. Opposition tests the sincerity of discipleship.

2. Keeps alive the evidence for the truth, which otherwise might drop out of recollection.

II. GOD’S CHURCH HAS SURVIVED OPPOSITION.

Thus this word has been hitherto fulfilled. [1686]

[1686] The language here is derived probably from courts of justice, and the idea is, that truth and victory, in every strife of words, would be on the side of the Church. To those who have watched the progress of discussions thus far on the subject of the true religion, it is needless to say that this has been triumphantly fulfilled. Argument, sophism, ridicule, have all been tried to overthrow the truth of the Christian religion. Appeals have been made to astronomy, geology, antiquities, history, and indeed to almost every department of science, and with the same want of success. Poetry has lent the charm of its numbers; the grave historian has interwoven with the thread of his narrative covert attacks and sly insinuations against the Bible; the earth has been explored to prove that “He who made the world and revealed its age to Moses was mistaken in its age;” and the records of Oriental nations, tracing their history up cycles of ages beyond the Scripture account of the creation of the world, have been appealed to; but thus far, in all these contests, ultimate victory has declared in favour of the Bible. And no matter from what quarter the attack has come, and no matter how much learning and talent have been evinced by the adversaries of the Bible; God has raised up some Watson, or Lardner, or Chalmers, or Buckland, or Cuvier, or Wiseman, to meet these charges, and to turn the scales in favour of the cause of truth.—Albert Barnes, D.D., Commentary, in loco.

1. Through persecution it has been preserved.

2. Notwithstanding enfeebling influences it has been preserved. It has often been exposed to bad air. For malism and superstition. Yet it has more adherents to-day than ever, and is growing.

3. Notwithstanding the attitude of scepticism and unbelief. Changes its front at different periods. Sometimes the literary history of the Bible is attacked; sometimes the reality of its facts; sometimes its miracles; some times its supposed incompatibility with scientific doctrines. Hitherto, however, it has always stood its ground, and emerges from every conflict stronger than before.

All this proves—

1. That the Gospel, which is the life of the Church, is commended by the strongest evidence.

2. That the Gospel is perpetuated by supernatural influences. Gibbon elaborated five secondary causes of the rapid and extensive propagation of the Gospel in the first centuries. They are true as far as they go. But he slurs over in a sentence a cause still greater, namely, the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a continuous miracle. Conversion is always the work of God. Every fresh convert is a fresh evidence of the truth.

3. That God’s Church and cause shall be maintained until its mission is accomplished. Notwithstanding all difficulty, all opposition, all new forms of unbelief, it shall fulfil this prophecy in the future as it has in the past.—J. Rawlinson.

The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.

54:17 no weapon . . . will succeed . . . accuse you . . . vindication: God will protect his people in war and in the courtroom. • These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord: Only the true children of God—people who come out of Israel and the nations—will enjoy the promised blessings of the age to come that God establishes.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

tongue . . . condemn--image from a court of justice. Those who desire to "condemn" thee thou shalt "condemn" (Exo 11:7; Jos 10:21; Psa 64:8; Rom 8:1, Rom 8:33).

righteousness . . . of me-- (Isa 45:24; Isa 46:13). Rather, "(this is) their justification from Me." Their enemies would "condemn" them, but I justify and vindicate them, and so they condemn their enemies.

Next: Isaiah Chapter 55

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

(17) Every tongue that shall rise . . .—The thought implied is that war comes as the punishment of guilt, and that it is preceded by the “cry” of accusation. Many such cries had risen up against the old Jerusalem (Isa_5:7). There should be none such heard against the new.

This is the heritage.—The solemn asseveration indicates the close of a distinct section.

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

17. Israel therefore has no cause to fear any material weapon, and even the Satanic weapon of false accusations, which assail her righteous standing before God, she shall be able to foil.

every tongue … thou shalt condemn] i.e. shew to be in the wrong (cf. ch. Isa_50:8 f.).

This is the heritage &c.] A concluding summary. “This,” viz., all the blessings just enumerated, peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition.

of the servants of the Lord] The title “servants of Jehovah” (in the plural) has not hitherto been used in the prophecy (with the doubtful exception of ch. Isa_44:26, where it denotes the prophets). It is possible that its occurrence here forms a link of connexion between this chapter and the last. The ideal represented by the Servant of Jehovah is now reproduced in each individual member of the new Israel; they are all of the spiritual seed which was promised to him, and the salvation they enjoy is the fruit of the travail of his soul (Isa_53:10-11). It is noteworthy, at all events, that while from this point the Israelites are spoken of as servants of Jehovah, the ideal Servant is never again mentioned.

and their righteousness is of me] Rather, and (this is) their righteousness from me. The righteousness, or justification, bestowed on them by Jehovah (cf. Psa_24:5) is manifested in such blessedness as has just been spoken of.

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.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper,.... All weapons of war, as the Targum, which are made with a design to hurt and destroy the people of God, shall be rendered useless; not one of them shall prosper to the advantage of their enemies, or so as to answer their design; nor to the hurt and prejudice, ruin and destruction, of the saints:

and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment; that shall raise any calumny upon thee, or bring any charge against thee, or enter into a lawsuit with thee, litigate a point with thee in any court of judicature, or claim, in right and law, a power, authority, and dominion over thee, as the pope of Rome does over the consciences of men:

thou shalt condemn; disprove and roll off the calumny, refute the charge and accusation, put to silence the clamours and pretences of wicked men, carry the cause against them, and shake off the yoke of bondage they would bring them under; and, instead of being condemned by them, condemn them. By "weapon" may be meant all the attempts made by force to ruin the interest and church of Christ in the world, such as the bloody persecutions of the Roman emperors, who, though they made sad havoc of the professors of Christianity, and designed hereby to have rooted it out of the world, and thought they should have accomplished it, yet could not do it; so far from it, that the Christians yet more and more increased, insomuch that it became a common saying, that the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church; also the wars of the Papists with the Albigenses and Waldenses, and all the cruel methods they have taken by fire and faggot, and the bloody inquisition, to hinder the growth of what they call heresy; yet all have been in vain, a reformation has taken place, and many nations have embraced the truth, and shook off the yoke of Popery; together with all their efforts since to crush the Protestant interest; and though the kings of the earth will be stirred up, and gather together to the battle of the Lord God Almighty, they will not succeed, but be overcome and slain, and the beast and false prophet at the head of them will be taken and cast alive into the lake of fire: and by the "tongue" may be designed the edicts of the Pagan emperors, forbidding the exercise of the Christian religion, and threatening the preachers and professors of it with imprisonment, confiscation of goods, and death itself; and the anathemas, bulls, and interdicts of the popes of Rome, as well as the reproaches, scandals, and calumnies uttered by the emissaries of that church against all that depart from it; together with the errors and heresies of false teachers of all sorts in all ages of the world, which, though levelled against the faith and doctrine of the church of Christ, have not been able to subvert it, nor ever will:

this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; this, with all that is said in this chapter, is the part, portion, and privilege, that such shall enjoy who serve the Lord Christ, and not antichrist; they shall be treated rather as sons than as servants, and have an inheritance assigned them; not only protection from all enemies, and absolution from all charges, but they shall receive the reward of the inheritance in heaven, that which is incorruptible and undefiled, and reserved there, since they serve the Lord Christ:

and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord; the vindication of their righteousness, of their cause, and of their character; or the reward of their righteous works in a way of grace; even all that righteousness and true holiness that is in them, and that righteousness which is imputed to them, and by which they are justified, are from the Lord; by which they are secured from all the charges of law and justice, and, from all the accusations of men and devils, and which will answer for them in a time to come, and acquit them at the bar of God before men and angels; see Rom 8:33.

Next: Isaiah Chapter 55

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

No weapon that is formed - No instrument of war, no sword, or spear; no instrument of persecution or torture that is made by the smith, Isa 54:16.

Shall prosper - On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Isa 52:13. The sense here is, that it shall not have final and ultimate prosperity. It might be permitted for a time to appear to prosper - as persecutors and oppressors have done; but there would not be final and complete success.

And every tongue - No one shall be able to injure you by words and accusations. If a controversy shall arise; if others reproach you and accuse you of imposture and deceit, you will be able ultimately to convince them of error, and, by manifestation of the truth, to condemn them. The language here is derived probably from courts of justice (see the notes at Isa 41:1); and the idea is, that truth and victory, in every strife of words, would be on the side of the church. To those who have watched the progress of discussions thus far on the subject of the true religion, it is needless to say that this has been triumphantly fulfilled. Argument, sophism, ridicule, have all been tried to overthrow the truth of the Christian religion. Appeals have been made to astronomy, geology, antiquities, history, and indeed to almost every department of science, and with the same want of success. Poetry has lent the charm of its numbers; the grave historian has interwoven with the thread of his narrative covert attacks and sly insinuations against the Bible; the earth has been explored to prove that’ He who made the world and revealed its age to Moses was mistaken in its age;’ and the records of Oriental nations, tracing their history up cycles of ages beyond the Scripture account of the creation of the world, have been appealed to, but thus far in all these contests ultimate victory has declared in favor of the Bible. And no matter from what quarter the attack has come, and no matter how much learning and talent have been evinced by the adversaries of the Bible, God has raised up some Watson, or Lardner, or Chalmers, or Buckland, or Cuvier, or Wiseman, to meet these charges, and to turn the scales in favor of the cause of truth. They who are desirous of examining the effects of the controversy of Christianity with science, and the results, can find them detailed with great learning and talent in Dr. Wiseman’s Lectures on the connection between Science and Revealed Religion, Andover, 1837.

This is the heritage - The inheritance which awaits those who serve God is truth and victory. It is not gold and the triumph of battle. It is not the laurel won in fields of blood. But it is, the protection of God in all times of trouble; his friendship in all periods of adversity; complete victory in all contests with error and false systems of religion; and preservation when foes rise up in any form and endeavor to destroy the church, and to blot out its existence and its name.

And their righteousness is of me - Or rather, ‘this is the righteousness, or the justification which they obtain of me; this is that which I impart to them as their justification.’ The idea is not that their righteousness is of him, but that this justification or vindication from him is a part of their inheritance and their portion.

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

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and as they cannot do any thing against thee without my leave, so I assure thee I will not suffer them to do it; and if any smith shall make any weapons to be employed against thee, he shall not succeed in it.

And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn; and I will deliver thee not only from the fury of the war, but also from the strife of tongues, from all the threatenings, and boasts, and reproaches of thine enemies, and from all the claims and pretences which they have of any right and power over thee. So thine enemies shall neither prevail against thee by violence, nor by pretences of justice.

This is the heritage; this blessed condition described in this chapter is the portion allotted to them by me.

Their righteousness; either,

1. The reward or fruit of their righteousness, as righteousness is used, Psa 112:3,9. Or,

2. Their right or the righteous administration of all their concerns, whereby they are preserved from all manner of oppressions, as righteousness was used, Isa 54:14. Is of me; I give it, and I will continue it to them; and who then can take it away from them?

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

17. No weapon… against thee shall prosper — An address of encouragement to Zion. No tongue entering into contest with thee shall prevail. Opposition, physical, ethical, spiritual, shall be discomfited Such is the heritage of God’s people — namely, his infallible promise, and his power to maintain and completely fulfil it.

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

No weapon... every tongue. Whether weapons are used against Israel, or whether she is attacked, as in Sennacherib"s time, by "the tongue that speaketh proud things", (Isa_36:4-20 Isa_37:10-13) the result will he the same. She will triumph over her enemies, and condemn them or put them to shame. Her security is her righteousness, which she derives from Jehovah. (comp. Isa_45:24, Isa_45:25)

Man"s righteousness is of God.

Whatever there is in man of goodness, virtue, sound or right feeling, high aspiration, spiritual strength, comes to him from the Almighty, from whence descends "every good gift and every perfect gift". (Jam_1:17) Original righteousness was from God. (Gen_1:27, Gen_1:31) When man fell, and "corrupted his way," recovery was impossible, unless God both devised a method by which it should be possible, and also superintended the working of his own method, and at each step made it effectual. The righteousness of the servants of God is a double righteousness, imputed and infused; but both come equally from the perfectly "righteous Servant", (Isa_53:11) who alone "justifies many.

I IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF GOD. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of God; for it is the righteousness of Christ, who is God. Christ is made to us" wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption". (1Co_1:30) The righteousness which is properly his, and which is a perfect righteousness, is, through our mystic union with him, imputed to us, as if it were ours, and so becomes ours, and justifies us. It is also "of God," since it is imputed to us by God. God the Father condescends to look upon us as so bound up in his Son that he passes on to us the merits of his Son, and, as it were, makes them ours.

II INFUSED RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OF GOD. Infused righteousness is the work of the Holy Spirit, who "sanctifies us, and all the elect people of God." It admits of infinite degrees, and in this life is always imperfect. The true Christian is always making progress in it, adding grace to grace, going on from strength to strength, perfecting holiness in the tear of God. But every step is made by God"s help. Without him man can do nothing. Every virtue that we have is also a grace a grace from the Divine point of view, a virtue from the human; with struggle and effort acquired by man, yet given to him by God. Imputed righteousness is that which justifies us; infused righteousness is that which sanctifies us. The one is a gift to us; the other is a gift in us. But both alike are the gift of God. (see Rom_3:21-26 Rom_5:15-19 1Co_4:7 1Co_15:10 Gal_5:22, 23 Eph_5:9, etc.)

The heritage of faithful service.

From the beginning to the end of the Scriptures the service of God is represented as the only wise course for men to take. All paths of disobedience are spoken of as ways of folly as well as of sin. It is godliness that has the promise of all things, here and hereafter. The heritage of the holy is very variously defined, the most remarkable definition being that given by our Lord in reply to Peter. (vide Mar_10:28-31) In the text we have it presented to us as a continual victory. No weapon formed against the righteous shall prosper, and every accusation shall be silenced. God will justify them. The faithful service of Christ is marked by victory over

I SUCCESS IN OUTWARD LIFE. Few weapons are so powerful as this in the hand of the enemy. Many are they who, in their folly, have allowed their prosperity to destroy them. (Pro_1:32) The sense of power, the enjoyment of popularity, the command of comforts, the continuance of success in the chosen vocation, these things prove too much for many souls. Under their influence men swerve from the straight line of simplicity of life, humility of spirit, purity of heart, integrity of character.

II ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES. These are often found to be victorious over men, triumphing over their faith in God, their gratitude, and their submission; leading down to sullenness and moroseness of spirit; in some cases conducting to unbelief and impiety.

III PRIVATION OF PRIVILEGE. When it is a man"s fortune to be separated from the community and to lead a life of comparative loneliness, he is cast much on his own resources. He misses the encouragement and inspiration which come from social worship and collective piety. Without the aid and influence of these, he is in danger of fainting and falling in his Christian course.

IV EXPOSURE TO CORRUPT COMPANIONSHIP. This is often a matter of necessity and not of choice. The best may have to submit to it, and the peril of spiritual injury from it is very great.

V THE FORCE OF A SURROUNDING SCEPTICISM. A force which either vigorously assaults the main fortress of the faith or sedulously and stealthily undermines the wails a great and growing peril.

It is promised to the servants of the Lord that they shall triumph over these various enemies. "No weapon that is formed," etc. But while

(1) God"s promise may well cheer his servants, helping them to pursue their troubled path, and to do their difficult or dangerous work with alacrity and hope; it is well that

(2) his conditions should be remembered. There is no absolute, unconditional guarantee; the careless, the disobedient, the negligent servant will be, nay, he is, defeated by the enemy; he yields and falls. But let a man be a faithful servant, studious of Christ"s will and daily seeking his Holy Spirit"s aid, and he will find that his Divine Lord will "always cause him to triumph;" he will know "the exceeding greatness of his power" to uphold and to perfect. Meantime, to those who are observers,

(3) God"s sustaining grace will prove the sign and seal of his Divine favour. "This is their righteousness justification of me. C.

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

Condemn - And I will deliver thee not only from the fury of war, but also from the strife of tongues. This - This blessed condition, is the portion allotted them by me. Righteousness - The reward of their righteousness. Of me - I give it, and I will continue it to them.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

“Every weapon (that) shall be formed against thee shall to prosper, and every tongue (that) shall rise with thee in judgment thou shalt condemns. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness from me, saith Jehovah.” The common version of the first clause expresses the same thought in the English idiom, ‘no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper’, a form of speech which does not exist in Hebrew, and can only be supplied by combining negative and universal terms. The expression, though ambiguous, is determined by the context. It cannot mean that only some of the weapons formed should take effect, which might be the meaning of the phrase in English, because in the affirmative clause which follows, and which must be co-extensive in its meaning, there is no such ambiguity, it being said expressly that every tongue shall be condemned. Another difference of idiom here exemplified has reference to the ellipsis of the relative pronoun, which in English is familiarly omitted when the object of the verb, but never when its subject. ‘Every weapon they form’ would be perfectly intelligible; but ‘every weapon is formed’ (for which is formed) would convey a wrong idea. ‘Shall not prosper’, (i.e., shall not take effect or accomplish its design). ‘To rise or stand in judgment,’ literally for or with respect to judgment, is to appear before a judgment-seat, to invoke the decision of a judge. ‘With thee’ may either denote simply simultaneous action, that of standing up together, or it may have the stronger sense ‘against thee’, as it seems to have above in v. 15, and as it has in our expressions to fight with or to go to law with, ‘The tongue’ is here personified, or used to represent the party litigant whose only weapon is his speech. For the judicial or forensic usage of the verb, see above, on Isa 50:9. Some suppose these two clauses to reduce all opposition and hostility to that of word and that of deed; but there may also be allusion to the obvious distinction between warfare in its military and its civil forms, or between what is properly called war and litigation. In all these varied forms of strife it is predicted that the church shall be victorious. (Compare Rom 8:37 and 2Co 2:14). And this security is represented as her heritage or lawful possession and as her right, (i.e., what is due to her from God, as the judge of the whole earth, Who must do right).

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:

Yahweh continues speaking to the people of Jerusalem.

No weapon that is formed against you will succeed

Enemies not succeeding against Yahweh's people is spoken of as if their weapons would not succeed against Yahweh's people. This can be stated in active form. AT: "Enemies may form weapons to attack you but they will not defeat you" (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh

The reward that Yahweh will give to those who serve him is spoken of as if the reward were something they would inherit. (See: Metaphor)

this is Yahweh's declaration

Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. Translate as in Isaiah 30:1. AT: "this is what Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, Yahweh, have declared" (See: First, Second, or Third Person)

translationWords

condemn

accuse

inherit

servant

Yahweh

declare

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

Any weapon whetted against you Any weapon that they will whet and sharpen for you, i.e., to battle with you.

whetted Heb. יוּצַר, an expression similar to (Jos. 5:2) “sharp knives (חַרְבוֹתצֻרִים),” also (Ps. 89:44) “You have also turned the edge of his sword (צוּר חַרְבּוֹ).”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

יוצר עליך That is formed against thee. Shall not prosper, to become what it is destined to be; but it will be broken. יוצר Is formed. It is Hophal, similar in form to יוסר is taken away, (Lev. 4:35).

And every tongue, etc. This is the explanation of any weapon, etc.

Thou shalt condemn. All nations will accept the religion of Israel, who will prove to them the falsity of the faiths they have hitherto followed.

The heritage which they will receive from the Lord, that is, the Law or the Holy Land.

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.