We roar: this signifies the greatness of their anguish, that forced from them these loud outcries. And mourn: this notes some sense of their condition, that wrought in them these sorrowful lamentations; or it may relate to the condition that both sorts of people were in under their oppressing governors. It made the wicked roar like bears, and the godly mourn like doves. It is thus expressed because these properties are peculiar to these creatures. The bear, when robbed, goes into his den and roars; the dove, when absent from her mate, sits solitary and mourns. For salvation, but it is far off from us: see the exposition of this last part of the verse Isaiah 59:9.
Related Commentaries of Isaiah 59:11
Isaiah 59:11
11 We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.