Isaiah 52:3-6 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For thus saith the Lord— In the third verse, which sets forth the true redemption of the church of Christ, we have the foundation of the preceding exhortation; of which this redemption was the true and proper cause. When the time of redemption was at hand, it became the church to assume the dress proper for that season, and to assert its liberty. The meaning of the expression, Ye have sold yourselves for nought, is, "Ye have been delivered into the power of those who have heretofore held you in slavery, without any price paid to me;" and, Ye shall be redeemed without money, means, "Ye shall be redeemed without any price paid by you. This whole redemption shall be my work, and the effect of my mere grace and favour." The prophet proceeds to a fuller explication of the command, and of the necessity of the redemption, from the condition of the people with respect to the preceding time, Isaiah 52:4 and the present time, Isaiah 52:5. The fourth verse is elliptical, and should be thus supplied; "At the beginning my people went down into Egypt, not to possess that country, but to sojourn in it; and there they were unjustly oppressed, and delivered from thence by me with a stretched-out arm." Again, "The Assyrian oppressed them for nothing, that is, without any just cause; only incited thereto by the desire of rule: nor was I then wanting to my people, but procured them deliverance. Therefore, when now I see them again oppressed, and that by their own rulers, and brought into spiritual servitude with the blasphemy of my name, Isaiah 52:5 shall I desert them? They shall know my name, Isaiah 52:6. They shall have the clearest revelation of my power, they shall know that I am God their Redeemer." See John 8:24.