Isaiah 27:9 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

By this - By the exile of Israel (the 'sending away,' Isaiah 27:8); or by the Lord's judicial debating with Israel, in the English version.

Shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged - expiated (Horsley).

And this (is) all the fruit - this is the whole benefit designed to be brought about by the chastisement-namely, the removal of his (Israel's) sin (namely, idolatry, Deuteronomy 9:21; Hosea 10:8).

When he - Yahweh.

Maketh all the stones of the altar as chalk-stones - at the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, His instrument. The Jews ever since have abhorred idolatry (cf. Isaiah 17:8).

The groves and images shall not stand up - shall rise no more (Horsley).

Isaiah 27:9

9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and imagesc shall not stand up.