Isaiah 49:18 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

Lift up thine eyes ... all these gather themselves together ... thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament. As Zion is often compared to a bride (Isaiah 54:5), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels," Isaiah 62:3; Malachi 3:17). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant as the context refers to their restoration, and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations (Micah 5:7; Romans 11:12; Romans 11:15).

And bind them (on thee) as a bride (doeth) - namely, binds on her ornaments.

Isaiah 49:18

18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.