Isaiah 59:16 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

And he saw that (there was) no man, and wondered that (there was) no intercessor. "No man" - namely, to atone by his righteousness for the unrighteousness of the people. "Man" is emphatic, as in 1 Kings 2:2: no representative man able to retrieve the cause of fallen men (Isaiah 41:28; Isaiah 63:5-6; Jeremiah 5:1; Ezekiel 22:30).

No intercessor - no one to interpose, 'to help and to uphold' (Isaiah 63:5).

Therefore his arm brought salvation unto him. "His arm" (Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 51:5). Not man's arm, but His alone (Psalms 98:1; Psalms 44:3).

And his righteousness - the "arm" of Messiah. He won the victory for us, not by mere might as God, but by His invincible righteousness as man, having 'the Spirit without measure' (Isaiah 11:5; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 42:21; Isaiah 51:8; Isaiah 53:11; 1 John 2:1).

Isaiah 59:16

16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.