Isaiah 59:18

"He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 59:18 paints a vivid picture of God’s attributes and His approach to judgment and salvation. In this verse, God is depicted as donning protective and offensive garments—righteousness as a breastplate for defense, salvation as a helmet for protection, garments of vengeance for offense, and zeal as a mantle, indicating his intense dedication to these roles. This imagery draws the reader into understanding that God’s actions are not merely passive or defensive but also active and purposeful, reflecting both His justice and His passionate commitment to bringing about salvation.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

According to their deeds -The general sentiment of this verse is plain, though there is not a little difficulty in the construction of the Hebrew. Lowth pronounces the former part of the verse, as it stands in the Hebrew text, to be ‘absolutely unintelligible. By a slight change in the Hebrew as it now stands (readingבעלba‛al, “lord,” instead ofכעלke‛al“as according to”), Lowth supposes that he has obtained the true sense, and accordingly translates it: He is mighty to recompense; He that is mighty to recompense shall requite. This translation is substantially according to the Chaldee, but there is no authority from manuscripts to change the text in this place. Nor is it necessary.

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