Isaiah 52:15
So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which has not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
1. “So shall he sprinkle many nations…”
a. So [Strong: 3651 ken kane from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles):--+ after that (this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be (for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this, thus, true, well, X you.]
b. shall he sprinkle [Strong: 5137 nazah naw-zaw'; a primitive root; to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (especially in expiation):--sprinkle.]
c. many [Strong: 7227 rab rab; contracted from 7231; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality):--(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), ((ship-))master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).]
d. nations [Strong: 1471 gowy go'-ee rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]
1). The phrase “sprinkle many nations” here is referring to two things. Firstly it is referring to the type and foreshadow in the Law.
a). Exodus 24:6-8 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons: and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said we will do, and be obedient.
24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
2). The writer of Hebrews used this foreshadow and applied it to the blood of Christ.
a). Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
3). In the passage of Exodus 24:6-8, the sprinkling of the blood of the covenant that purifies Israel and the use of that terminology in Isaiah 52:15 of referring to sprinkling many nations is the blood covenant given to the nations, the Gentiles. It is the same use of it in Peters first epistle. It can only refer to the blood of Christ that the gospel declares can forgive and save.
a). 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied.
b). Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
2. “…the kings shall shut their mouths at him…”
a. the kings [Strong: 4428 melek meh'-lek; from 4427; a king:--king, royal.]
b. shall shut [Strong: 7092 qaphats kaw-fats'; primitive root; to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically, to die (from gathering up the feet):--shut (up), skip, stop, take out of the way.]
c. their mouths [Strong: 6310 peh peh; from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, + file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk, tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.]
d. at him [Strong: 5921 `al al; properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]
1). The phrase, “kings shall shut their mouths at him” can be applied to, but certainly not limited to part of Paul’s testimony before king Agrippa.
a). Acts 26:24-29 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian.
26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
b). There is an interesting point about this encounter that goes unnoticed that I believe goes along with the phrase in Isaiah 52:15, of “kings shall shut their mouths at him”. The Greek word for “know” in Acts 26:27, where Paul says to Agrippa, “I know that thou believest.” It is the same word used in Acts 14:9, and translated “perceiving” when Paul through the Holy Ghost perceived that the man in the crowd to whom he was preaching to had faith to be healed. It is also the same Greek word used in Matthew 12:25 where it speaks of Jesus knowing the thoughts of his enemies, through the power of the Holy Ghost. The conclusion is that the Apostle Paul was, through the gifts of the Spirit, either the word of wisdom or the word of knowledge, sensing that God was dealing with Agrippa .
2). Included under these words is the testimony of Jesus before Pilate. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.
a). 1 Timothy 6:12, 13 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
3. “…for that which has not been told them shall they see…”
a. for [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]
b. that [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]
c. [which had] not [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]
d. been told [them] [Strong: 5608 caphar saw-far'; a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune, (ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.]
e. they shall see [Strong: 7200 ra’ah raw-aw; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]
4. “…and that which they had not heard shall they consider.”
a. and that [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]
b. [which they had] not [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]
c. heard [Strong: 8085 * shama] [Strong: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.]
d. shall they consider [Strong: 995 biyn bene; a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).]
1). This passage was one of the inspirations that motivated the Apostle Paul in preaching the gospel. Some commentators believe that Paul saw his calling and the confirmation of his calling in these and other Scriptures.
a). Romans 15:19-21 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not were Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall they understand.
2). Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles.
a). Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
3). When Jesus first appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, his call to go to the Gentiles was given to him, as he related to King Agrippa years later.
a). Acts 26:12-20 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shinning round about me and them which journeyed with me.
26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
26:20 But shewed first unto Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
