Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 4. On whom have ye jested? upon whom have ye gaped and thrust out your tongues? Are not ye rebellious children, and a false seed.

Vers. 4. On whom haue yee iested? vpon whom haue ye gaped and thrust out your tongues? Are not yee rebellious children, and a false seede.

¹The Prophet shows that the Jews have no occasion at all to glory so much under pretence of their linage or stock, seeing they derided the Prophets of God. Now they thought it was but with men, with whom they had to deal when they rejected the word. And so at this day we see how impudently the wicked despise the doctrine of their salvation, and scorn the Ministers of it; and yet in the mean while, cover themselves under a vain show of religion. This is the reason then wherefore the Prophet presseth them so near, and reproves them so sharply. As if he should say, When you thrust out your tongues on this manner against God, and scorn his word, do ye think you have to deal with a mortal man? For these words, on whom, signifies that they sought out evasions and pretences to cloak their impiety withal. For the ungodly will not acknowledge that they rebel against God: no, they think foul scorn any man should so judge of them: but yet they must be brought out into the light, and convinced of their wickedness. And seeing there is a God, they must be told that they make open war upon him, in resisting or in rejecting his word, and in esteeming no better thereof, then of a fable.

¹THe Prophet shewes that the Iewes haue no occasion at all to glorie so much vnder pretence of their linage or stocke, seeing they derided the Prophets of God. Now they thought it was but with men, with whom they had to deale when they reiected the word. And so at this day wee see how impudently the wicked despise the doctrine of their saluation, and scorne the Ministers of it; and yet in the meane while, couer themselues vnder a vaine shew of religion. This is the reason then wherefore the Prophet presseth them so neere, and reprooues them so sharply. As if he should say, When you thrust out your tongues on this manner against God, and scorne his word, doe ye thinke you haue to deale with a mortal man? For these words, on vvhom, signifies that they sought out euasions and pretences to cloake their impietie withall. For the vngodly will not acknowledge that they rebell against God: no, they thinke foule scorne any man should so iudge of them: but yet they must bee brought out into the light, and conuinced of their wickednesse. And seeing there is a God, they must be told that they make open warre vpon him, in resisting or in reiecting his word, and in esteeming no better thereof, then of a fable.