Verse 1

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

The solitary place — Emmanuel's land, or the seat of God's church and people, which formerly was despised like a wilderness, and which the rage of their enemies had brought to desolation, shall flourish exceedingly.

Verse 2

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

The excellency — The wilderness shall be as pleasant and fruitful as Lebanon, and Carmel, and Sharon.

They — The inhabitants of the wilderness aforesaid.

The glory — The glorious discoveries of God's power and goodness.

Verse 3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Strengthen — Ye ministers of God, comfort and encourage God's people, who are now ready to faint.

Verse 4

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Your God — Tho' he seems to be departed, he will come to you, and abide with you. He will shortly come in the flesh, to execute vengeance upon the enemies of God.

Verse 5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then — The poor Gentiles, who before were blind and deaf, shall now have the eyes and ears of their minds opened to see God's works, and to hear and receive his word.

Verse 7

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Streams — The most dry and barren places shall be made moist and fruitful; which is principally meant of the plentiful effusion of God's grace upon such persons and nations, as had been wholly destitute of it.

Rushes — Those dry and parched deserts, in which dragons have their abode, shall yield abundance of grass, and reeds, and rushes, which grow only in moist ground.

Verse 8

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

A way — The high-way and the way are not to be taken for two different ways, but for one and the same way, even a causey, which is raised ground, and a way.

Holiness — The people (walking in it) shall be all righteous.

For those — But this way shall be appropriated to those persons above-mentioned; the weak, and blind, and lame, whom God will lead and save.

Though fools — The way shall be so plain and strait, that even the most foolish travellers cannot easily mistake it.