Isaiah 48:11

11 I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own, for how can I^[a] be defiled? I will not give My glory to another.

Isaiah 48:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:11

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it
Defer his anger, not cut off his people and destroy them, but redeem and save them: this, in the literal sense, respects the redemption and deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus from the Babylonish captivity; which the Lord did, not for any deserts of theirs, but for the sake of his own honour and glory; or, as the Targum,

``for my name, and for my word;''

which is repeated here again and again for the confirmation of it, and that it might be more observed. In the mystical sense, it respects redemption and salvation by Christ, of which the former was typical: for how should my name be polluted?
blasphemed and evil spoken of among the nations of the world; who would be ready to say, that either the Lord did not love his people, and was not mercifully disposed towards them; or that he could not save them, and that their hands, or their gods, were mightier than he; see ( Deuteronomy 32:26 Deuteronomy 32:27 ) and I will not give my glory to another;
to another people, as the Targum, or to another god; (See Gill on Isaiah 42:8).

Isaiah 48:11 In-Context

9 I will delay My anger for the honor of My name, and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and [for] My praise, so that you will not be destroyed.

10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

11 I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give My glory to another.

12 "Listen to Me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by Me: I am He; I am the first, I am also the last.

13 My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summoned them, they stood up together.

Footnotes

• [a]. DSS, Syr; MT reads it