Isaiah 41:16

16 You will throw them into the air, and the wind will carry them away; a windstorm will scatter them. Then you will be happy in the Lord; you will be proud of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:16

Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the whirlwind shall scatter them
In illusion to the custom of the Jews, who had their threshingfloors on the tops of hills and mountains, where they took the opportunity and advantage of the wind in winnowing their corn, which fanned it, and carried away the chaff, and scattered it abroad; in like manner, it is suggested, the enemies of the church and people of God should be dealt with, which are like the chaff the wind driveth away, and is found no more, ( Psalms 1:5 ) , and so Rome Pagan was no more as such when subdued by Constantine, nor will the Papal antichristian states, ( Daniel 2:35 ) . Compare with this what is said of literal Babylon, which will have its accomplishment in mystical Babylon, ( Jeremiah 51:33 ) : and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord:
the Targum is,

``in the word of the Lord;''

and so it paraphrases the preceding clause,

``his word shall scatter them as the whirlwind chaff;''

and therefore in him the saints shall rejoice, because it is he that destroys their enemies; so when Rome Pagan was abolished, and the devil and his angels, or the Heathen emperors, were drove out of it and destroyed, there was great joy among the people of God, saying, "now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ", ( Revelation 12:10 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) there will be great rejoicing in the Lord likewise when Rome Papal falls, and the saints have got the victory over the beast, ( Revelation 15:2 Revelation 15:3 ) ( 18:20 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel;
whose arm alone has done the above things, and to whom the glory is to be given: it is the true character of believers to rejoice in Christ, in his person, offices, and grace, and to glory in his being made unto them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. ( Philippians 3:3 ) ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 1 Corinthians 1:31 ) .

Isaiah 41:16 In-Context

14 You few people of Israel who are left, do not be afraid even though you are weak as a worm. I myself will help you," says the Lord. "The one who saves you is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Look, I have made you like a new threshing board with many sharp teeth. So you will walk on mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like chaff.

16 You will throw them into the air, and the wind will carry them away; a windstorm will scatter them. Then you will be happy in the Lord; you will be proud of the Holy One of Israel.

17 "The poor and needy people look for water, but they can't find any. Their tongues are dry with thirst. But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers; I, the God of Israel, will not leave them to die.

18 I will make rivers flow on the dry hills and springs flow through the valleys. I will change the desert into a lake of water and the dry land into fountains of water.