Isaiah 5:16

16 But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.

Isaiah 5:16 in Other Translations

16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

16 But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.

16 But the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness.

16 But by working justice, God-of-the-Angel-Armies will be a mountain. By working righteousness, Holy God will show what "holy" is.

16 But the Lord of Hosts is exalted by His justice, and the holy God is distinguished by righteousness.

Isaiah 5:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 5:16

But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment
By the "Lord of hosts" is meant Christ, the Lord of the armies, and of the inhabitants of the earth, of angels, and of men; who, though in our nature, in his state of humiliation, was brought very low, yet is now highly exalted; and which exaltation of his is seen and known, as it is here foretold it should be, by his judgments inflicted on the Jewish nation, for their contempt and rejection of him; see ( Psalms 9:16 ) so Kimchi interprets judgment of the judgment which the Lord would inflict on the ungodly of Israel: thus Christ's exaltation is seen in their humiliation, and his kingdom and power in their destruction: and God that is holy;
Christ is truly and properly God, God over all, blessed for ever; and he is holy, both as God and man; as God he is essentially and perfectly holy; and, as man, without sin original or actual; he is the Holy One of God, and the Holy One of Israel; and of him it is said, he shall be sanctified in righteousness,
or be declared to be holy; by the obedience and righteousness of his life, wrought out for his people, whereby he becomes their sanctification and righteousness; and by his justice, in punishing his and his people's enemies. Were all this to be understood of Jehovah the Father, it might very well be interpreted, as it is by Cocceius, of his being exalted and honoured by the condemnation of sin in the flesh of Christ; and of his being "glorified", as the Arabic version renders it, by the obedience and righteousness of his son, whereby his justice is satisfied, and his law magnified, and made honourable; and by the faith of his people, laying hold on that righteousness, and receiving it to the glory of God; in all which the purity, holiness, and justice of God appears.

Isaiah 5:16 In-Context

14 Therefore Death expands its jaws, opening wide its mouth; into it will descend their nobles and masses with all their brawlers and revelers.

15 So people will be brought low and everyone humbled, the eyes of the arrogant humbled.

16 But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.

17 Then sheep will graze as in their own pasture; lambs will feed among the ruins of the rich.

18 Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes,

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 97:9; Isaiah 33:10
• 2. Isaiah 28:17; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 33:5; Isaiah 61:8
• 3. S Leviticus 10:3; Isaiah 29:23; Ezekiel 36:23