Isaiah 48:11

11 For my own sake, for my own sake I do [it]; for why should it be defiled? And 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 For the sake of my name I {refrain from} my anger, and [for] my praise I restrain [it] for you [so as] not to cut you off.

10 Look! I have refined you, but not like silver; I have chosen you in [the] furnace of misery.

11 For my own sake, for my own sake I do [it]; for why should it be defiled? And I will not give my glory to another."

12 "Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, {whom I called}: I [am] he. I [am the] first; also I [am the] last.

13 Indeed, my hand founded [the] earth, and my right hand spread out [the] heavens; [when] I summon them, they stand in position together.

Footnotes

• [a]. That is, my name