Isaiah 41:5

5 Isles saw, and dreaded; the last parts of [the] earth were astonied; they came nigh, and nighed. (The islands saw it, and feared, or were afraid; the ends of the earth were astonished; they came together, and came near.)

Isaiah 41:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:5

The isles saw it, and feared
Not the victory which Abraham got over the kings; nor Cyrus's expedition against Babylon, and other nations, and his deliverance of the Jews; but the progress of the Gospel, through the ministry of the Apostle Paul: the idolatrous inhabitants of the Gentile nations saw great multitudes embracing and professing the Gospel; they saw their idols neglected, and their temples abandoned; they feared what would be the consequence of all this, that their old religion their fathers retained, and they were brought up in, would be abolished; and especially a panic seized the priests on this account, whose livelihood depended upon it: the ends of the earth were afraid;
for the sound of the Gospel by him, and other apostles, went into all the earth, and their words to the end of the world, ( Romans 10:18 ) meaning the inhabitants that dwelt in the furthest parts of the earth, where ignorance and idolatry wholly reigned: they drew near, and came: not to God, nor to Abraham, or Cyrus; rather to their gods, to exert themselves in the defence of their religion; or, which is best, they got together to consult what was proper to be done on such an emergency.

Isaiah 41:5 In-Context

3 He shall pursue them, he shall go in peace; a path shall not appear in his feet. (He shall swiftly pursue them, but he shall be safe; and no path shall be made by his feet.)

4 Who wrought and did these things? calling generations at the beginning (calling the generations from the beginning). (I did, for) I am the Lord; and I am the first, and the last.

5 Isles saw, and dreaded; the last parts of [the] earth were astonied; they came nigh, and nighed. (The islands saw it, and feared, or were afraid; the ends of the earth were astonished; they came together, and came near.)

6 Each man shall help his neighbour, and shall say to his brother, Be thou comforted (Be thou encouraged).

7 A smith of metal smiting with an hammer comforted him that polished, either made fair, in that time, saying, It is good to [the] glue; and he fastened him with nails, that he should not be moved. (A metalsmith striking with a hammer encouraged him who polished, or who made beautiful, at that time, saying, It is ready for the glue; and then he fastened it with nails, so that it could not be moved.)