Isaiah 32:8

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Contextual Overview

¹Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. ²Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, and the shadow of a great rock in an arid land. ³Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. ⁴The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will speak clearly and fluently. ⁵No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel said to be important. ⁶For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink. ⁷The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. ⁸But a noble man makes honorable plans; he stands up for worthy causes.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the liberal: 2 Samuel 9:1-13, Job 31:16-21, Psalms 112:9, Proverbs 11:24, Luke 6:33-35, Acts 9:39, Acts 11:29, Acts 11:30, 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

stand: or, be established

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:6 - three Genesis 21:27 - took Genesis 23:11 - my lord Genesis 24:25 - General Genesis 24:44 - Both Deuteronomy 15:10 - because Deuteronomy 24:19 - may bless Ruth 2:14 - At mealtime Ruth 3:15 - he measured 1 Samuel 30:26 - to his friends 2 Samuel 9:9 - I have given 2 Samuel 17:28 - beds 2 Samuel 24:23 - as a king 2 Kings 4:10 - Let us 2 Chronicles 35:7 - Josiah Nehemiah 5:17 - an hundred Psalms 37:21 - righteous Proverbs 11:17 - merciful Proverbs 11:25 - liberal soul Proverbs 14:22 - err Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye Ecclesiastes 11:1 - thy bread Ezekiel 25:4 - they shall eat Acts 20:35 - It is Romans 12:8 - giveth 2 Corinthians 9:7 - not 1 Timothy 6:18 - ready

Cross-References

Genesis 32:1
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Genesis 32:3
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the liberal man deviseth liberal things,.... The man of a princely spirit consults and contrives, and delivers out things worthy of a prince and governor in the church of God; he that is one of a free spirit, that is made free by the Spirit of God, and is led into the doctrines of free grace, will study to deliver out the same to others, and, as he has freely received, he will freely give, and without any sinister, selfish, and mercenary ends and views:

and by liberal things shall he stand; or, "be established" i; both by the doctrines of free grace he dispenses to others, to be established by and with which is a good thing; and by the free communications of the gifts and grace of the Spirit to him, to supply and furnish him yet more and more for his work; by the discoveries of the free favour of God unto him; by the enjoyment of his gracious presence in private and in public; by the blessings of a free and well ordered covenant; and, at last, by being brought to eternal glory and happiness, in which he will be settled to all eternity; or, "on liberal things shall he stand"; grace here, and glory hereafter. The Targum is,

"the righteous consult truth, and they upon truth shall stand.''

i יקום "stabilietur", Gataker.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But the liberal - This seems also to have the force of a proverbial expression. The word ‘liberal’ means generous, noble, large-hearted, benevolent; a man of large views and of public spirit; a man above covetousness, avarice, and self-seeking; a man who is willing to devote himself to the welfare of his country, and to the interests of his fellow-men. It is implied here that such persons would be selected to administer the affairs of the government I under the wise and virtuous prince of whom the prophet speaks.

Deviseth liberal things - He purposes those things which will tend to promote the public welfare, and not those merely which will conduce to his private ends and gratification.

And by liberal things shall he stand - Margin, ‘Be established.’ That is, according to the connection, he shall be confirmed, or approved in the government of the virtuous king referred to. It is, however, a proposition in a general form, and means also that a man by a liberal course shall be established; that is, his character, reputation, hopes, shall be established by it. This is true now. If a man wishes to obtain permanent peace and honor, the esteem of his fellow-men, or the evidence of divine approbation, it can be best done by large and liberal schemes to advance the happiness of a dying world. He who is avaricious and narrow-minded has no happiness, and no durable reputation; he who is large-hearted and benevolent, has the approbation of the wise and good, the favor of God, and a firm and unshaken support in the trials of life, and in the agonies of death.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 32:8. Liberal things - "Generous purposes"] "Of the four sorts of persons mentioned Isaiah 32:5, three are described, Isaiah 32:6-8, but not the fourth." - SECKER. Perhaps for והוא vehu, and he, we ought to read ושוע veshoa, the bountiful.