Isaiah 5:16

16 But the Lord of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy 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 Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and all who exult in her.
15 People are bowed down, everyone is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are humbled.
16 But the Lord of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness.
17 Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins.
18 Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood, who drag sin along as with cart ropes,
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.