Violence is risen, up into a rod of wickedness - The prophet continues his metaphor: "Pride has budded." - And what has it brought forth? Violence and iniquity. To meet these, the rod of God cometh. There is such a vast rapidity of succession in the ideas of the prophet that he cannot wait to find language to clothe each. Hence we have broken sentences; and, consequently, obscurity. Something must be supplied to get the sense, and most critics alter words in the text. Houbigant, who rarely acknowledges himself to be puzzled, appears here completely nonplussed. He has given a meaning; it is this: "Violence hath burst forth from the rod; salvation shall not proceed from them, nor from their riches, nor from their turbulence: there shall be no respite for them." Calmet has given no less than five interpretations to this verse. The simple meaning seems to be, that such and so great is their wickedness that it must be punished; and from this punishment, neither their multitude nor struggles shall set them free. They may strive to evade the threatened stroke; but they shall not succeed, nor shall they have any respite. Our Version is to be understood as saying, - None of the people shall be left; all shall be slain, or carried into captivity: nor shall any of theirs, their princes, priests, wives, or children, escape. And so deserved shall their desolation appear, that none shall lament them. This may be as good a sense as any, and it is nearest to the letter.

Violence

Ezekiel 7:23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment...

Isaiah 9:4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not you, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote you is broken...

Isaiah 59:6-8 Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity...

Jeremiah 6:7 As a fountain casts out her waters, so she casts out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her...

Amos 3:10 For they know not to do right, said the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.

Amos 6:3 You that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

Micah 2:2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house...

Micah 3:3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces...

Micah 6:12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies...

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.

none

Ezekiel 7:2,16 Also, you son of man, thus said the Lord GOD to the land of Israel; An end, the end is come on the four corners of the land...

Ezekiel 5:4,11 Then take of them again, and cast them into the middle of the fire, and burn them in the fire...

Ezekiel 6:11 Thus said the Lord GOD; Smite with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say...

Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath...

multitude. or, tumult.
theirs. or, their tumultuous persons.
neither

Ezekiel 24:16-24 Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet neither shall you mourn nor weep...

Psalm 78:64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

Jeremiah 16:5,6 For thus said the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them...

Jeremiah 22:18 Therefore thus said the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying...

Jeremiah 25:33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented...

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning