Isaiah 18:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As they transition to a new and chosen existence, they will yield fruit for God, earning His praise, and offering faith, hope, and love as sweet-smelling sacrifices. They are referred to as a people wronged due to the numerous trials they faced, subjected to God's displeasure. Furthermore, they are described as rejected, which may signify their movement towards a better path. Just as a plant is moved from its original soil to a new one, those who have wandered astray are metaphorically uprooted from their former enticements and replanted in a more noble realm of understanding, pursuits, and knowledge—vastly superior to what they previously had. They will produce eternal fruit, continuously and without pause, exemplifying a great nation, either indicating their fruitful abundance or their goodness acquired through faith in Christ. Those who were once known for their idolatry have become among the best, displaying greater wisdom and a fervent love for Christ, yearning for all that is good. As stated, where sin increases, grace overflows (Rom. 5:20). Where will they yield their fruit? The prophet tells us it will be where the name of the Lord of hosts is named, upon Mount Zion, which symbolizes the Church—a lofty and spiritual mountain, devoid of lowly or corrupt doctrines. Instead, it embodies the knowledge of the true God and the clear revelation of our Savior's mysteries. The divinely inspired Scriptures frequently refer to the Church of Christ as Mount Zion, thus depicting the most genuine and exalted Zion.

Amidst this is mentioned the hopeful yet trampled tongue, located near the riverbank, highlighting that the conversion of the Egyptians to God began in a specific region across the river, possibly referring to the Rhinokorites or the residents of one of its cities. Later in the vision concerning Egypt, it states, "In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the land of Egypt, and a pillar at its borders to the Lord. It will serve as a sign and as a memorial to the Lord in the land of Egypt" (Isaiah 19:19-20). The one who is trampled down symbolizes someone overwhelmed by the hardships of conflict, while the one who hopes signifies that ultimately, they placed their hope in Christ, took on His yoke, became His servant, and yielded a righteous disposition as their fruit.

In that time, a gift shall be presented to the Lord of Hosts by a people who have been overthrown and devastated, a formidable nation, unique in their suffering, one that has endured defeat and despair, whose rivers have ravaged their land, culminating at the place of the Lord of Hosts, Mount Zion. The Lord watches and stands firm in His sanctuary or, as Aquila interprets, in the heavens, meaning the Church, of which Paul the Apostle speaks, calling it the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). He observes the happenings within His Church, and just as the noon light is brilliantly illuminating, He sheds light upon all, symbolized in the eighteenth Psalm concerning the Sun of righteousness, from which no one is concealed from its warmth (Ps. 18:7). Similarly, as the refreshing dew during harvest brings relief amidst summer's heat, the Lord, under whose care all things thrive, provides solace to those who abide in His Church. Before the appointed times are accomplished, as we now see only in part and prophesy in part (1 Cor. 13:8), many will be made perfect, as stated by the Apostle, "If we are mature, let us think this way" (Phil. 3:15). Yet, the branches that bear no fruit will be cut off, in accordance with the Savior’s words in the Gospel: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2). Those branches that are severed will be left for the birds of the mountains and the beasts of the earth; these birds are likened to those who spoil the seed sown along the path, and the beasts symbolize the souls given over to deception. Those who are cut off and rejected by the Lord, becoming separated from His body—that is, from the Church—will serve as a dwelling for the birds and beasts both in prosperity and adversity. As the fruitless and unproductive within the Church are removed to prevent a small amount of leaven from corrupting the whole, it may also be that those led astray by heretical falsehoods, abandoned by the Lord, terrified by blasphemy, and exploited through false hope, when they turn to remember their God and renounce false teachers, will bring a gift to the Lord of Hosts, not in any place but on Mount Zion, represented as the Church. We speak concisely here, as much has already been articulated in historical interpretations.

At that time, a gift will be presented to the Lord of Hosts from a people who have been defeated and ravaged, from a fearsome nation, there being none like them, from a people who have long hoped, been left desolate and shattered, whose rivers have divided their lands—this will be offered at the place named for the Lord of Hosts, on Mount Zion. Following the devastation of Egypt and the collapse of its might, Israel will no longer depend on its superficial supports but will turn to the Lord, offering their gifts at Mount Zion, which is the temple of God, seeking His aid that is both true and everlasting. This prophecy was fulfilled in the times of Zerubbabel and Jesus, Ezra and Nehemiah. The Septuagint translates the phrase we have as "waiting" in a different form, suggesting a lack of hope, leading Eusebius to propose that it refers more to Gentiles, who have no hope, covenant, or prophets, rather than the Jews; thus, they will extend their gifts to the exalted Church, offering spiritual sacrifices.