Isaiah 51 in the early church
[Vulgate: Isaias]
52 passages quote, allude to, or echo Isaiah 51, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 11 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 21 · 22
Isaiah 51:1
“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:1 | Dialogue with Trypho 135.3 · Justin Martyr | echo, medium confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Isa 51:1 | Catechetical Lecture 13.33 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350 |
| Isa 51:1 | Catechetical Lecture 14.3 · Cyril of Jerusalem | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 350 |
| Isa 51:1 | Homilies on Matthew 11.4 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:2 | Commentary on John 13.401 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Isa 51:2 | Eleven Tractates 1.19 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
| Isa 51:2 | On the Life of Moses 301 · Gregory of Nyssa | quotation, high confidence | ca. 385–395 |
| Isa 51:2 | Homilies on Matthew 11.4 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:3 | The Conferences 1.13 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Isaiah 51:4
Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:4 | Dialogue with Trypho 11.3 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Isa 51:4 | Against Marcion 4.1 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Isa 51:4–5 | Demonstration of the Gospel 2.3.24 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 314–324 |
| Isa 51:4 | Demonstration 16.4 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:5 | Dialogue with Trypho 11.3 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Isa 51:5 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 59 · Tertullian | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 208–212 |
Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
Isaiah 51:7
Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:7 | Against Marcion 4.14 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | 207/208 (third edition, completed later) |
| Isa 51:7 | Exhortation to Martyrdom 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | 235 |
| Isa 51:7 | Commentary on Romans 1.14 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Isa 51:7 | Against the Manichees, Greek continuation of book 3, Lagarde p. 89 · Titus of Bostra | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360s |
| Isa 51:7 | Letter 78.5 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Isa 51:7 | Letter 102.36 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Isa 51:7–8 | On the Divination of Demons 14 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 406–411 |
Isaiah 51:8
For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:8 | Letter 78.5 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Isa 51:8 | Letter 102.36 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:9 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 26 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
Isaiah 51:11
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:11 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 58 · Tertullian | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 208–212 |
Isaiah 51:16
I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:16 | On the Decrees of Nicaea 17 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 350–356 |
Isaiah 51:17
Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:17 | Homilies on Ezekiel 13.2 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s) |
| Isa 51:17–18 | Church History 10.4.50 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 300–325 |
| Isa 51:17 | Oration 16.4 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Isa 51:17 | Letter 77.4 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Isa 51:17 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.17.3 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Isa 51:17 | Commentary on Jeremiah 5.13 · Jerome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
Isaiah 51:18
Among all the sons she bore, there is no one to guide her; among all the sons she brought up, there is no one to take her hand.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:18 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.17.3 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 387-397 |
Isaiah 51:21
Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:21 | Homilies 1.10 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 363-378 |
| Isa 51:21 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 15.9 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Isa 51:21 | The Conferences 9.5 · John Cassian | allusion, low confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Isaiah 51:22
Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God, who defends His people: “See, I have removed from your hand the cup of staggering. From that goblet, the cup of My fury, you will never drink again.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:22–23 | Church History 10.4.50 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 300–325 |
| Isa 51:22 | Oration 16.4 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |