Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 54:8

"In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer." — Isaiah 54:8 (ASV)

In a little wrath - The Syriac renders this, ‘In great wrath.’ The Vulgate, ‘In a moment of indignation.’ The Septuagint, ‘In a little wrath.’ (Noyes renders it in accordance with the view of Rosenmuller, ‘In overflowing wrath.’) This variety of interpretation has arisen from the various meanings affixed to the unusual word שׁצף shetsep. This word occurs nowhere else in the Bible. Gesenius supposes that it is used for the sake of paronomasia with קצף qetsep—‘wrath,’ instead of שׁטף sheṭep. This latter word frequently occurs, and means a gushing out, an overflowing, an inundation, a flood (Nehemiah 1:8; Job 38:25; Psalms 32:6; Proverbs 27:4). According to this, it would mean, ‘in my overflowing anger,’ in accordance with the expression in Proverbs 27:4, ‘anger is outrageous,’ or more correctly, as in the margin, ‘An overflowing.’ The parallelism, however, seems to demand the sense of short or momentary, as it stands opposed to ‘everlasting.’ But it is not possible to demonstrate that the Hebrew word has this meaning.

Rosenmuller agrees with Gesenius in the opinion that it should be rendered ‘In overflowing wrath;’ and perhaps, as the parallelism of the word ‘everlasting’ will be sufficiently secured by the phrase ‘for a moment,’ the probability is in favor of this interpretation. Then it will mean that the wrath, though it was but for a moment, was overflowing. It was like a deluge; and all their institutions, their city, their temple, their valued possessions, were swept away.

I hid my face from you - This is expressive of displeasure (see the note at Isaiah 53:3; Job 34:29; Psalms 30:7; Psalms 44:24; Isaiah 8:17). Here it refers to the displeasure which He had manifested in the punishment which He brought on them in Babylon.

For a moment - (See the note at Isaiah 54:7). This stands opposed to the ‘everlasting kindness’ which He would show to them.

But with everlasting kindness - This is true:

1. Of the church at large under the Messiah. It is the object of the unchanging affection and favor of God.

2. Of each individual Christian. He will make him blessed in an eternal heaven.