John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 51:11

"And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and sighing shall flee away." — Isaiah 51:11 (ASV)

Therefore the redeemed by Jehovah shall return. He now describes more plainly what he had briefly remarked. For, after having related the magnificent works of God, by which he previously displayed his power in Egypt to deliver his people, he concludes that neither the sea, nor the lofty rocks, nor the whirlpools, nor even hell itself, can prevent him from leading out his people from Babylon.

And to confirm it more fully and to apply that example, he calls them “redeemed,” so that they may know that when God calls himself the deliverer of his people, this belongs to them, and that they may not doubt that, in delivering them, he will produce such an example as had already been demonstrated, for the reason is the same.

Shall come to Zion. This refers to that place where he wished for people to call on his name, so that the temple might be rebuilt and the pure worship of God restored.

For, since the Jews during the Babylonian captivity should expect the same aid their fathers had obtained (because God was in the same way the Redeemer of the children as well), they were superior to their fathers in one respect: God had at that time chosen Mount Zion, where he had promised that his rest would be eternal (Psalms 132:14).

But since the work of God, which Isaiah promises, was worthy of admiration, for this reason, he exhorts the people to praise and thanksgiving.

With a song. The Hebrew word רנה (rinnah) may indeed be taken simply for “rejoicing;” but, as it frequently denotes the praise given to God when we acknowledge his benefits, I prefer to understand it in that sense here.

The meaning is that there will be a great and unexpected change, so that they will have very abundant ground for joy and thanksgiving.

When he says that joy shall be on their head, he alludes to the chaplets of flowers with which they customarily adorned themselves at banquets.

He adds that “they shall obtain joy,” which denotes that their enjoyment will be solid and lasting.

Lastly, to amplify this, he adds that all sorrow will be banished, so they need not dread what frequently happens: that joy, by a sudden change, will give way to mourning (Proverbs 14:13).

Yet the Prophet instructs them, though they groan and are sorrowful, to wait patiently for the outcome which he promises.