John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 52:15

"so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand." — Isaiah 52:15 (ASV)

So shall he sprinkle many nations. Some explain this as, “Shall cause to drop,” which they take to be a metaphorical expression for “to speak.” But since נזה signifies “to sprinkle,” and is commonly found to have this sense in Scripture, I choose rather to adopt this interpretation. He means that the Lord will pour out his Word over “many nations.”

He next mentions the effect of doctrine: that kings shall shut their mouth, that is, as a sign of astonishment, but a different kind of astonishment from that which he previously described. Men “shut their mouths” and are struck with bewilderment when the vast magnitude of the subject is such that it cannot be expressed and exceeds all power of language.

What they have not heard. He means that this astonishment will not arise merely from Christ’s outward appearance but, on the contrary, from the preaching of the Gospel. For, though he had risen from the dead, yet all would have thought that he was still a dead man if the glory of his resurrection had not been proclaimed. By the preaching of the Gospel, therefore, those things were revealed which previously had neither been seen nor heard, for this doctrine was conveyed to kings and nations that were very far off, and even to the very ends of the world.

Paul quotes this passage and shows that it was fulfilled in his ministry, and he glories for this reason: that he proclaimed the doctrine of the Gospel to those who had never heard of it at all (Romans 15:21). This belongs to the office of an Apostle, and not to the office of every minister.

He means that the kingdom of Christ is more extensive than merely to embrace Judea, and that it is not now confined within such narrow limits, for it was proper that it should be spread through all nations and extended even to the ends of the world. The Jews had heard something of Christ from the Law and the Prophets, but to the Gentiles he was altogether unknown; therefore, it follows that these words relate strictly to the Gentiles.

They shall understand. By this word he shows that faith consists in certainty and clear understanding. Wherever, therefore, knowledge of this kind is lacking, faith is unquestionably lacking. Therefore, it is evident how idle is the notion of the Papists about implicit faith, which is nothing else than gross ignorance, or rather a mere creature of imagination.

CHAPTER 53.