John Gill Commentary Isaiah 49:25

"But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." — Isaiah 49:25 (ASV)

But thus says the Lord. In answer to the above objection, because he is mightier than the mighty, and stronger than he by whom his people are detained, because he is the Almighty: even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; or, "the prey of the violent ones"^F21. This is an answer both as to might and right; as to might, though they are the captives of the mighty, yet they shall be taken away from them by him who is mightier than they, even the mighty God; and as to right, they are the prey of persons who have by force and violence usurped power over them, and therefore shall be delivered.

This is seen as the Lord's people are delivered out of the hands of Satan; both in redemption by Christ out of the hands of him who is stronger than they; and in conversion by him who is stronger than the strong man armed; and enters into their hearts, the palace of the devil, spoils his goods, takes his armour from him, overcomes and binds him, and delivers them from his power. So that he shall not have dominion over them, and much less destroy them, though he may sometimes be terrible to them by his temptations, (Jeremiah 31:11) (Luke 11:21Luke 11:22) .

This will have a further accomplishment in the deliverance of the Lord's people from the mighty and terrible beast of Rome.

For I will contend with them who contend with you; the Babylonians literally; Satan and his principalities figuratively; and also antichrist, and the antichristian kings and states, who quarrel with, fight against, and oppress the Lord's people: and I will save your children; regenerate persons, the members of the church, wherever they may be; these the Lord will save with a temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation. Deliverance from the Romish yoke and oppression seems to be here chiefly designed, when Jezebel's children will be killed with death, as follows; see (Revelation 2:23) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F21: (Uyre xwqlm) "captura violenti", Moutanus Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "turba captiva violenti", Vitringa.