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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:1Dialogue with Trypho 135.3 · Justin Martyrecho, medium confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 51:1Catechetical Lecture 13.33 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, high confidenceca. 350
Isa 51:1Catechetical Lecture 14.3 · Cyril of Jerusalemquotation, medium confidenceca. 350
Isa 51:1Homilies on Matthew 11.4 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:2Commentary on John 13.401 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
Isa 51:2Eleven Tractates 1.19 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385
Isa 51:2On the Life of Moses 301 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 385–395
Isa 51:2Homilies on Matthew 11.4 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:3The Conferences 1.13 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:4Dialogue with Trypho 11.3 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 51:4Against Marcion 4.1 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 51:4–5Demonstration of the Gospel 2.3.24 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Isa 51:4Demonstration 16.4 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:5Dialogue with Trypho 11.3 · Justin Martyrquotation, high confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 51:5On the Resurrection of the Flesh 59 · Tertullianallusion, medium confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:6Exhortation to the Greeks 8.79 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200
Isa 51:6Against Heresies 4.3.1 · Irenaeus of Lyonsquotation, high confidenceca. 180–190
Isa 51:6Res. 1.8 · Methodius of Olympusquotation, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Isa 51:6Res. 1.48 · Methodius of Olympusallusion, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
Isa 51:6Demonstration 14.22 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Isa 51:6Catechetical Lecture 11.11 · Cyril of Jerusalemallusion, medium confidenceca. 350
Isa 51:6Tractates on the Psalms 122.2 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, medium confidenceca. 360–367
Isa 51:6Oration 6.14 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Isa 51:6Hexaemeron 1.8 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, medium confidenceca. 370
Isa 51:6Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.40.1 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, high confidence374-377
Isa 51:6Hexameron (Exameron) 1.21 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 51:6Hexameron (Exameron) 1.28 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 51:6Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 93–94 · Anonymousquotation, medium confidence5th century (disputed)

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:7Against Marcion 4.14 · Tertullianquotation, high confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Isa 51:7Exhortation to Martyrdom 4 · Origenquotation, high confidence235
Isa 51:7Commentary on Romans 1.14 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Isa 51:7Against the Manichees, Greek continuation of book 3, Lagarde p. 89 · Titus of Bostraquotation, high confidenceca. 360s
Isa 51:7Letter 78.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Isa 51:7Letter 102.36 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Isa 51:7–8On the Divination of Demons 14 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:8Letter 78.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 386–430
Isa 51:8Letter 102.36 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 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?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:9On the Resurrection of the Flesh 26 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:11On the Resurrection of the Flesh 58 · Tertullianquotation, medium confidenceca. 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.’”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:16On the Decrees of Nicaea 17 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:17Homilies on Ezekiel 13.2 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)
Isa 51:17–18Church History 10.4.50 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 300–325
Isa 51:17Oration 16.4 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
Isa 51:17Letter 77.4 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 370–419
Isa 51:17Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.17.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
Isa 51:17Commentary on Jeremiah 5.13 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:18Explanation of Twelve Psalms 37.17.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-397

Isaiah 51:21

Therefore now hear this, you afflicted one, drunken, but not with wine.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:21Homilies 1.10 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 363-378
Isa 51:21Against Faustus the Manichaean 15.9 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 398–400
Isa 51:21The Conferences 9.5 · John Cassianallusion, low confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 51:22–23Church History 10.4.50 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 300–325
Isa 51:22Oration 16.4 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, medium confidenceca. 362–383