Isaiah 51:12 Commentary: Rashi & Ibn Ezra

אָנֹכִ֧י אָנֹכִ֛י ה֖וּא מְנַחֶמְכֶ֑ם מִֽי־אַ֤תְּ וַתִּֽירְאִי֙ מֵאֱנ֣וֹשׁ יָמ֔וּת וּמִבֶּן־אָדָ֖ם חָצִ֥יר יִנָּתֵֽן׃

I, even I, am He that comforteth you: Who art thou, that thou art afraid of man that shall die, And of the son of man that shall be made as grass;

Rashi on Isaiah

who are you the daughter of the righteous like you and full of merits, why should you fear man, whose end is to die?
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Ibn Ezra on Isaiah

I am he that comforteth you. The pronouns I and you, refer to the prophet and the people respectively.
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Ibn Ezra on Isaiah

Thou. It is generally believed that Israel is here addressed; but I think, that the prophet speaks to his own soul, in a prophetical spirit;12That is, the prophet is addressed by God. The quotation which follows proves it, because it cannot be said according to I. E. of the whole nation, And I have put my words in thy mouth. comp. And I have put my words in thy mouth (ver. 16).
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