Isaiah41
English Standard Version
1Listen to me in , O ; let the their ; let them , let them ; let us draw for .
2 one the whom at every ? He gives him, so that he ; he them like with his , like with his .
3He them and , by his have .
4 has and this, the the ? , the Lord, the , and with the ; am he.
5The have and are ; the of the ; they have drawn and .
6 his and to his , Be !
7The the , and he who with the him who the , of the , It is ; and they it with so that it be .
8But you, , my , , I have , the of , my ;
9you I the of the , and its , to you, You are my , I have you and cast you ;
10 , am you; be , am your ; I will you, I will you, I will you with my .
11 , who are against you shall be and ; who against you shall be as and shall .
12You shall who with you, but you shall them; who against you shall be as nothing at .
13 , the Lord your , your ; it is I who to you, , am the one who you.
14 , you , you of ! am the one who you, the Lord; your is the of .
15 , I of you a , , , and ; you shall the and them, and you shall the like ;
16you shall them, and the shall carry them , and the shall them. And you shall in the Lord; in the of you shall .
17When the and , and there is , and their is with , the Lord will them; I the of will them.
18I will the , and in the of the . I will the a of , and the of .
19I will in the the , the , the , and the . I will in the the , the and the ,
20 they may and , may and , the of the Lord has , the of has it.
21 your , the Lord; your , the of .
22Let them them, and us is to . us the , they are, that we may them, that we may their ; to us the things to .
23 us what is to , we may you are ; , or do , that we may be and .
24 , you are , and your is less ; an is he who you.
25I one the , and he has , the of the , and he shall upon my ; he shall on as on , as the .
26 it the , that we might , and , that we might , He is ? There was who it, who , who your .
27I was the to say to , , here they ! and I to a herald of .
28But when I , there is ; there is who, when I , an .
29 , they are a ; their are ; their metal are .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 41.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's care of his people. (1-9). they are encouraged not to fear. (10-20). The vanity and folly of idolatry. (21-29).
vv1-9
Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so with Cyrus. Sinners encourage one another in the ways of sin; shall not the servants of the living God stir up one another in his service? God's people are the seed of Abraham his friend. This is certainly the highest title ever given to a mortal. It means that Abraham, by Divine grace, was made like to God, and that he was admitted to communion with Him. Happy are the servants of the Lord, whom he has called to be his friends, and to walk with him in faith and holy obedience. Let not such as have thus been favoured yield to fear; for the contest may be sharp, but the victory shall be sure.
vv10-20
God speaks with tenderness; Fear thou not, for I am with thee: not only within call, but present with thee. Art thou weak? I will strengthen thee. Art thou in want of friends? I will help thee in the time of need. Art thou ready to fall? I will uphold thee with that right hand which is full of righteousness, dealing forth rewards and punishments. There are those that strive with God's people, that seek their ruin. Let not God's people render evil for evil, but wait God's time. It is the worm Jacob; so little, so weak, so despised and trampled on by every body. God's people are as worms, in humble thoughts of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them; worms, but not vipers, not of the serpent's seed. Every part of God's word is calculated to humble man's pride, and to make him appear little in his own eyes. The Lord will help them, for he is their Redeemer. The Lord will make Jacob to become a threshing instrument. God will make him fit for use, new, and having sharp spikes. This has fulfilment in the triumphs of the gospel of Christ, and of all faithful followers of Christ, over the power of darkness. God has provided comforts to supply all their wants, and to answer all their prayers. Our way to heaven lies through the wilderness of this world. The soul of man is in want, and seeks for satisfaction; but becomes weary of seeking that in the world, which is not to be had in it. Yet they shall have a constant supply, where one would least expect it. I will open rivers of grace, rivers of living water, which Christ spake of the Spirit, John 7:38,39. When God sets up his church in the Gentile wilderness, there shall be a great change, as if thorns and briers were turned into cedars, and fir-trees, and myrtles. These blessings are kept for the poor in spirit, who long for Divine enlightening, pardon, and holiness. And God will render their barren souls fruitful in the grace of his Spirit, that all who behold may consider it.
vv21-29
There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the certain knowledge of the future must be only with Jehovah, who fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of redemption the Lord showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from Babylon. The good tidings the Lord will send in the gospel, is a mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of the captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants and faithful friends.
Key Words
חָרַשׁ: to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness)
אִי: properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island
לְאֹם: a community
חָלַף: properly, to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change
כֹּחַ: vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard
נָגַשׁ: to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causatively, to present; figuratively, to adduce an argument; by reversal, to stand back
אָז: at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
יַחַד: properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
Cross References
Isaiah 41Explicitly highlights Abraham's unique title as 'my friend,' echoing God's covenantal love to Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Identifies Cyrus as the one 'from the east' whom Jehovah subdues nations before.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Cyrus being called as a 'ravenous bird from the east' to execute God's counsel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats the unique divine self-revelation: 'I am the first, and I am the last.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Expresses the same command for all flesh to be silent before God's holy presence.
Supported by JFB
Christ's promise of rivers of living water fulfills the spiritual reality of Isaiah's wilderness springs.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Supplies the historical alternative of Abraham routing the kings, matching the 'righteous man' description.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Compares the futile, costly manufacturing of useless idols by anxious pagan craftsman.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the metaphor of God's people as a threshing instrument overcoming mighty mountains.
Supported by John Calvin
Echoes the absolute vanity and complete helplessness of idols and those who make them.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole