Isaiah 27:5 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 27:5 kjv
Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
Isaiah 27:5 nkjv
Or let him take hold of My strength, That he may make peace with Me; And he shall make peace with Me."
Isaiah 27:5 niv
Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me."
Isaiah 27:5 esv
Or let them lay hold of my protection, let them make peace with me, let them make peace with me."
Isaiah 27:5 nlt
unless they turn to me for help.
Let them make peace with me;
yes, let them make peace with me."
Isaiah 27 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 91:2 | "I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress...'" | God as refuge from danger. |
| Prov 18:10 | "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." | God's protection for those who seek Him. |
| Isa 25:4 | "For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress..." | God's strength provides refuge. |
| Ps 46:1 | "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." | God's immediate availability as power and protection. |
| Nah 1:7 | "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble..." | God provides security during distress. |
| Rom 5:1 | "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God..." | Peace with God through faith in Christ. |
| Col 1:20 | "and through him to reconcile to himself all things... making peace by the blood of his cross." | Christ making peace between God and creation. |
| 2 Cor 5:18-20 | "God... reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation..." | God initiating and calling for reconciliation through Christ. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one..." | Christ's role in creating peace and unity. |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." | Condition for finding God is wholehearted seeking. |
| 2 Chron 7:14 | "if my people... will humble themselves and pray... I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." | God's offer to avert judgment based on repentance and seeking Him. |
| Joel 2:12-13 | "'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart...'" | Call to sincere repentance to avoid judgment. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out..." | Repentance leads to forgiveness and renewal. |
| Isa 55:7 | "let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him..." | Invitation to return to God for mercy and forgiveness. |
| Mal 3:7 | "'Return to me, and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts." | Reciprocal promise of God to those who turn back. |
| Ps 24:8 | "Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!" | Description of God's overwhelming strength and power. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power..." | Acknowledging God's creative and supreme power. |
| Hos 14:1-2 | "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God... 'Take with you words and return to the LORD...'" | Plea for repentance with specific actions. |
| Ps 18:2 | "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer..." | God as ultimate protection and source of deliverance. |
| Zech 1:3 | "'Return to me,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts." | Repetition of God's call to return and His promise. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation... present your requests to God... and the peace of God... will guard your hearts..." | Finding peace through prayer and trust in God. |
Isaiah 27 verses
Isaiah 27 5 meaning
Isaiah 27:5 presents an urgent invitation amidst divine judgment, offering a pathway to safety. It declares that any who are threatened by God's powerful action can choose to take refuge in His strength and actively seek peace and reconciliation with Him. The verse implies that to do so is to avert His consuming wrath, establishing a state of harmony and security instead of facing destruction. It is an offer of grace and an appeal for an active pursuit of peace with God, who holds ultimate power.
Isaiah 27 5 Context
Isaiah chapter 27 is part of the "Little Apocalypse" (chapters 24-27) in Isaiah, which depicts global judgment followed by the restoration of Israel. Specifically, chapter 27 contrasts the severe judgment pronounced on God's enemies, represented by "Leviathan," with the protection and restoration promised to His people, depicted as His "pleasant vineyard." The chapter details God's pruning and blessing of Israel, their return from exile, and the defeat of the powerful nations that oppressed them. Verse 5 is nestled within this broader narrative of judgment and restoration, serving as an interlude or an alternative for those facing judgment: rather than being consumed, they have an option to embrace God's strength and make peace. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with an audience experiencing the might of empires like Assyria and Babylon, underscoring that true security lies not in political alliances but in a right relationship with the sovereign God.
Isaiah 27 5 Word analysis
- Or let him (אוֹ 'o): This conjunction introduces a powerful alternative. It presents a choice, a way out of the impending judgment, highlighting God's mercy even amid wrath.
- take hold of (יַחֲזַק yachazaq): The root means "to be strong, seize, lay hold of." It implies an active, deliberate, and firm grasping, a dependence and appropriation of God's power, not a passive acknowledgment. It suggests a movement towards God in desperation and trust.
- My strength (בְּמָעוּזִּי b'ma'uzzi): Literally, "in My stronghold," "My fortress," or "My might." This emphasizes God's defensive and offensive power, His invincibility, and His capacity to protect. To take hold of it is to find a secure shelter.
- let him make peace (יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם ya'aseh shalom): The verb 'asah ("to make, do, perform") followed by shalom ("peace, completeness, wholeness"). This is an active making or performing of peace, not merely hoping for it. It implies initiating or restoring a relationship of harmony and rightness. This peace encompasses well-being, wholeness, and absence of hostility.
- with Me (לִי li): The preposition "to/for Me" or "with Me." It signifies a direct, personal, and relational connection, underscoring that the peace being made is specifically with God.
Word-groups analysis:
- "Or let him take hold of My strength": This phrase presents an imperative option—an active turning to God's inherent power for protection. It signifies recognizing God as the ultimate source of safety and security in the face of judgment.
- "let him make peace with Me; let him make peace with Me": The repetition of "let him make peace with Me" intensely emphasizes the urgency and necessity of this reconciliation. It highlights that the initiative lies with the one seeking safety to establish or re-establish a right relationship with God, actively pursuing shalom that brings wholeness and freedom from divine hostility. This making of peace is the pathway to protection by God's strength.
Isaiah 27 5 Bonus section
The context of Isaiah 27:1-4 shows God's intent to punish the proud and chaotic forces (Leviathan and the dragon by the sea) that symbolize worldly powers hostile to God. The "strength" and "peace" offered in verse 5 are in direct contrast to the impending destruction of these hostile entities. It represents a pivot point, indicating that even those who were formerly identified with, or threatened by, the systems under divine judgment can individually opt for a different fate. This highlights the personal accountability and the individual nature of God's offer of redemption amidst corporate or global judgment. The concept of making peace here anticipates the New Testament message of reconciliation with God through Christ, demonstrating that humanity cannot establish peace with God on its own terms, but must do so by apprehending His offered strength and means.
Isaiah 27 5 Commentary
Isaiah 27:5 is a profound statement of divine mercy interrupting a prophecy of judgment. While God's power is shown in the preceding verses as crushing His enemies (Leviathan), here it is presented as a stronghold available to any who would seize it. This is not merely an offer to have peace, but an active command to make peace—to humble oneself, acknowledge God's sovereignty, and actively pursue reconciliation. The "strength" is not just power to destroy but power to save, offering an impenetrable refuge to those who trust in Him. This act of making peace implies a turning from rebellious ways and an embrace of God's terms. Failure to grasp His strength and make peace results in facing the unmitigated wrath previously described. The verse illustrates God's just character—He is powerful enough to punish, but merciful enough to provide a way of escape through personal relationship and active repentance.