Isaiah 30:18 kjv
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18 nkjv
Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 30:18 niv
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18 esv
Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18 nlt
So the LORD must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the LORD is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Isaiah 30 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 30 | Thus the Lord said, "At theBSCRIBE TO THE WAY YOU ARE to hear." | Isa 30:18 - Waiting for Lord's grace |
| Psalm 27 | Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! | Psa 27:14 - Encouragement to wait for the Lord |
| Psalm 37 | Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him... | Psa 37:7 - Patience and waiting for the Lord |
| Psalm 62 | For God alone my soul waits in silence... | Psa 62:1 - Soul waiting for God alone |
| Lament. 3 | "The Lord is good to those who wait for him... | Lam 3:25 - Goodness of God for those who wait |
| Micah 7 | but I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. | Mic 7:7 - Waiting for God's salvation |
| Romans 8 | For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. | Rom 8:24-25 - Hope and patient waiting |
| Galatians 5 | For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves wait for the hope of righteousness. | Gal 5:5 - Waiting by faith for righteousness |
| Hebrews 10 | And we urge you, brothers, to do this: if anyone has refused to obey the word, that brother be excluded from fellowship. But the Holy Spirit himself is at work within us, and also helping us to walk in the right path, you are now being taught by the SPIRIT, not by flesh and blood, it's like a light that can be followed with perfectness and happiness; For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done in his body, whether good or bad. | Heb 10:26-27 - Warning against willful sin, emphasizing patience |
| Hebrews 6 | but that you do not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. | Heb 6:12 - Faith and patience inheriting promises |
| James 1 | You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. | Jas 1:7-8 - Patience for the Lord's coming |
| Rev. 13 | Here is a call for the wisdom of those who have understanding: the one who has understanding may count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. | Rev 13:18 - Wisdom to understand difficult times |
| Ex. 34 | The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. | Exo 34:6 - God's merciful and gracious nature |
| Ps. 103 | He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. | Psa 103:10 - God's mercy on sinners |
| Ps. 145 | The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | Psa 145:8 - God's gracious and merciful character |
| Jer. 31 | For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. | Jer 31:34 - God's forgiveness of iniquity |
| Acts 13 | Therefore, be it known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. | Acts 13:38 - Forgiveness of sins through Christ |
| Heb. 12 | but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful assembly. | Heb 12:22 - Heavenly Jerusalem as a place of joy |
| 1 Peter 4 | For the time that is left is enough for you to have lived as you please... | 1 Pet 4:3 - Living according to God's will |
| 1 Peter 3 | but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and respect. | 1 Pet 3:15 - Honoring Christ and readiness to give account |
Isaiah 30 verses
Isaiah 30 18 Meaning
The Lord patiently waits to show favor and compassion. He is a God of justice, and His people are blessed when they trust and wait for Him.
Isaiah 30 18 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 30, a prophecy primarily directed towards the Kingdom of Judah. They are facing threats from surrounding nations, particularly Assyria and later Babylon. In their distress, they often looked for alliances with foreign powers, like Egypt, instead of relying on God's deliverance. This chapter is a strong rebuke against their misplaced trust and a call back to dependence on the Lord.
Verse 18 is a pivotal moment within this chapter. It follows a strong condemnation of their reliance on Egypt (verses 1-7) and a denunciation of their rebellious heart (verses 8-14). After prophesying judgment for their disobedience (verses 15-17), verse 18 introduces a message of hope and divine grace, highlighting the Lord's unwavering character and His ultimate faithfulness to those who wait for Him. This is a transition from pronouncements of judgment to declarations of future blessing, contingent on repentance and reliance on God.
Isaiah 30 18 Word Analysis
- "For": (Hebrew: כִּי - kî) This conjunction introduces a reason or explanation for what follows, linking the promise of God's favor to His character.
- "the Lord": (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and relational aspect with His people.
- "will wait": (Hebrew: חוֹכֶה - ḥōḵeh) Present participle. It signifies actively waiting, anticipating, and expecting, not passive inaction, but a posture of hope and trust. This implies a continued duration of waiting.
- "to be gracious": (Hebrew: לְחָנֵּנִי - ləḥannēnî) From the root חנן (ḥanan), meaning to show favor, to be merciful, to extend kindness. The addition of the suffix "-nî" ("me") personalizes the grace. It's God's intention to extend favor.
- "and": (Hebrew: וְ - wə) Connects two parallel actions or states.
- "will be exalted": (Hebrew: יָרוּם - yarūm) From the root רום (rūm), meaning to be high, lifted up, exalted. This signifies God being lifted up in His attributes and actions, leading to His recognition and praise.
- "therefore": (Hebrew: לָכֵן - lāḵēn) Indicates a consequence or result. Because of God's nature and His people's waiting, this exaltation will occur.
- "the Lord": (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) Again, the covenant name of God.
- "is a God": (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי - ’ĕlōhê) Plural of "God" (’ēl), used with the construct state to mean "God of" or simply emphasizing God's sovereignty and power as a divine being.
- "of justice": (Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט - mišpāṭ) Refers to justice, righteousness, equity, and divine judgment. God's actions are inherently righteous.
- "blessed": (Hebrew: אַשְׁרֵי - ’ašrê) From the root אשר (’ašar), meaning happy, fortunate, blessed. It expresses the blessedness or well-being of those who adhere to God's ways.
- "are all": (Hebrew: כָּל - kāl) All, every.
- "those who": (Hebrew: הַמּוֹחֲלִים - hammōḥălim) From the root חָלַל (ḥalal), usually translated as "waiting" (as in the first "wait"), but here carrying a connotation of depending upon or trusting in. It's an active reliance. The intensive or reflexive stem emphasizes that they rely on themselves for waiting, but the context dictates this waiting is on God. It might be a Qal infinitive with the definite article, implying "those who wait" or "those who put their hope in." Another interpretation suggests it refers to those who "seek the Lord." The more common interpretation in scholarly works links this word back to the act of waiting, solidifying the theme of patient trust.
- "wait for Him": (Hebrew: לוֹ - lō) To Him. The object of their reliance and waiting is God Himself.
Word-group Analysis:
- "the Lord will wait to be gracious": This phrasing is significant because the active waiting is attributed to God. It's not that God waits passively, but rather that He is disposed and ready to bestow grace when the right moment, or when His people are in the right posture of dependence. This highlights God's inherent mercy and compassion, which is actively being withheld from those who pursue worldly alliances but is ready to be extended to those who wait for Him.
- "all those who wait for Him": The repetition of "wait" (Hebrew: מוֹחֲלִים - mōḥălim could imply deep reliance or hopeful trust, reinforcing the continuous nature of this dependence on God's covenant promises rather than on political alliances. The word's connection to "seeking" also suggests a pursuit of God's presence and will.
Isaiah 30 18 Bonus Section
This verse offers a counterpoint to the prevailing narrative of disaster in Isaiah 30. While the immediate historical context points to specific judgments on Judah's diplomatic failures, the principle extends beyond a single historical event. It speaks to the enduring nature of God's character—He is always just, always merciful, and ultimately exalts Himself by being faithful to His covenant people. The blessedness described is an assurance of divine favor and well-being for those who persevere in trusting Him, even when circumstances seem dire and human solutions appear more immediate or effective. The promise is unconditional for those who meet the condition of "waiting," highlighting the depth of God's love and His desire to draw His people to Himself. The concept of God waiting is powerfully depicted here, showing His patience with human frailty and His commitment to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
Isaiah 30 18 Commentary
Isaiah 30:18 offers a profound contrast to the preceding verses which detail judgment upon Judah for their sin. God, the ultimate sovereign, is presented as actively anticipating the opportunity to display His mercy and favor. This waiting is not passive but intentional, rooted in His divine nature as both just and compassionate. He awaits the moment when His people will cease their futile reliance on earthly powers and instead turn to Him with genuine trust.
The verse declares that "all those who wait for Him" are blessed. This waiting is an active posture of faith, hope, and patience. It involves acknowledging their utter dependence on God for deliverance, wisdom, and sustenance. Those who remain steadfast in this expectant trust will find their blessing not in worldly gains but in God Himself. Their well-being is assured because their ultimate hope is fixed on the Lord, who is inherently characterized by justice and faithfulness. His exaltation is tied to His act of delivering and blessing those who wait for Him, proving His supremacy over all other powers and authorities they might have sought. This anticipation of God's grace for the faithful is a recurring theme, offering a ray of hope amidst judgment.