Isaiah 41 10

Isaiah 41:10 kjv

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 nkjv

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Isaiah 41:10 niv

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 esv

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 nlt

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 10 Meaning

Isaiah 41:10 is a powerful divine command and promise delivered to the nation of Israel, and by extension, to all who trust in the Living God. It conveys a multifaceted message of divine reassurance against fear, anxiety, and helplessness, declaring God's unwavering presence, active provision, and ultimate sovereignty. It reassures His people that they are neither abandoned nor forgotten, as He Himself will provide strength, help, and constant support through His omnipotent and righteous character.

Isaiah 41 10 Context

Isaiah 41 falls within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section largely addressed to the exiles in Babylon, looking forward to their restoration. This chapter specifically opens with God challenging the nations and their idols to demonstrate their power by predicting the future, contrasting their inability with His omniscient foresight. God declares His sovereignty, asserting that He raised up Cyrus to accomplish His purpose of delivering Israel. In this context of geopolitical upheaval and national despondency, the Jewish exiles faced profound fear and uncertainty about their future. They felt abandoned and punished. Verse 10 comes as a direct and tender word of comfort and assurance from Yahweh to His people, dispelling their pervasive anxieties and reminding them of His intimate involvement in their lives and His plan for their redemption. It functions as a powerful polemic against the lifeless and impotent gods of the surrounding nations by emphasizing the active, present, and saving power of Israel's God.

Isaiah 41 10 Word analysis

• Fear not (אַל־תִּירָא֙ - ʾal-tîrâʾ):

  • ʾal (not) and yare' (to fear, be afraid, revere).
  • A divine imperative, not merely a suggestion.
  • This is not a suppression of emotion but a command based on God's nature.
  • The fear addressed is not reverential awe of God, but terror, panic, and overwhelming anxiety that paralyzes.
  • It points to an interior disposition of trust instead of dread in the face of daunting circumstances.

• for I am with you (כִּ֤י עִמְּךָ֙ אָ֔נִי - kî ʿimmək̲ā ʾānî):

  • kî (for/because), ʿim (with), ʾattah (you, singular masculine), ʾānî (I/I am).
  • The direct cause for not fearing. God's presence (Immanuel) is the antidote to fear.
  • אֲנִי (ʾānî), "I AM," refers to the personal, self-existent, covenant-keeping God (Exod 3:14). His very being is committed to His people.
  • It denotes a protective, intimate, and active presence, not merely being near but being on behalf of.

• Be not dismayed (אַל־תִּשְׁתָּע֙ - ʾal-tištāʿ):

  • ʾal (not) and šāʿāh (to look, gaze, stare, but here with the nuance of looking around in dread or despair).
  • Can also be rendered "do not anxiously look about."
  • Refers to a state of internal turmoil, agitation, confusion, or overwhelming discouragement caused by adversity or feeling overwhelmed by external threats.
  • The contrast is with looking to God rather than staring at problems or succumbing to inner panic.

• for I am your God (כִּֽי־אֲנִ֖י אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ - kî ʾănî ʾĕlōheykā):

  • kî (for/because), ʾānî (I), ʾĕlōhîm (God), ʿattah (your, singular masculine).
  • This specifies the I Am as the covenant God who is sovereign, powerful, and righteous.
  • "Your God" highlights a personal, exclusive, and redemptive relationship forged in covenant.
  • It asserts His absolute authority and rightful claim over His people, and by extension, His commitment to act on their behalf.

• I will strengthen you (אִמַּצְתִּ֖יךָ - ʾimmaṣtîkā):

  • From the root ʾāmaṣ (to be strong, firm, bold).
  • A promise of empowerment. God Himself provides internal fortitude and resilience, not necessarily removal of the difficulty.
  • It is a divine impartation of power to endure, persevere, and face challenges with courage.

• Yes, I will help you (אַף־עֲזַרְתִּ֓יךָ - ʾap̱-ʿăzarətîkā):

  • ʾap̱ (indeed, even, also) intensifying the promise.
  • From the root ʿāzar (to help, support, assist, come to one's aid).
  • Denotes active intervention, concrete assistance in specific situations.
  • God steps in to provide resources, solutions, or deliverance.

• I will uphold you (וְאֶתְמְכֶ֥ךָ - wəʾetmək̲ekā):

  • From the root tāmak (to grasp, support, hold, sustain).
  • Implies a continuous, stabilizing, and firm grip. God supports His people from falling.
  • This is the constant, reliable maintenance of one's standing, preventing collapse, even when circumstances threaten to overwhelm.

• with My righteous right hand (בִּימִ֥ין צִדְקִֽי - bîmîn ṣidqî):

  • yāmîn (right hand) – a common biblical metaphor for strength, power, authority, and effective action.
  • ṣedeq (righteousness, justice, vindication) – here, God's inherent justice and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
  • "My righteous right hand" means God's power is always exercised in perfect conformity with His holy and just character, and for the sake of vindicating His people and upholding His word. It signifies unwavering commitment and unchallengeable authority.

Isaiah 41 10 Bonus section

The repeated I will statements in Isaiah 41:10 (I will strengthen, I will help, I will uphold) underscore the divine initiative and sovereignty. These are not conditions contingent on human performance but declarations of God's active, unilateral commitment. This active voice from the Almighty contrasts sharply with the passivity of the idols depicted in the surrounding chapters of Isaiah, who "neither speak nor hear" (Isa 41:26).

The theological concept of God "upholding" speaks to His providential care that transcends temporary relief; it signifies His continual grip, ensuring one does not fall entirely. This is crucial for sustained faith in long seasons of hardship. The very structure of the verse, moving from negative commands to positive affirmations, effectively frames the path from fear to faith. God doesn't just tell His people not to fear, but he gives solid, foundational reasons rooted in His very being and actions.

Isaiah 41 10 Commentary

Isaiah 41:10 distills God's complete and all-encompassing care for His people into a potent declaration. It begins with two commands to abolish fear and anxiety, then provides two fundamental reasons for their removal: God's presence (I am with you) and His relational identity (I am your God). The essence of overcoming fear lies in knowing God Himself is intimately involved. This personal I Am (anokhi) is the basis for peace and confidence.

The verse then builds with a powerful triple assurance: "I will strengthen you," "I will help you," and "I will uphold you." These promises progress from an internal renewal of power to external intervention, and finally to sustained preservation. God not only grants inner resilience, but actively assists, and continuously sustains. This tripartite divine action covers every aspect of human need when facing overwhelming situations.

The climax is found in the ultimate assurance: with My righteous right hand. This phrase evokes God's active, holy, and invincible power, always exercised in justice and faithfulness. His "right hand" is not a weak or fallible hand but one that victoriously works His purposes and vindicates His people according to His righteous character. For Israel, this meant His unfailing commitment to His covenant, even in exile. For believers today, it signifies that God’s perfect character guarantees His unyielding support through every trial. This verse encapsulates God's faithfulness to provide His sufficient grace in every circumstance, serving as a timeless anchor for trust and a bulwark against despair.

Examples for practical usage:

• A student facing a daunting exam, recalling God's promise to strengthen and help.
• Someone battling a chronic illness, finding solace in God's presence and upholding hand.
• A leader in a difficult situation, resting in the assurance that God will empower and guide them.