Isaiah 41:16 kjv
Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:16 nkjv
You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the LORD, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:16 niv
You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up, and a gale will blow them away. But you will rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:16 esv
you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
Isaiah 41:16 nlt
You will toss them into the air,
and the wind will blow them all away;
a whirlwind will scatter them.
Then you will rejoice in the LORD.
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed... I will strengthen you, I will help you | God is Israel's active helper and sustainer. |
| Exod 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. | God directly intervenes to battle for His people. |
| Deut 20:4 | For the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies... | God accompanies and leads His people in conflict. |
| Ps 118:6 | The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? | Confidence in God's unwavering support and presence. |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say...? If God is for us, who can be against us? | Divine advocacy ensures ultimate victory for believers. |
| Ps 1:4 | The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | Illustrates the ephemerality and fate of the wicked. |
| Job 21:18 | How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? | Emphasizes the swift and easy destruction of adversaries. |
| Ps 35:5 | Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away. | Prayer requesting divine scattering of enemies. |
| Hos 13:3 | ...like chaff that sweeps from the threshing floor... | Depicts the swift disappearance of ungodly forces. |
| Mal 4:1 | ...all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble... | Ultimate divine judgment consuming all adversaries. |
| Matt 3:12 | His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor... | Christ's role in final judgment and separation. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. | Contrasts human reliance with righteous boasting in God. |
| Ps 34:2 | My soul will make its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. | Exhortation to find joy and confidence solely in God. |
| Ps 97:12 | Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! | A call for joy and thanksgiving in God's holy character. |
| Phil 3:3 | For we are the circumcision... and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. | New Testament perspective on boasting in Christ, not self. |
| Jer 9:24 | ...let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me... | True glorying is in understanding and knowing God's attributes. |
| Gal 6:14 | But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... | Apostolic focus on finding glory exclusively in the Cross. |
| Isa 1:4 | Ah, sinful nation... They have despised the Holy One of Israel... | One of many instances identifying God as "the Holy One of Israel." |
| Isa 5:24 | They have rejected the law of the LORD... and despised the Holy One of Israel. | Denouncing Israel's rejection of their uniquely Holy God. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Divine victory is achieved by God's Spirit, not human strength. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | ...all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear... | God's deliverance transcends human military might. |
| Ps 68:1-2 | Let God arise... As smoke is driven away, so you drive them away... | Enemies scattered and consumed by God's presence. |
| Rev 18:21 | Then a mighty angel took up a stone... and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon... hurled down" | The ultimate and complete overthrow of God's enemies. |
Isaiah 41 verses
Isaiah 41 16 Meaning
Isaiah 41:16 presents a vivid promise that God will empower His chosen people to utterly vanquish and scatter their adversaries, making them as insubstantial and easily dispersed as chaff by the wind and whirlwind. This complete and decisive victory, wrought by divine power, will not only bring relief but will also evoke deep and fervent rejoicing and glorification in the Lord. The focus of this praise is not merely the defeat of enemies, but rather in the very person and character of the "Holy One of Israel," acknowledging Him as the righteous, unique, and faithful source of their salvation and ultimate triumph.
Isaiah 41 16 Context
Isaiah chapter 41 forms part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a prophetic message aimed at reassuring the disheartened Jewish exiles in Babylon. It speaks of God's unassailable sovereignty and power over all nations and their idols. The chapter begins by challenging all nations to present their cases, highlighting the inability of false gods to declare the future or to act effectively in history, contrasting this with YHWH's absolute control. God promises to raise up a conqueror (likely Cyrus the Great) for Israel's deliverance and explicitly reassures Israel, His "servant," that He will help them, despite their weakness (Isa 41:14). Verse 16 immediately follows the vivid metaphor of God making Israel a sharp threshing sledge, enabling them to crush mountains and hills (symbols of their adversaries, Isa 41:15). Therefore, the verse stands as both a triumphant conclusion to this imagery of destruction and a powerful exhortation for Israel to find their joy and praise solely in their delivering God, solidifying their hope in His faithfulness and unique identity.
Isaiah 41 16 Word analysis
- You will winnow them: Hebrew "תזרם" (tizreim). Derived from zarah, meaning to scatter or to winnow. This verb, put into a causative or intensive form (Hiphil/Piel imperfect), implies God empowering Israel to perform this action. The imagery is of an agricultural practice where heavy grain is separated from light, worthless chaff by throwing it into the wind. Here, Israel's enemies are the "chaff," destined for effortless dispersion.
- and the wind will carry them away;: Hebrew "ורוח תקח" (v'ruach tiqach). "רוח" (ruach) is wind, the natural force that aids in winnowing. "תקח" (tiqach) means "it will take" or "carry away." This emphasizes the ease and completeness with which the enemies will be removed. It highlights that natural forces themselves serve God's purpose in executing judgment.
- the whirlwind will scatter them.: Hebrew "וסערה תפיץ" (u'se'arah tatzitz). "וסערה" (u'se'arah) denotes a tempest, storm, or whirlwind, a far more powerful and destructive force than mere wind. "תפיץ" (tatzitz) from putz, meaning to break into pieces or scatter thoroughly. This intensifies the imagery of total disintegration and widespread dispersal of the adversaries, ensuring their complete obliteration from relevance.
- You will rejoice in the LORD;: Hebrew "ותשוש ביהוה" (v'tashus ba'YHWH). "תשוש" (tashus), from shus, expresses intense joy, exhilaration, and gladness. The preposition "ב" (ba), meaning "in" or "in connection with," highlights that the LORD (יהוה - YHWH), God's covenant name, is the specific object and source of this profound joy. It's a rejoicing in God's character and faithful action, not just a celebratory feeling over victory.
- you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.: Hebrew "בקדוש ישראל תתהלל" (bi'qdosh Yisra'el tithallel). "תתהלל" (tithallel), from halal, means to boast, praise, or glorify, typically in a self-expressive, celebratory manner (Hithpael stem). The object of this glorying is "בקדוש ישראל" (bi'qdosh Yisra'el), the "Holy One of Israel." This key title, found frequently in Isaiah, underscores God's unique moral purity, transcendence, and distinctness from all idols and human powers. It stresses God's covenant relationship with Israel, despite their failings, and reaffirms His faithfulness to His own holy character. This glorying is a public acknowledgement of God's exclusive deity and incomparable power.
Isaiah 41 16 Bonus section
The agricultural imagery of winnowing, prominent throughout the Old Testament, serves as a powerful and easily understood metaphor for divine judgment and the separation of the righteous from the wicked. Beyond physical enemies, this imagery applies to spiritual adversaries and the sifting of truth from falsehood. The choice of "the Holy One of Israel" as the object of glory is especially significant. In a world full of deities and idols, this title starkly distinguishes YHWH, highlighting His moral perfection and His unique, chosen relationship with Israel. This distinction is crucial for maintaining faith when confronted by the polytheism and material power of empires like Babylon. Furthermore, this prophecy is not merely for ancient Israel; it foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the glorious reign of Christ, where all opposition will be definitively scattered, and His people will forever rejoice and glory in His name.
Isaiah 41 16 Commentary
Isaiah 41:16 is a potent declaration of divine promise and subsequent human response. It reassures Israel, then in exile, of God's unparalleled power to turn their adversaries into mere inconsequential "chaff" to be effortlessly swept away by the winds of judgment. The progression from gentle wind to violent whirlwind underscores the totality of this destruction. The significance of this victory, however, is not merely the absence of threat, but the profound re-orientation of Israel's focus. The immediate and joyous outcome for God's people is an exhilarating and profound "rejoicing in the LORD," coupled with a "glorying in the Holy One of Israel." This dual expression emphasizes that true celebration comes from acknowledging God's unique nature, His absolute holiness, and His covenant faithfulness as the exclusive source of deliverance. It moves beyond relief from physical threat to an active and humble worship of the one true God, making the experience a catalyst for deepened faith and adoration.
Practical usage examples:
- When facing seemingly overwhelming opposition, remember that God can render our "enemies" (whether spiritual, situational, or literal) as easily dispersible as chaff.
- In times of success or deliverance, channel your joy and praise specifically towards the Lord and His holy character, not just the positive outcome itself.