Isaiah 41:17 kjv
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:17 nkjv
"The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:17 niv
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:17 esv
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isaiah 41:17 nlt
"When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,
and their tongues are parched from thirst,
then I, the LORD, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
Isaiah 41 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 41:17 | "The poor and needy search for water, but there is no more; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them." | |
| Psa 107:41 | "But it is he who lifts the needy out of their affliction and increases their Bchildren like a flock." | God's lifting the needy |
| Psa 34:6 | "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles." | God hearing the afflicted |
| Psa 72:12-13 | "For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy." | God's pity and deliverance |
| Isa 49:13 | "Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted his people; he will have compassion on his afflicted." | God's compassion on the afflicted |
| Isa 58:10 | "If you pour out your heart for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday sun." | Satisfying the afflicted |
| Matt 5:6 | "“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." | Spiritual hunger satisfied |
| Luke 1:53 | "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty." | God filling the hungry |
| John 4:14 | "but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”" | Jesus as the living water |
| John 7:37 | "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." | Invitation to Christ for thirst |
| Rev 7:16 | "They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst anymore, nor shall the sun burn them or any scorching heat." | Eternal relief from thirst |
| Psa 140:12 | "I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy." | God defending the afflicted |
| Isa 35:6 | "Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of those who are mute will sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." | God providing water in desolate places |
| Jer 31:9 | "They shall come with weeping, and with consolation I will lead them back, I will lead them to already flowing streams, on a level path where they shall not stumble, because I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." | God leading to streams |
| Ezek 36:24 | "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land." | Gathering the scattered |
| Ezek 47:9 | "And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, because these waters go there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live wherever the river goes." | Life-giving waters |
| Matt 11:5 | "the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." | The poor hearing the gospel |
| 1 John 3:17 | "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" | Love for the needy |
| James 1:27 | "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit fatherless children and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." | Caring for the afflicted |
| Psa 82:3 | "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute." | Justice for the weak and afflicted |
Isaiah 41 verses
Isaiah 41 17 Meaning
The verse assures the poor and needy that God has not forgotten them and will provide for them, seeing their afflictions. It highlights God's merciful and attentive nature toward the vulnerable.
Isaiah 41 17 Context
This verse is situated within Isaiah chapter 41, where the LORD asserts His power and unique ability to deliver His people, contrasting Himself with the powerless idols of surrounding nations. The chapter emphasizes God's chosenness and deliverance of Israel. In this specific verse, the focus shifts to God's tender care for the humble and those in desperate situations. It’s a direct address to the oppressed, assuring them that their suffering is seen and will be met with divine intervention. This promise is rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness and His character as a God who hears and answers the pleas of the needy. The imagery of parched tongues seeking water vividly portrays extreme hardship and the fundamental human need for sustenance and relief.
Isaiah 41 17 Word Analysis
- The poor (Hebrew: dal): weak, needy, humble. Refers to those lacking material possessions, strength, or status.
- and needy (Hebrew: evyon): destitute, extremely poor, beggar. Emphasizes a state of utter lack and dependence.
- search (Hebrew: darash): to seek, inquire, require, resort to. Implies an active and urgent quest.
- for water: Water is essential for life, symbolizing relief, salvation, and God’s provision.
- but there is none: Highlights their desperate situation and the absence of natural or human aid.
- and their tongue: Refers to their inability to speak due to severe thirst and weakness.
- is parched (Hebrew: tsam`ethah): dried up, withered. Vividly describes extreme dehydration and suffering.
- with thirst (Hebrew: tsam`em): thirst. The physiological and spiritual condition of lacking what is most needed.
- But I (Hebrew: anokhi): The personal pronoun, emphasizing God's direct and personal involvement.
- the LORD (Hebrew: Yahweh): The covenant name of God, signifying His faithfulness and redemptive actions.
- will answer them (Hebrew: ‘anatam): will respond to them, will answer. God’s active engagement with their plight.
- I the God of Israel: Identifies God as their specific covenant God.
- will not forsake them (Hebrew: ‘azavtam): will not abandon them, leave them. A strong promise of perpetual presence and support.
- Words Group Analysis: The phrase "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none" paints a stark picture of absolute desolation and helplessness. This serves as the backdrop for God’s powerful counter-promise: "But I the LORD will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them." The contrast highlights God’s sovereign power over dire circumstances and His unwavering commitment to those who are dependent on Him. The emphasis on "I" and "I the God of Israel" signifies a deeply personal and relational intervention, moving beyond general divine power to covenantal faithfulness.
Isaiah 41 17 Bonus Section
The imagery of seeking water in a dry land resonates deeply with the spiritual condition of humanity before God. Many passages in scripture depict humanity as spiritually parched, seeking fulfillment in worldly things that ultimately leave them unsatisfied. Jesus’ declaration as the source of living water in John 4 and His invitation to the thirsty in John 7 echo Isaiah’s promise, presenting Him as the ultimate answer to mankind's deepest needs. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is seen in the heavenly state where there will be no thirst (Rev 7:16), pointing to the eternal provision found in Christ.
Isaiah 41 17 Commentary
This verse powerfully assures those in dire need and spiritual emptiness that God sees their distress and will actively intervene. It's a profound declaration of God's accessibility to the humble and afflicted, assuring them that He will not only hear their cries but also provide essential sustenance and unwavering support, fulfilling His covenant promises. It speaks to the core of God's character: He is a refuge for the helpless and a source of life in desolate situations. For believers today, this verse encourages reliance on God during trials, assuring them that their suffering is never in vain and that God’s provision, particularly spiritual sustenance, is always available.