Isaiah 41 20

Isaiah 41:20 kjv

That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Isaiah 41:20 nkjv

That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 41:20 niv

so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 41:20 esv

that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Isaiah 41:20 nlt

I am doing this so all who see this miracle
will understand what it means ?
that it is the LORD who has done this,
the Holy One of Israel who created it.

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 20 Meaning

Isaiah 41:20 declares God's explicit purpose behind His mighty acts of delivering and transforming His people and their circumstances: to ensure that all observers, both within Israel and among the nations, profoundly perceive, recognize, consider, and intellectually grasp that these miraculous deeds are solely the work of the sovereign power of the LORD and the creative capability of the Holy One of Israel. This understanding should be communal and lead to a unified testimony of God's unique authority and unmatched might.

Isaiah 41 20 Context

Isaiah 41:20 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section largely dedicated to God's reassurance and prophecy for the exiles in Babylon. Chapter 41, specifically, addresses Israel's plight as a weak and despised people among powerful nations. God, in a divine lawsuit, challenges the nations and their idols, asserting His unique sovereignty and power as the one true God. The preceding verses (Isa 41:17-19) vividly describe God's miraculous provision for the needy, promising to transform desolate landscapes into fertile oases—a powerful metaphor for the restoration of Israel from exile. He speaks of opening rivers on bare heights, planting various trees in the wilderness, and creating a lush environment where only dry land existed. Verse 20 functions as the culmination of these promises, explaining why God performs such wonders. It's a polemic against the lifeless idols and the false gods worshipped by the surrounding empires like Babylon, whose "deeds" offer no salvation or proof of divine power, in stark contrast to the living God of Israel. This chapter ultimately proclaims that God is both the Creator of the ends of the earth and the faithful covenant keeper for Israel.

Isaiah 41 20 Word analysis

• that they may see (לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִרְא֤וּ - l'ma'an yir'u): לְמַ֙עַן֙ (l'ma'an) indicates purpose ("in order that," "so that"). יִרְא֤וּ (yir'u) is from רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see." This is not mere physical perception but implies attentive, discerning observation leading to conviction.
• and know (וְיֵדְעוּ֙ - v'yed'u): וְיֵדְעוּ֙ (v'yed'u) from יָדַע (yada'), signifying experiential and intimate knowledge, beyond intellectual assent. It implies recognition and personal acquaintance with truth.
• and consider (וְיָשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ - v'yasimu): וְיָשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ (v'yasimu) is from שִׂים (sim), literally "to set," "to place." Here, "to set in heart," meaning to ponder deeply, to lay to heart, or give careful attention. It suggests reflective engagement and taking the truth seriously.
• and understand (וְיַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ - v'yaskilu): וְיַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ (v'yaskilu) is from שָׂכַל (sakhal), "to be wise," "to discern," "to comprehend intelligently." It implies rational discernment and insight, leading to sound judgment.
• together (יַחְדָּו֙ - yaḥdāw): This adverb emphasizes communal understanding. The purpose of God's action is for all people (both Israel and the nations referenced in the chapter) to jointly come to this realization, fostering a shared acknowledgment of His sovereignty.
• that the hand of the LORD (כִּי־יַ֣ד יְהוָ֔ה - ki-yad YHVH): כִּי־ (ki) means "for" or "that," introducing the reason for their knowing. יַד (yad), "hand," is a powerful anthropomorphism, a metonymy representing God's active power, agency, intervention, and authority. יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), "LORD," is God's covenant name, signifying His self-existent and personal nature, His faithfulness, and His exclusive deity.
• has done this (עָ֥שְׂתָה זֹּ֖את - as'tah zot): עָ֥שְׂתָה (as'tah), "has done" or "has made," highlights direct action and completion. זֹּ֖את (zot), "this," refers to the specific miraculous transformations and provisions described in the preceding verses (e.g., bringing water to the desert, planting trees). It points to the concrete evidence of God's power.
• and the Holy One of Israel (וּקְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל - u'kedosh Yisra'el): וּקְד֥וֹשׁ (u'kedosh) is from קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh), "holy," denoting God's transcendence, purity, distinctness from all creation, and moral perfection. It emphasizes His incomparable nature. "Of Israel" ties His holiness specifically to His covenant relationship with His chosen people, implying His commitment and active involvement in their destiny. This is a prominent title for God unique to Isaiah.
• has created it (בְּרָאָֽהּ - b'ra'ah): בְּרָאָֽהּ (b'ra'ah) is from בָּרָא (bara'), "to create." This verb often implies creating something out of nothing, or a new, unprecedented, and exclusively divine act. Here, it affirms that God's intervention is not just arrangement or improvement but a transformative act on the scale of creation, establishing new conditions previously impossible, a new reality. The suffix -הּ (h) refers back to "this," meaning these miraculous events.

Words-group analysis:

• "that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together": This chain of verbs indicates a progressive and comprehensive grasp of truth: from initial observation (seeing) to deep comprehension (knowing), followed by thoughtful reflection (considering), and finally, intelligent discernment (understanding). The word "together" underscores a collective, unified acknowledgment of God's acts. This multifaceted recognition aims to dispel all doubt about the source of these wonders.
• "the hand of the LORD has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it": These two parallel statements provide robust and complementary declarations of God's authorship. "The hand of the LORD" stresses His active power and intervention in history, linking His covenant name (YHWH) to direct action. "The Holy One of Israel has created it" elevates the miraculous deeds to the level of divine creation, underscoring His unique, incomparable nature (Qadosh) and absolute authority (bara'). The two phrases emphasize both God's personal engagement (YHWH) and His transcendent being (Holy One).

Isaiah 41 20 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on various forms of understanding ("see, know, consider, understand") highlights God's desire for not just passive observation but an active, internal grasping of His identity and purpose. This is a deliberate process designed by God to draw humanity into a deeper relationship. The title "Holy One of Israel," frequently found in Isaiah, particularly accentuates God's unapproachable majesty and separateness while simultaneously linking Him intimately to His covenant people, Israel. It implies both His utter otherness and His unwavering fidelity to His chosen ones, a unique paradox that sets Him apart from all other deities. Furthermore, the use of בָּרָא (bara') – "to create" – is significant. In the Hebrew Bible, this verb is almost exclusively reserved for God's actions, particularly when referring to a fresh, unassisted act. This word choice here implies that God's restoration of Israel and its environment is not merely an improvement but a work of divine creation, as profound and awe-inspiring as the initial creation of the cosmos, signaling a new beginning that only God can bring about.

Isaiah 41 20 Commentary

Isaiah 41:20 unveils the fundamental theological motive behind God's transformative interventions for Israel: He acts in power not just for their benefit, but ultimately for His own glory, so that His unparalleled sovereignty might be universally acknowledged. The profound reversal of natural order promised in the preceding verses – the desert blooming like Eden – is a tangible demonstration meant to move humanity through a spectrum of apprehension: from simple observation to an intimate, intelligent, and corporate understanding that only YHWH, the "Holy One of Israel," could orchestrate such a radical shift. This challenges the idols of Babylon, which are powerless to do or create anything of significance, revealing God as the sole initiator and sustainer of life and blessing. His acts are irrefutable proofs of His exclusive divinity and commitment to His covenant. It's an invitation for both His people and the watching nations to cease relying on impotent powers and instead fix their gaze upon the Creator. Practically, this teaches believers to recognize God's fingerprint in the blessings and turnarounds of their lives and world, and to give Him the unique honor and trust He deserves. For example, a person overcoming a seemingly impossible situation might testify that "the hand of the LORD has done this," or experiencing unexpected joy after deep sorrow might acknowledge that the "Holy One of Israel has created" a new reality in their life.