Isaiah 41 3

Isaiah 41:3 kjv

He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

Isaiah 41:3 nkjv

Who pursued them, and passed safely By the way that he had not gone with his feet?

Isaiah 41:3 niv

He pursues them and moves on unscathed, by a path his feet have not traveled before.

Isaiah 41:3 esv

He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod.

Isaiah 41:3 nlt

He chases them away and goes on safely,
though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 3 Meaning

Isaiah 41:3 describes the swift, safe, and seemingly effortless progress of a powerful conqueror, divinely empowered and guided. This figure, historically identified as Cyrus the Great, pursues his adversaries, passing through territories victoriously without facing significant obstacles or having trodden such a path before, signifying an unprecedented and unhindered advance. The verse underscores God's sovereignty over world events and human history, orchestrating the movements of nations and leaders to fulfill His purposes.

Isaiah 41 3 Context

Isaiah chapter 41 is part of what scholars often call "Second Isaiah" (chapters 40-55), a section focusing on the comfort and promised return of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. In this chapter, God directly challenges the idols and pagan nations, proving His unique sovereignty and power through foreknowledge and His ability to control history. The immediate context of verse 3 involves God introducing a conqueror from the East (likely Cyrus the Great), whom He has raised up to execute His plan (Isa 41:2). This conqueror's actions are presented as evidence of Yahweh's unparalleled power, contrasted with the impotence of other nations and their deities who are seized with fear (Isa 41:5-7) and unable to predict or perform such deeds (Isa 41:21-24). The swift and easy victory described in verse 3 serves as a prelude to the larger divine purpose of freeing Israel and bringing them back home, assuring them that God is actively working on their behalf.

Isaiah 41 3 Word analysis

• He: Refers to the "one from the east" mentioned in Isaiah 41:2. This figure is historically understood to be Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, acting as God's unwitting instrument.

• pursues: Hebrew: רָדַף (rādap̄). Signifies to chase, pursue, follow with hostile intent or to overtake. Here, it conveys relentless and successful military advancement against enemies.

• them: Refers to the nations, kings, and armies mentioned or implied in Isaiah 41:2, who are brought low before this conqueror.

• and passes on: Hebrew: עָבַר (ʿābar). Means to pass over, through, or by. Implies movement and progress. The conjunction "and" links the action of pursuing with the consequence of successful advancement.

• safely: Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם (shalōm). Typically means peace, completeness, welfare. In this military context, it signifies securely, unhindered, without harm, or unopposed. It emphasizes the ease of his conquest, a significant detail for such a formidable foe.

• by a way he had not gone with his feet: Hebrew: בְּאֹרַח לֹא־יָבֹא רַגְלָיו (bəʾōraḥ lōʾ-yāvōʾ raglāyw).

  • בְּאֹרַח (bəʾōraḥ): "in a path/way." Refers to the course taken.
  • לֹא־יָבֹא (lōʾ-yāvōʾ): "not entered/come." Signifies untrodden, new, or unhindered.
  • רַגְלָיו (raglāyw): "his feet." Denotes the act of walking or physical presence.
  • This phrase is crucial, implying:
    • Untrodden path: Geographically, he went where no previous conquerors had easily gone.
    • Effortless progress: His advance was so swift and unopposed that his feet barely registered the effort, or faced no resistance.
    • Unprecedented success: He achieved victories in ways or through routes not typically taken, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of his campaigns.
    • Divine aid: His progress was so smooth, it suggested supernatural removal of obstacles.

• Words-group analysis:

  • He pursues them and passes on safely: This phrase describes a continuous, successful, and unhindered campaign. The sequential actions of pursuit and safe passage highlight the conqueror's dominance and lack of effective opposition, secured by divine will.
  • by a way he had not gone with his feet: This further amplifies the exceptional nature of his success. It conveys an astounding ease of conquest, an unhindered march that transcends typical military challenges, almost as if the path was supernaturally cleared before him.

Isaiah 41 3 Bonus section

The specific method of Cyrus's entry into Babylon, historically, involved diverting the Euphrates river and entering through the dried riverbed under the city walls (Herodotus, Xenophon), a "way he had not gone with his feet" in the sense of an unexpected, untrodden path of conquest. This extraordinary tactic directly contributes to the imagery of an unhindered, almost magical advance. The magnitude of Cyrus's empire, stretching from the Aegean Sea to India, was immense and a testament to his swift and effective conquests foretold here. His role as God's instrument is so pronounced that Isaiah refers to him as "my shepherd" and "my anointed" (Messiah) in subsequent chapters (Isa 44:28, 45:1), highlighting God's power to use even non-believers to fulfill His divine purpose.

Isaiah 41 3 Commentary

Isaiah 41:3 serves as a powerful declaration of God's sovereign control over history and world leaders. It prophetically describes the remarkable ease and success of Cyrus the Great's military campaigns, particularly his rapid subjugation of nations, leading up to the conquest of Babylon. The phrase "passes on safely" emphasizes the lack of significant resistance he encountered, a historically attested aspect of his campaigns. The description of his movement "by a way he had not gone with his feet" speaks to the unprecedented nature of his victories and the unobstructed paths divinely provided, hinting at a lack of arduous travel or resistance on terrain usually difficult for armies. For the exiles, this prophecy offered reassurance: a mighty, foreign king, seemingly unstoppable, was actually an instrument in God's hands, specifically raised up to bring about their deliverance. It implicitly undermines any belief in other gods, showing only Yahweh could foretell and orchestrate such specific, far-reaching events through an unknown pagan king, ultimately for the benefit of His chosen people.