Isaiah 41 6

Isaiah 41:6 kjv

They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

Isaiah 41:6 nkjv

Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, "Be of good courage!"

Isaiah 41:6 niv

they help each other and say to their companions, "Be strong!"

Isaiah 41:6 esv

Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, "Be strong!"

Isaiah 41:6 nlt

The idol makers encourage one another,
saying to each other, "Be strong!"

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 6 Meaning

Isaiah 41:6 describes the mutual encouragement and support among people, likely the nations and idol-makers, in the face of God's unfolding purposes and power. As divine action becomes evident, instilling fear, these individuals turn to one another for strength, reassuring each other to "be of good courage" in their human endeavors and the making of idols, rather than seeking the one true God. It illustrates a human, self-reliant response to divine challenge, characteristic of those who reject or do not know the Lord.

Isaiah 41 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 41 is a disputation in which God contrasts His incomparable sovereignty and foreknowledge with the powerlessness of the false gods and nations. The preceding verses (41:1-4) introduce God calling someone from the East (widely understood as Cyrus, though not named here) who conquers nations. Verse 5 describes the nations seeing this display of divine power and being filled with fear and dread. Isaiah 41:6 is the immediate reaction to this fear: instead of turning to the true God, they turn to each other for reassurance. This human, self-initiated solidarity then directly leads to the renewed emphasis on idol-making in verse 7, where craftsmen encourage each other in their futile work. Historically, this prophecy speaks to the Babylonian exiles, reassuring them of God's control over their situation and foretelling His instruments of deliverance, while simultaneously exposing the utter vanity of the idols and the pagan nations they encountered.

Isaiah 41 6 Word analysis

• They helped (עָזְר֥וּ, ‘āzᵊrû): From the root עָזַר (āzar), meaning to help, succor, support. Here, it signifies mutual assistance or offering support. In this context, it is not assistance rooted in faith in God but in a fearful, human-centered reaction, indicating reliance on horizontal human relationships rather than vertical divine help. This support is ultimately insufficient and misdirected given the true source of the "dread" they face (God's power).
• every one his neighbor (אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙, ’îš ’eṯ-rē‘ēhû): "אִ֥ישׁ" ('îš) means "man" or "every one"; "רֵעֵ֣הוּ" (rē‘ēhû) from רֵעַ (rēa‘) means "friend," "companion," or "neighbor." This phrase emphasizes widespread mutual assistance and a sense of shared community or fate. It underscores their solidarity and interconnectedness as they face an external threat, binding them together in a common, albeit flawed, strategy of human strength.
• and every one said (וּלְאָחִיו֙ אָמַ֣ר, ūlᵉ’āḥîw ’āmar): "וּלְאָחִיו֙" (ūlᵉ’āḥîw) from אָח (’āḥ), means "brother" or "kinsman," further intensifying the sense of internal bond and shared identity beyond mere acquaintances. "אָמַ֣ר" (’āmar) means "he said," indicating direct verbal encouragement. The progression from "neighbor" to "brother" suggests deepening levels of fellowship and trust among themselves, trying to strengthen their resolve internally.
• to his brother (as explained above with "every one said"): This reinforces the familial and strong relational bond through which the encouragement flows. It’s an intimate plea for shared courage.
• Be of good courage (חֲזַ֖ק, ḥǎzaq): An imperative verb meaning "be strong," "take courage," "be firm," or "hold fast." This word often appears in Scripture as a divine command, particularly to leaders (e.g., Joshua) to undertake challenging tasks with the assurance of God's presence. Here, it is human-to-human, lacking the divine source and promise of strength. The phrase in this context reveals their perceived weakness and the necessity of shoring up their own resolve because they have no divine strength or assurance to draw upon. It is an act of human will against existential fear.

• "They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother": This phrase highlights the strong sense of human community and mutual reliance. In the face of overwhelming external circumstances, people instinctively seek support and reassurance from those closest to them. The repetition of "every one" and the progression from "neighbor" to "brother" emphasizes the depth of their collective bond and a united, albeit ultimately futile, effort to counteract the perceived threat through human solidarity. It is a striking picture of horizontal trust in a world needing vertical truth.

Isaiah 41 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew word "ḥazaq" (חֲזַק), translated "Be of good courage," carries significant weight in biblical literature. Its use by man encouraging another man, rather than as a divine command, in Isaiah 41:6 subtly highlights the absence of true divine assurance among the idol-makers. Their courage is a self-generated, often desperate, attempt to muster strength against an unacknowledged or ignored greater power. This stands in stark contrast to God's regular exhortations to His chosen ones to "be strong and courageous" (e.g., Joshua 1), which is always coupled with the divine promise, "for the Lord your God is with you." The nations' shared courage in Isaiah 41:6 is not backed by the God who actually controls history, making it ultimately hollow and transient, a precursor to their redoubled but equally vain efforts in idol worship (Isa 41:7). This scene serves as a theological mirror, prompting the audience (Israel in exile) to reflect on the source of their own strength and courage, urging them not to mimic the futility of the nations around them.

Isaiah 41 6 Commentary

Isaiah 41:6 reveals a profound theological and practical insight into human behavior when confronted with divine power or an unknown future. Faced with the evident movement of the Almighty, which instills fear and trembling in the nations (v.5), humanity's immediate, natural response is to draw strength from itself and its own kind. The mutual encouragement, "Be of good courage," is an ironic echo of divine commands to His people to be strong because God is with them. Here, the encouragement is solely horizontal, born of anxiety and leading not to repentance or reliance on God, but to the reinforcing of human-made solutions, specifically idol-making, as detailed in the subsequent verse (v.7). This passage acts as a polemic against the folly of human autonomy, misplaced confidence in human solidarity, and the worship of created things, ultimately contrasting the living God's sovereign power with the futile endeavors of those who oppose or ignore Him. It is a vivid portrayal of a world attempting to create its own sense of security apart from the true source of strength.