Isaiah 51 19

Isaiah 51:19 kjv

These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

Isaiah 51:19 nkjv

These two things have come to you; Who will be sorry for you?? Desolation and destruction, famine and sword? By whom will I comfort you?

Isaiah 51:19 niv

These double calamities have come upon you? who can comfort you?? ruin and destruction, famine and sword? who can console you?

Isaiah 51:19 esv

These two things have happened to you ? who will console you? ? devastation and destruction, famine and sword; who will comfort you?

Isaiah 51:19 nlt

These two calamities have fallen on you:
desolation and destruction, famine and war.
And who is left to sympathize with you?
Who is left to comfort you?

Isaiah 51 verses

Isaiah 51 19 meaning

Isaiah 51:19 portrays Jerusalem's state of extreme devastation and helplessness following God's judgment. The verse identifies a comprehensive catalogue of calamities – "ruin and destruction, famine and sword" – as the twin occurrences overwhelming the city. These woes strip the people of any remaining strength or comfort, leading to rhetorical questions that underscore the profound depth of their misery: "Who will grieve for you? How shall I comfort you?" This highlights that no human source remains capable of offering adequate solace or commiseration for such immense suffering, thereby setting the stage for the essential need for divine intervention and comfort from the Lord.

Isaiah 51 19 Context

Isaiah 51:19 is situated within the latter part of the book of Isaiah, often referred to as Deutero-Isaiah (chapters 40-55), addressed primarily to the exiled people of Judah during or after the Babylonian captivity. Following a strong call to "listen" and "look to Abraham" (Isa 51:1-2), God reiterates His intention to comfort Zion (Isa 51:3) and assure His saving power (Isa 51:5-8). After the people plead for God to act as in ancient times (Isa 51:9-11), God reminds them of His unwavering presence as their comforter (Isa 51:12). Verse 17 then abruptly shifts tone, commanding Jerusalem, who has drunk the "cup of wrath," to awake. This verse sets the stage for the profound misery described in 51:19, portraying a Jerusalem utterly desolated, without human comfort or aid (Isa 51:18), deeply highlighting the crisis from which God promises immediate, powerful intervention and restoration in the subsequent verses (Isa 51:20-23). The historical backdrop is the physical destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, its temple razed, and its populace exiled, experiencing the full measure of the enumerated calamities.

Isaiah 51 19 Word analysis

• "These two things" (אֵ֣לֶּה שְׁתַּ֥יִם, elleh sh’tayim): Not literally just two, but an idiomatic expression in Hebrew denoting a complex, manifold calamity or a totality of suffering that combines two destructive aspects—internal (ruin/destruction) and external (famine/sword)—resulting in pervasive woe. It emphasizes the complete and comprehensive nature of their distress.
• "have happened to you" (קֹרֵ֤אתַּיִךְ מִֽי֙, qor'etāyik mî): Lit. "have called you" or "are fallen upon you." It implies these misfortunes have befallen Jerusalem inescapably, as if seeking her out.
• "ruin and destruction" (שׁ֠וֹד וָשֶׁ֜בֶר, shōḏ vāshever):
  • "Ruin" (shōḏ): Signifies violent devastation, plunder, and desolation. It reflects the comprehensive material and structural loss, echoing the plundering of the city.
  • "Destruction" (vāshever): Denotes breaking, shattering, utter catastrophe. It speaks of internal brokenness and collapse, the emotional and psychological ruin beyond physical damage. This pairing indicates a state of total desolation and utter breaking apart.
• "famine and sword" (וְרָעָ֤ב וְחֶ֙רֶב֙, v'ra'av v'ḥerev):
  • "Famine" (rā'av): Widespread hunger, starvation, a consequence of siege and war, leading to acute physical suffering.
  • "Sword" (ḥerev): Represents warfare, slaughter, and violent death. It points to the external threats, invasions, and military actions that devastated the populace. This pair details the agents of affliction that brought widespread death and deprivation.
• "who will grieve for you?" (מִ֤י יָנֽוּד לָךְ֙, mî yānûḏ lāḵ): A rhetorical question implying an absolute absence of comforters or mourners. Given the scale of destruction, everyone is suffering, or perhaps, no one dares to show sympathy. It expresses a state of extreme isolation and despair. The Hebrew yanuud can also mean "shake the head" in sorrow or sympathy, further highlighting the absence of any comforting gesture.
• "How shall I comfort you?" (אֵיכָה֙ אֲנַחֲמֵ֣ךְ, ʾêḵâ ʾănakhămēḵ): This question, following the first, amplifies the sense of impossibility. Some interpretations see 'I' here as Jerusalem personified, so deeply afflicted that she is incapable of comforting herself or her citizens. Others attribute it to God, asking a rhetorical question to underscore the profundity of her misery and the magnitude of the task, thereby stressing that human comfort is futile and only divine comfort can suffice.

Word-Group Analysis

• "These two things have happened to you—ruin and destruction, famine and sword": This whole phrase describes a complete and overwhelming national catastrophe. The enumeration of woes (often appearing as pairs in prophetic literature) illustrates the all-encompassing nature of God's judgment and its consequences for Jerusalem, highlighting physical desolation, societal collapse, and mortal peril. It vividly captures the Babylonian siege and its aftermath.
• "Who will grieve for you? How shall I comfort you?": These twin rhetorical questions signify ultimate despair and isolation. They function to emphasize that the suffering is so extreme that traditional human acts of mourning and comfort are impossible or entirely inadequate. It shifts focus from the nature of the calamity to the deep human need for compassion that is utterly unfulfilled from any human source, creating a profound spiritual vacuum that only divine intervention can fill.

Isaiah 51 19 Bonus section

The four calamities listed—ruin, destruction, famine, and sword—form a significant prophetic trope, often used to depict comprehensive judgment or total societal breakdown in the Ancient Near East. They are not merely unfortunate events but consequences of having forsaken God. This structured list emphasizes the inescapable nature of the judgment that befell Jerusalem. The despair voiced in the rhetorical questions can be seen as the ultimate human acknowledgment of powerlessness, creating a theological space for God's promised omnipotent intervention. It highlights a common theme in prophetic literature where profound lament often precedes profound promises of hope and restoration, signifying that only through an awareness of rock-bottom despair can the full magnitude of God's saving power be appreciated. The phrase "these two things" acts as a summary for the preceding dualistic expressions of catastrophe, effectively presenting a 'doubling down' on the extent of their woe, making it an inescapable, all-encompassing reality.

Isaiah 51 19 Commentary

Isaiah 51:19 encapsulates Jerusalem's devastating plight in exile, painting a picture of total loss from "ruin and destruction" (internal collapse) and "famine and sword" (external devastation). The depth of this suffering renders human comfort obsolete, articulated through powerful rhetorical questions. These questions—“Who will grieve for you? How shall I comfort you?”—are not merely inquiries but poignant expressions of overwhelming desolation and the abject absence of human aid. This profound moment of helplessness and isolation serves to highlight the essential truth that only the sovereign God, who brings about judgment, can ultimately provide genuine and complete comfort. It prepares the people for the magnificent promise of divine restoration and consolation in the verses that immediately follow, affirming God's unique role as the sole comforter for His shattered people.

• Practical usage example: When individuals or communities experience profound, multi-faceted loss (e.g., job, home, health, relationships), where human support feels insufficient, this verse underscores that God understands the depth of despair and that only His divine comfort can truly sustain and restore.