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 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 51:17 | Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem... | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Isa 3:8 | For Jerusalem has ruined herself... | Cause of Jerusalem's ruin |
| Jer 14:17 | ...and no solace. She shall be broken with great breakage.. | Jeremiah's lament |
| Jer 4:20 | How quickly is the land devastated... | Devastation of the land |
| Lam 1:1-2 | How lonely sits the city that was full of people!... | Lament for Jerusalem |
| Lam 2:2-3 | He has overthrown... He has poured out his fury... | God's anger upon Zion |
| Lam 3:43-46 | You have covered yourself with anger... | Prophet's prayer and confession |
| Eze 6:11-14 | Thus says the Lord GOD: Strike your hands together... | Judgment on Israel's mountains |
| Eze 24:10-14 | ...bring it to a boil, and let the meat cook. | Jerusalem's impurity and judgment |
| Mic 3:12 | Therefore because of you Zion shall be ploughed as a field | Mic 3:12, judgment imagery |
| Nah 2:6-7 | The river gates are thrown open, the palace dissolves. | Fall of Nineveh imagery |
| Zech 11:1-3 | Blow the trumpet in Gilead and in Bashan... | Destruction of the land |
| Matt 23:37-38 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered.. | Jesus weeps over Jerusalem |
| Luke 19:41-44 | And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it... | Jesus weeps over Jerusalem |
| Luke 21:20-24 | "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies..." | Signs of Jerusalem's destruction |
| Rev 17:4-6 | ...Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of the.. | Judgment on spiritual Babylon |
| Rev 18:5-8 | ...her sins reachingmocking, reaching heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. | Judgment on Babylon |
| Jer 49:26 | "Her young men shall fall in her squares..." | Judgment on Damascus |
| Jer 50:30 | Her young men shall fall in the streets of Babylon... | Judgment on Babylon |
| Lam 1:8 | Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she has become... | Jerusalem's sin and consequence |
| Psa 79:1-4 | O God, the nations have come into your inheritance... | Lament for Jerusalem's destruction |
| Rev 11:7-8 | And when they have finished their testimony, the beast.. | Witness and their defeat |
| Psa 55:14-15 | We who had sweet fellowship together... | Betrayal and judgment |
Isaiah 51 verses
Isaiah 51 19 Meaning
This verse describes a catastrophic destruction of Zion (Jerusalem) and its inhabitants, signifying judgment upon them. It portrays a devastating scene where Zion is afflicted with the consequences of its sins, leading to its ruin and suffering. The imagery points to the deep sorrow and distress experienced by the people during times of divine chastisement.
Isaiah 51 19 Context
This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah 51 concerning Zion's future restoration after judgment. The preceding verses describe the comfort and vindication that God will bring to Zion, comparing its desolation to the wilderness and its people to a parched land. Isaiah 51:19, however, turns back to describe the profound suffering and destruction that had come upon Jerusalem as a result of its unfaithfulness. It sets the stage for the subsequent call for Zion to arise and put on its beautiful garments, emphasizing that despite the harshness of the judgment, God’s deliverance is imminent. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with the people of Judah during times of Babylonian exile or other periods of national disaster, reminding them of the consequences of sin while holding out the hope of future redemption.
Isaiah 51 19 Word Analysis
- Indeed (Hebrew: ki - כִּי): Conjunction expressing causality, certainty, or emphasis. Here, it signals the reason or consequence of what was previously stated or implied.
- there is (Hebrew: yeš - יֵשׁ): Indicates existence or presence.
- none (Hebrew: ʼeyn - אֵין): Negation, signifying absence or lack.
- to lead her (Hebrew: manehi - מְנָיֵהָ - a variant of mana): Refers to counting, appointing, or guiding. It implies a lack of anyone to guide or support her.
- of her (Hebrew: meʼalloh - מֵאֲלָּהּ - possibly a variant of ʼal meaning "to curse" or "to condemn," but more likely pointing to being "faint" or "exhausted"): This word is challenging and appears unique in this form. It might suggest weakness or incapacitation.
- sons (Hebrew: baneha - בָּנֶיהָ): Her children, signifying the people or inhabitants.
- who (Hebrew: ʼašer - אֲשֶׁר): Relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause.
- hold her (Hebrew: sʻubʻeyhā - סְעֻבֶּיהָ - related to saʻa“ meaning "to support" or "to sustain"): To grasp or support her.
- by the hand (Hebrew: mikyad - מִיַּד): With the hand; implying active support or guidance.
- all (Hebrew: kʻol - כָּל): Entirety; the whole number.
- her (Hebrew: śəqehyāh - שְׂקֵהֶיהָ - uncertain, possibly relating to weakness or stumbling): Another challenging word, possibly implying weakness or being jostled.
- those (Hebrew: z ʻim - זִּים - related to zū' meaning "to remove" or "to turn aside"): Likely referring to the enemies who cause distress or displacement.
- bringing (Hebrew: ha ʻābhērm - הֶעֱבִרֻם - hiphil of ʻābhara meaning "to cause to pass over"): Causing to pass over or through; hence, inflicting.
- her (Hebrew: bʻah - בָּהּ - a form of bo meaning "in her"): In her; within the city or nation.
Word Groups Analysis
- "none to lead her" / "none to hold her by the hand": This phrase powerfully depicts utter abandonment and lack of leadership or support. It conveys the complete collapse of social and political order, where even basic guidance and sustenance are absent.
- "all her strong ones" / "her sucklings": The original text might read something like "her sturdy ones and her weaklings," or similar phrasing. The intended meaning is comprehensive, encompassing all demographics of the population—the strong who should be protectors and the weak, helpless young. The implication is that no one is spared from the desolation.
Isaiah 51 19 Bonus Section
The phrase "none to lead her" and "none to hold her by the hand" uses a familial metaphor, depicting a broken family unit. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a strong family structure was fundamental. The inability of parents (or society) to guide and support their children represented a catastrophic breakdown. This intensely personal and relatable imagery amplifies the emotional weight of Zion's desolation. It also mirrors the state of Israel when God's direct leading and protection were withdrawn due to their transgressions, as seen in other prophetic passages and historical accounts of their wanderings or captivities.
Isaiah 51 19 Commentary
This verse paints a grim picture of utter desolation and abandonment. Zion, once a beloved city, is left without any to guide or support her. The imagery is of a mother who cannot even hold her children, highlighting the complete collapse of her capacity to nurture and protect her own people. The judgment is so severe that all her strength and even her very young are subject to the devastating onslaught. This state of ruin underscores the gravity of sin and its consequences, leading to a complete loss of human and divine support, a stark contrast to the comfort promised in earlier verses. It illustrates the ultimate solitude and helplessness that sin brings.