Isaiah 51 6

Isaiah 51:6 kjv

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Isaiah 51:6 nkjv

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.

Isaiah 51:6 niv

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

Isaiah 51:6 esv

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

Isaiah 51:6 nlt

Look up to the skies above,
and gaze down on the earth below.
For the skies will disappear like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing.
The people of the earth will die like flies,
but my salvation lasts forever.
My righteous rule will never end!

Isaiah 51 verses

Isaiah 51 6 meaning

Isaiah 51:6 is a profound prophetic declaration contrasting the temporary nature of the created order with the eternal, unwavering permanence of God's salvation and righteousness. It calls the people to shift their focus from the fading material world to the enduring character and work of the Lord, assuring them that despite the transience of all earthly things, God's promise of deliverance and His covenant faithfulness will stand forever, providing ultimate and unfailing hope.

Isaiah 51 6 Context

Isaiah 51 is part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), delivered to a people discouraged and feeling abandoned during the Babylonian exile. The prophet aims to comfort and strengthen Judah by reminding them of God's power, His past acts of salvation, and His unwavering covenant promises. Throughout this section, there's a recurring theme of encouraging the faithful remnant, urging them not to fear or doubt God's ability to redeem and restore, even when their current circumstances seem bleak. Chapter 51 specifically begins with a call to "listen" and "look" to Abraham and Sarah as examples of God's power to make a nation from one man and woman. It then shifts to an urgent call for God's people to understand that their comfort comes from God's character, not from the permanence of earthly things or the strength of human powers. Verse 6 stands as a powerful exclamation point in this larger argument, providing a cosmic perspective that dwarfs the immediate troubles of the exiles by emphasizing that everything perceived as stable—the heavens and the earth—is temporary, while God's redemptive work is eternal. It implicitly challenges reliance on anything but God.

Isaiah 51 6 Word analysis

• "Lift up your eyes": (Se'u Eineichem שְׂאוּ עֵינֵיכֶם) - An imperative command. It calls for a deliberate act of reorientation. Instead of dwelling on immediate circumstances or perceived earthly permanency, the command directs focus to a higher, broader perspective—the vastness of the cosmos, from heavens above to earth below. This encourages a shift from introspective despair to outward observation guided by prophetic insight.

• "to the heavens": (Shamayim שָׁמַיִם) - Refers to the physical sky, the visible firmament, and by extension, the celestial sphere and the created universe. In ancient cosmology, the heavens were perceived as stable and enduring, a direct contrast to human transience.

• "and look at the earth beneath": (Wa'aretz mitaḥat וְהָאָרֶץ מִתַּחַת) - This complements the "heavens," creating a holistic view of the entire creation. The instruction to "look" implies not just a glance but a contemplative gaze to appreciate the physical world God made.

• "for the heavens will vanish like smoke": (Ki shamayim ka'ashan nimlāḥū כִּי שָׁמַיִם כֶּעָשָׁן נִמְלָחֽוּ) - "Vanish" (derived from malach מלח - meaning 'to rot away,' 'dissolve,' or in Nif'al 'be utterly consumed'). The Hebrew term suggests a dissolution or melting away. The simile "like smoke" powerfully conveys complete disappearance, leaving no trace. Smoke rises, disperses, and is gone. This starkly contradicts the perceived eternal stability of the heavens, asserting their impermanence in God's eyes.

• "and the earth will wear out like a garment": (Wa'aretz kabbeged tibläh וְהָאָרֶץ כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶֽה) - "Wear out" (balah בָּלָה) implies decaying, becoming old, tattered, and eventually unusable or dissolved. The simile "like a garment" highlights that even the seemingly solid earth is not intrinsically immutable but subject to decay and expiration, as something made for a purpose and then discarded. It conveys entropy and ultimate obsolescence for the current created order.

• "and its inhabitants will die in like manner": (Uvyoshveha ken yamutun וְיֹשְׁבֶיהָ כֵּן יָמוּתֽוּן) - "Its inhabitants" refers to human beings. "In like manner" (ken כֵּן) links their mortality directly to the decay of the earth and the vanishing of the heavens. It means their existence is just as temporary and perishable as the very creation they inhabit, subject to the same processes of decay and cessation. This undercuts human pride and any illusion of self-sufficiency or eternal physical existence.

• "but My salvation will be forever": (Wīšu'ātī le'olam tihyeh וִישׁוּעָתִי לְעוֹלָם תִּהְיֶה) - A direct, powerful contrast. "My salvation" (Yishu'ati יְשׁוּעָתִי) emphatically refers to God's own unique deliverance, His saving acts and His plan for redemption. The pronoun "My" underscores its divine origin and certainty. "Forever" (le'olam לְעוֹלָם) means for eternity, without end, perpetual. This declares the ultimate permanence and invincibility of God's redemptive purpose and action.

• "and My righteousness will not be shattered": (Wetzidqatī lō teḥāt וְצִדְקָתִי לֹא תֵחָֽת) - "My righteousness" (Tzidkati צִדְקָתִי) speaks to God's faithful adherence to His covenant promises, His moral integrity, His just and right character which always leads to fulfilling His saving purposes. It's the steadfast quality behind His salvation. "Will not be shattered" (lō teḥāt לֹא תֵחָֽת) from ḥātat חתת, meaning 'to be broken, dismayed, abolished, or cut off.' It implies firmness and invulnerability. It will not fail, nor be weakened, nor cease to exist. This reinforces the immutability of God's character as the foundation of His enduring salvation.

Isaiah 51 6 Bonus section

The theological implications of Isaiah 51:6 extend beyond mere cosmic destruction to highlight divine sovereignty over all creation. The universe, created by God, is also subject to His will concerning its end and renewal. This passage does not suggest annihilation but transformation, a theme fully developed in the New Testament concept of new heavens and a new earth (2 Pet 3:13, Rev 21:1). The passing away is a necessary prelude to the perfection and purification of God's future eternal dwelling with His people. The "wearing out" imagery points to a natural, programmed end of the current order, hinting at the limitations built into the creation itself, even as glorious as it is. Therefore, this verse profoundly elevates the steadfastness of God's redemptive work above even the mightiest created entities, offering solace that His plan for humanity's salvation is entirely independent of, and superior to, the fate of the physical universe.

Isaiah 51 6 Commentary

Isaiah 51:6 presents an extraordinary contrast, guiding the reader from the transient to the eternal. The initial exhortation to "lift up your eyes" calls for a shift in perspective, moving from an earthly-bound despair to a cosmic-scale reality. The vivid metaphors of "heavens vanish like smoke" and "earth wear out like a garment" strip away any illusion of permanence from the material world and its inhabitants, declaring their inevitable decay and cessation. This serves as a radical reordering of priorities, reminding the exiled people (and all believers) that anything we can see or touch is ultimately subject to God's grand plan and His power of transformation or dissolution.

Crucially, the verse then pivots to God's unchanging nature. "But My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be shattered" serves as an anchor of immutable hope. "My salvation" points to God's specific, intentional deliverance, culminating in Christ. "My righteousness" underscores God's perfect justice and covenant faithfulness, the very attributes that guarantee His saving acts will never fail. This is the bedrock of Christian hope: not in a durable physical universe, but in an enduring, faithful God whose saving work stands beyond all decay and time. The physical creation may pass, but the redemptive acts of God and His perfect character are everlasting, offering comfort and security in a world that is fundamentally impermanent. This understanding provides comfort in tribulation, reminding believers that the eternal perspective transcends temporal suffering, fixing hope on what truly lasts.