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

This verse announces a divine declaration of permanence for the heavens and the earth. God's established foundation is righteous and unending, unlike the fleeting nature of creation which will ultimately perish. His salvation will endure forever, and His righteousness will not be abolished.

Isaiah 51 6 Context

This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 51, within a section (chapters 49-57) often referred to as the "Second Isaiah" or "Book of Comfort." It follows pronouncements of judgment against Israel's enemies and assures them of God's faithfulness and impending redemption. The preceding verses (50:10-11) warn against trusting in one's own might, which leads to destruction. This verse serves as a stark contrast, emphasizing the ultimate and immutable nature of God's salvation and righteousness against the transient reality of the physical world and human endeavors. The audience, likely exiled Judeans, is being comforted and encouraged to hold onto God's promises amidst their present suffering, reminding them that His eternal covenant and power supersede temporary earthly conditions.

Isaiah 51 6 Word Analysis

• "Lift up": (Hebrew: rūm) - To raise, exalt, lift high. This is an imperative, calling for attention and focus.

• "your eyes": Implies active looking, not passive observation. A call to shift perspective.

• "to the heavens": (Hebrew: ha-shamayim) - Refers to the sky, the celestial expanse, often seen as God's dwelling place or a symbol of His immutability.

• "and look": (Hebrew: habbet) - A more intense and attentive looking than "ra'ah" (to see). A focused gaze.

• "at the earth beneath": (Hebrew: la-aretz mitachat) - The ground, the terrestrial realm where humans live. It is presented as contrast to the heavens.

• "for": (Hebrew: ki) - Introduces the reason for the call to look upward and outward.

• "the heavens will vanish": (Hebrew: ha-shamayim ha·melak) - "Melak" signifies melting, dissolving, or disappearing. The visible sky is temporary.

• "like smoke": (Hebrew: ka-'ashan) - A simile illustrating extreme and swift dissipation, vanishing without a trace.

• "the earth": (Hebrew: ha-aretz) - The ground, the physical world, again contrasted with the divine.

• "will wear out": (Hebrew: yibla) - To become old, decayed, worn out, corrupted. It implies a gradual but inevitable decline.

• "like a garment": (Hebrew: kebhelush) - Another simile of deterioration. Clothes become worn, frayed, and eventually unusable.

• "and those who dwell in it": (Hebrew: we-yoshveha) - Refers to humanity, the inhabitants of the earth.

• "will die": (Hebrew: ka-shash q•meqh) - Their lifespan is limited and ultimately ends.

• "like gnats": (Hebrew: kelal shinn'im) - The comparison signifies utter insignificance and easy, swift destruction. Similar to the word for "livestock" but often used for pest-like small creatures that quickly die. Some interpretations suggest it means like vermin, fleeting and insignificant.

• "But": (Hebrew: we) - A strong conjunction introducing a stark contrast.

• "my salvation": (Hebrew: yish‘ati) - God’s deliverance, rescue, redemption. It is possessed by God.

• "will be": (Hebrew: tiheyeh) - Future tense, indicating certainty and enduring nature.

• "for ever": (Hebrew: le-‘olam) - Eternally, perpetually.

• "and my righteousness": (Hebrew: uthzdakarti) - God's justice, His just character, His right acts, His covenant faithfulness.

• "shall not be abolished": (Hebrew: lo·the-bhal or lo·ti-qal) - Will not be broken, cancelled, or made void. It signifies an indelible and unchangeable attribute and provision of God.

• Phrase Analysis: "vanish like smoke" & "wear out like a garment": These parallel similes emphasize the ephemeral and decaying nature of the physical cosmos. Smoke disperses and leaves no lasting trace, and garments, despite their utility, degrade over time with use. This powerfully conveys that the current material creation is not the ultimate reality, hinting at a coming dissolution.

• Words Group: "My salvation will be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.": This pair forms the central assurance of the verse. God’s saving acts are not temporary fixes but eternal provisions, and His righteous character and actions, especially as displayed in His covenant promises, are fundamentally unbreakable and eternally valid. This speaks to the unwavering faithfulness of God in His plan for His people.

Isaiah 51 6 Bonus Section

The prophetic vision of a vanishing heaven and earth, followed by God's eternal salvation and righteousness, is echoed in the New Testament's description of a new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1). While earthly creation will pass away, God's redemptive plan and His character are eternal and will ultimately manifest in a renewed creation free from decay and sin. The theme of God's Word and His covenant faithfulness being everlasting, even when all else fades, is a cornerstone of biblical theology, emphasized by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24:35. The prophet’s imperative to "lift up your eyes" serves as a timeless call to spiritual focus and faith, reminding believers that their hope rests not on temporal realities but on the eternal God. The comparison to "gnats" might also be understood in its Hebrew root concerning swift death or pestilence, reinforcing the complete annihilation and insignificance of opposition when God acts.

Isaiah 51 6 Commentary

Isaiah 51:6 presents a radical perspective shift. The prophet directs his audience to look beyond the immediate, visible creation—heavens and earth—acknowledging their temporary and decaying nature. They are transient, like smoke dissipating or a worn-out garment, and their inhabitants are as insignificant and fleeting as gnats. This imagery, drawn from common experience, underscores the vanity of placing ultimate trust in the physical world or temporal powers. In stark contrast, God declares the enduring, immutable quality of His salvation and His righteousness. This highlights that true security and lasting hope are found not in what is seen but in the unchangeable character and eternal promises of God. His deliverance is a permanent state, and His uprightness, which guarantees His promises, will never be annulled. This eternal nature of God's faithfulness and salvific work provides the ultimate foundation of comfort and assurance for God's people, particularly in times of exile and suffering.

Practical Usage: In moments of despair where circumstances feel overwhelming and permanent, we are reminded to lift our spiritual eyes to God, whose nature and promises are constant, rather than despairing in the changing earthly realm. Trust in God’s unchanging salvation provides strength.