Isaiah 51 8

Isaiah 51:8 kjv

For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

Isaiah 51:8 nkjv

For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation."

Isaiah 51:8 niv

For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."

Isaiah 51:8 esv

For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations."

Isaiah 51:8 nlt

For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing.
The worm will eat at them as it eats wool.
But my righteousness will last forever.
My salvation will continue from generation to generation."

Isaiah 51 verses

Isaiah 51 8 meaning

Isaiah 51:8 presents a profound contrast between the temporary nature of human oppressors and their power, and the eternal, unchanging nature of God's righteousness and salvation. The verse assures God's people that while their enemies will inevitably decay and vanish like moth-eaten garments, God's justice, faithfulness, and deliverance will endure through all generations without end. It is a powerful message of comfort and unwavering hope, calling believers to fix their trust not on fleeting worldly circumstances but on the unassailable character and power of their Creator.

Isaiah 51 8 Context

Isaiah 51:8 is part of a larger section (chapters 40-55) in the book of Isaiah, often called "The Book of Comfort." Specifically, chapter 51 provides solace and assurance to the disheartened people of Israel during or in anticipation of their Babylonian exile. They felt forsaken, their oppressors seemed formidable, and their hope dwindled. The prophet calls them to look back to Abraham and Sarah as examples of God's ability to create a nation from barrenness, assuring them that just as God acted in the past, He will act again. The verses preceding 51:8, particularly verse 7, encourage Israel not to fear the taunts and reproaches of men, implying that those who scorn them will also perish. Isaiah 51:8 then emphatically supports this assurance by juxtaposing the certain, fleeting decay of these human adversaries with the enduring, eternal reality of God's own saving righteousness. It acts as a polemic against placing trust in the transient power structures of the world, emphasizing the stability found only in God's eternal attributes.

Isaiah 51 8 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunction acts as a causal link, providing the reason and assurance for the preceding exhortation not to fear human reproach (Is 51:7). It reinforces the certainty of the statement that follows.
• the moth (עָשׁ - 'ash): A destructive insect that silently but thoroughly consumes textiles. In ancient contexts, it symbolized slow, inevitable decay and fragility. The word suggests a process of internal, insidious deterioration.
• shall eat them up (יֹאכְלֵם - yokhlem): A strong verb in the future tense, indicating complete consumption and destruction. "Them" refers to the human oppressors, those who would reproach or insult God's people, implicitly highlighted in the previous verse.
• like a garment (כַּבֶּגֶד - kabe'ged): A simile comparing the enemies to a valuable item that, despite its utility, is vulnerable to the moth. It signifies decay from within, highlighting that the destroyers themselves are perishable.
• and the worm (וְהַסָּס - vehassas): "Sas" specifically refers to the larva of the clothes moth or a destructive grub/beetle larva, distinct from the flying moth. Its inclusion reinforces the idea of slow, thorough, and inescapable destruction, emphasizing total decay.
• shall eat them (יֹאכְלֵם - yokhlem): The repetition of this verb underlines the absolute certainty and comprehensiveness of the destruction of the oppressors.
• like wool (כַּצָּמֶר - katsamer): Another simile, parallel to "like a garment," indicating a material particularly susceptible to the "worm." It solidifies the imagery of complete vulnerability and irreversible destruction of the persecutors' power.
• but (וְ - ve-): This is a strong adversative particle, introducing a stark and absolute contrast. It marks a decisive shift from the impermanence of human power to the eternal steadfastness of God's nature.
• my righteousness (צִדְקָתִי - tzidkati): Signifies God's just character, His fidelity to His covenant promises, and His saving acts. It is His righteousness—emanating from His divine nature, acting to save His people, and always prevailing.
• shall be (תִּהְיֶה - tihyeh): The verb 'to be' in the future tense, denoting a continuous, eternal existence, an enduring reality.
• for ever (לְעוֹלָם - le'olam): Emphatically denotes eternity, without end, beyond any temporal limitations.
• and my salvation (וִישׁוּעָתִי - viyshu'ati): God's act of deliverance and rescue, a demonstration of His power and faithfulness. Like "my righteousness," it is intimately linked to His personal involvement and will for His people.
• from generation to generation (לְדוֹר דּוֹר - le'dor dor): This phrase emphasizes an enduring, continuous reality throughout all successive generations of humanity, spanning eternity. It reinforces "for ever" and shows the ongoing impact of God's work.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: This first clause utilizes vivid, relatable imagery of organic decay to illustrate the destined end of God's enemies. The parallel structure emphasizes that despite any apparent strength or threat they pose, human oppressors and their works are inherently perishable, destined for slow but complete annihilation. This serves as a tangible, domestic example of ultimate destruction.
• but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation: This second clause dramatically introduces a powerful contrast. It asserts the eternal, unchanging nature of God's core attributes—His saving righteousness and His act of deliverance. Unlike fleeting human power, God's character and His redemptive plan are not subject to decay or limited by time, providing an ultimate and eternal foundation for hope and trust.

Isaiah 51 8 Bonus section

• This verse encapsulates a broader biblical theme: the Creator's enduring stability versus the creation's inherent transience. Even the heavens and earth, though vast, are depicted elsewhere as wearing out like a garment (Ps 102:26, Heb 1:11-12), while God alone remains unchanged and eternal.
• The imagery of the moth also appears in wisdom literature and other prophetic books, often connected to human corruption, vanity, and the fragile nature of earthly wealth or security (e.g., Job 27:18 - "He builds his house like a moth," implying instability; Is 50:9 where those who strive against God are moth-eaten).
• The ultimate fulfillment of "my righteousness" and "my salvation" for all generations culminates in Jesus Christ, whose redemptive work is eternal, establishing an everlasting kingdom and providing an eternal salvation (Heb 9:12; 2 Tim 4:18).
• For individuals, this verse acts as a reminder that personal struggles, criticisms, or earthly adversities are ultimately temporary. Focusing on God's eternal attributes offers perspective and encourages patient endurance and trust in His ultimate plan.

Isaiah 51 8 Commentary

Isaiah 51:8 provides a profound theological truth for those enduring persecution or facing overwhelming worldly power. The striking contrast between the perishable nature of human adversaries and the enduring character of God is the verse's central message. The vivid imagery of the moth and worm consuming a garment and wool effectively portrays the certain, albeit sometimes slow, decay of human strength, empires, and opposition to God. This decay is often insidious and from within, highlighting the inherent fragility of all things not founded on the Eternal. Conversely, God's righteousness—His inherent justice, faithfulness to covenant, and redemptive activity—is declared to be "for ever." His salvation, or deliverance, will persist "from generation to generation," not merely through a single act but as an ongoing reality throughout history. This verse serves as an anchoring truth: despite temporary struggles or the apparent might of oppressors, believers can find unshakeable comfort and assurance in the eternal, unchangeable, and victorious nature of their God. It shifts focus from transient earthly troubles to the enduring sovereignty of God, reminding His people that their ultimate hope rests not on what is seen and temporal, but on what is unseen and eternal.