Isaiah 51:9 kjv
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
Isaiah 51:9 nkjv
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake as in the ancient days, In the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent?
Isaiah 51:9 niv
Awake, awake, arm of the LORD, clothe yourself with strength! Awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old. Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through?
Isaiah 51:9 esv
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?
Isaiah 51:9 nlt
Wake up, wake up, O LORD! Clothe yourself with strength!
Flex your mighty right arm!
Rouse yourself as in the days of old
when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile.
Isaiah 51 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 51:9 | Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days... | Invitation to remembrance |
| Psalm 44:23 | Awake, O Lord! Why do You sleep? Arise, and do not cast us off forever. | Plea for God’s intervention |
| Psalm 74:12 | Yet God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. | God's historical salvations |
| Isaiah 43:15 | I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. | God's unique kingship |
| Isaiah 45:7 | I form the light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I the LORD do all these things. | God’s sovereignty in creation/control |
| Jeremiah 32:17 | Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power... | Acknowledgment of God’s power |
| Exodus 14:21 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night... | Exodus event confirmation |
| Psalm 89:13 | Your hand is mighty; Your hand is exalted and Your right hand is lifted up. | Declaration of God’s power |
| Isaiah 40:10 | Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him... | Prophetic announcement of God's might |
| John 1:3 | All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. | Christ as Creator |
| Colossians 1:16 | For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth... | Christ as Creator |
| Hebrews 1:3 | who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power... | Christ upholds all things |
| Romans 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made... | God's power evident in creation |
| Revelation 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending,” says the Lord... | God's eternal nature |
| Revelation 19:1 | And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” | God's reign and power |
| Ephesians 1:20 | which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. | Christ’s resurrected power |
| 1 Peter 5:6 | Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. | God’s mighty hand |
| Psalm 136:12 | With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever. | God’s strong hand in redemption |
| Jeremiah 50:34 | Their Redeemer is mighty; the LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their cause... | God as powerful Redeemer |
| Job 38:41 | Who provides food for the raven, when its young cry to God, And roam about for lack of food? | God's provision for creatures |
Isaiah 51 verses
Isaiah 51 9 Meaning
The verse is a powerful call for Israel to remember God's past mighty acts of deliverance, particularly the Exodus from Egypt. It asserts God's unique power and role as their redeemer and savior, who alone possesses such abilities. This remembrance is meant to strengthen their faith and hope, assuring them that the same God who defeated ancient oppressors will overcome their current challenges.
Isaiah 51 9 Context
Isaiah chapter 51 serves as an exhortation to Israel, coming after a period of national distress and exile. The preceding verses speak of comfort and a new beginning. This specific verse is a powerful intercessory prayer or a divine call for God to manifest His strength and act on behalf of His people, as He did in the past. The historical context points to the exilic or post-exilic period where Israel felt abandoned, and the prophet invokes God's historical interventions to rekindle hope and faith. The reference to "ancient days" clearly evokes the miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage.
Isaiah 51 9 Word analysis
Awake, awake (עוּרִי עוּרִי,
uriyuriy): Imperative verb, meaning "stir yourself up," "rouse," "awaken." It's a double imperative for emphasis, a plea for divine action.put on (לִבְשִׁי, libshi): Imperative of "to clothe," symbolizing equipping oneself with strength and power.
strength (זְרוֹעַ, zeroa`): Literally "arm," a metonym for power, might, and ability. Here, it refers to God's powerful arm, used in ancient acts of salvation.
O arm of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): Directly addresses the LORD by His covenant name, invoking His personal involvement and relationship.
awake, as in the ancient days (עוּרִי כִּימֵי קֶדֶם, `uriy kimiy qedem): Repeats the plea, linking it to the glorious acts of God in former times, particularly the Exodus.
the days of old generations (יְמֵי דֹּר וָדֹר, yimey dor vadore): Emphasizes the sustained historical nature of God's powerful interventions.
words-group-by-words-group analysis:
- "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD": This is a powerful imperative calling for God's active intervention. The repetition of "awake" underscores a perceived period of divine inactivity or slumber, a common motif in pleas to God for deliverance. "Arm of the LORD" is a classic personification of God's power and might, referencing His actions in the past.
- "awake, as in the ancient days, the days of old generations": This phrase anchors the current plea in historical precedent. It means "as in the days of old" or "as in former generations." It’s a reminder that God's character and ability to save remain constant. The specific "ancient days" implicitly refers to the mighty acts of deliverance seen during the Exodus from Egypt (cf. Ex 14).
Isaiah 51 9 Bonus section
The imagery of God's "arm" being strengthened or "awakened" is anthropomorphic, describing God in human terms to convey His power and readiness to act. Scholars suggest that this "awakening" or "clothing" with strength implies God's sovereign will to choose when and how to reveal His power. It can be seen as a prayer that aligns with God’s redemptive plan. The emphasis on "arm" directly contrasts with the weakness and powerlessness the people felt, and the impotence of the idols of surrounding nations, which are depicted as lifeless and unable to save. The inclusion of the covenant name, "LORD" (YHWH), further strengthens the plea, invoking their special relationship and God's promises made to them.
Isaiah 51 9 Commentary
This verse is a vibrant appeal for God's present intervention, grounded in His past faithfulness. It's not a questioning of God's power but a strong exhortation for Him to manifest it again for His people, who feel powerless and oppressed. The prophet employs vivid language to stir both the people to remember God’s mighty deeds and God Himself (in a literary sense) to act. The repetition and the appeal to ancient days highlight that God’s salvific actions are not one-off events but are expressions of His unchanging nature. This verse serves as a theological foundation for enduring faith, demonstrating that trusting in God means remembering what He has done and believing He can and will act similarly again. It's a foundational principle that God’s historical actions are a promise of future grace.