Isaiah 54:16 kjv
Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
Isaiah 54:16 nkjv
"Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
Isaiah 54:16 niv
"See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
Isaiah 54:16 esv
Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
Isaiah 54:16 nlt
"I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
Isaiah 54 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 54:16 | Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy. | God's sovereign control over all things, including evil. |
| Romans 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | Divine backing and protection. |
| Jeremiah 1:17-19 | But you, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you today an fortified city and an iron pillar and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. | God's promise of protection and strength. |
| Psalm 56:9 | My enemies will turn back on the day I call. This I know: God is for me. | Enemies' defeat through God's intervention. |
| Psalm 11:5 | The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence. | God's judgment on the wicked. |
| Psalm 17:13 | Arise, O Lord! Confront them, throw them down! Deliver me from the wicked by your sword, | Divine intervention against adversaries. |
| Psalm 37:15 | their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. | The destruction of weapons against the righteous. |
| Psalm 138:7 | Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand saves me. | God's saving hand against enemies. |
| Psalm 2:1-6 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, “Let us break their bonds together and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “Yet I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” | God's sovereignty over opposing rulers. |
| Isaiah 41:11-12 | Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded. Those who strive against you shall be as nothing, and shall perish. | Shame and perishing of adversaries. |
| Isaiah 45:24-25 | But against the Lord all men strive, but he shall be condemned. ... In the Lord shall all the offspring of Israel be justified and exult. | Condemnation of those who strive against God. |
| Isaiah 50:7-9 | For the Lord God helps me; therefore I shall not be disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He is near who justifies me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is my accuser? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? | The justified person's confidence in God's help. |
| Isaiah 51:22-23 | Therefore hear this, you afflicted, one drunken, but not with wine: Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering, the dregs of the cup of my wrath; you shall drink them no more. And I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Lie down that we may go over,’ and you lay on the ground and on the street for your passers-by.” | God intervening in judgment on oppressors. |
| Isaiah 51:7-8 | “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed by their revilings. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will last forever, and my salvation to all generations.” | Divine permanence vs. human transience. |
| Isaiah 8:9-10 | Make an uproar, you peoples, and be terrified, and throw yourselves into confusion! Give ear, all you far countries; gird yourselves and be terrified; gird yourselves and be terrified. Take counsel together, but it shall come to nothing; speak the word, but it shall not stand, because God is with us. | The futility of schemes against God. |
| 1 John 4:4 | Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. | Greater power of God within believers. |
| Revelation 19:11-16 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! And he who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. | Christ's ultimate victory and dominion. |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The power of God in the gospel. |
| Ephesians 6:10-13 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. | Spiritual warfare and God's provision. |
| Colossians 1:13 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, | Deliverance from darkness. |
Isaiah 54 verses
Isaiah 54 16 Meaning
The Lord declares His sovereign control over creation, specifically the instruments of war and destruction. He asserts that any weapon or tool forged against His people will ultimately be ineffective and brought to ruin. This divine protection ensures that such tools cannot be used to harm His covenant people.
Isaiah 54 16 Context
Isaiah chapter 54 is a prophecy of restoration and future glory for Zion (Jerusalem and God's people). After a period of judgment and scattering, described in the preceding chapters, this chapter offers comfort and assurance of God's unwavering love and faithfulness. It speaks of rebuilding, expansion, and security, with God Himself being the ultimate guarantor of peace. Verse 16 specifically addresses the divine sovereignty over all instruments of conflict, assuring protection for the renewed people of God, who are presented as having peace established by God. This stands in contrast to the surrounding nations, who might possess tools of war, but their effectiveness against God's people is nullified by His divine decree. The chapter as a whole is rich in messianic overtones, pointing to the ultimate reign of peace under the Messiah.
Isaiah 54 16 Word Analysis
- Behold (Hebrew: הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection commanding attention. It draws the reader's focus to what follows, signaling the importance of the statement.
- I (Hebrew: אֲנִי - ʾănî): Emphasizes the speaker, Yahweh, the LORD, highlighting His personal involvement and agency.
- have created (Hebrew: בָּרָא - bārāʾ): Though usually signifies "create out of nothing," here it can imply "shaped," "formed," or "appointed." It underscores God's ultimate authority in bringing things into existence, even instruments of destruction.
- the smith (Hebrew: חָרָשׁ - ḥārāš): Refers to a craftsman, particularly one who works with metal, a blacksmith. The creation of this figure represents the origin of weapons.
- that bloweth (Hebrew: נָפַח - nāpaḥ): To breathe, blow, or cause to blow. In this context, it describes the smith blowing on the coals to generate the heat for forging.
- the coals (Hebrew: גֶּחָלִים - geḥālîm): Embers, glowing coals, essential for the smith's work of metalworking.
- in the fire (Hebrew: אֵשׁ - ʾēš): Fire, the fundamental element for forging metal and thus creating instruments.
- and that bringeth forth (Hebrew: יָצַר - yāṣar): To fashion, form, mould. It emphasizes the intentionality and skill in creating a weapon.
- an instrument (Hebrew: כְּלִי - kĕlî): A tool, vessel, implement. Here it specifically refers to a weapon.
- for his work (Hebrew: מְלָאכָה - mĕlāʾḵāh): Work, occupation, craft. It refers to the purpose for which the smith creates the instrument – to use it.
- and I have created (Hebrew: בָּרָא - bārāʾ): Repeats the significant term, reinforcing God's agency in the creation of the destructive element.
- the destroyer (Hebrew: שֹׁחֵת - šôḥêṯ): One who destroys, lays waste, corrupts. This personified force is also under God's control.
- to destroy (Hebrew: לְשַׁחֵת - ləšaḥêṯ): Infinitive form, indicating the purpose or intent of the destroyer.
Word Group Analysis:
- "I have created the smith... and bringeth forth an instrument for his work": This phrase encapsulates the entirety of warfare's origin, from the maker to the made. God is not only the ultimate source of creation but also of the very tools and human agencies involved in conflict. This does not imply God approves of destruction, but that He is sovereign over the entire process and its participants.
- "I have created the destroyer to destroy": This second part, mirroring the first, extends God's sovereign hand over the execution of destruction itself. The force intended to cause ruin is itself brought into being by God.
Isaiah 54 16 Bonus Section
The theological concept presented here relates to divine sovereignty and the problem of evil. Scholars have debated for centuries how God's absolute control coexists with human responsibility and the reality of suffering and sin. Isaiah 54:16 reflects a perspective where God's preeminence extends even to the agents of destruction. This doesn't equate to divine causation of sin, but rather God's permissive will and ultimate purpose for allowing such things within His overarching, sovereign plan. The intention is not to imply God creates evil as intrinsically good, but that He is the ultimate ground of being and therefore has authority and oversight over all that exists, including those who wield destructive power. The verse is fundamentally a statement of assurance for the redeemed community that their security is absolute because it is grounded in the unchangeable power and will of their Creator and Protector. It anticipates the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, where conflict and destruction as we know it will cease.
Isaiah 54 16 Commentary
This verse powerfully asserts God's absolute sovereignty over all of creation, including the forces and individuals that cause destruction. Even the blacksmith who forges weapons and the destroyer who wields them are ultimately instruments in God's hand. This perspective is crucial for understanding divine providence and suffering. God is not merely a distant observer but the active controller, even over those aspects of existence that seem purely malevolent.
This doesn't mean God wills evil to occur as an end in itself, but rather that He sovereignly incorporates all things, even wicked men and their wicked devices, into His ultimate plan. The assurance for God's people is that no weapon formed against them can prosper because their protection is divinely guaranteed. The forging and the destructive intent are permitted and orchestrated by God, but their effectiveness against His chosen people is nullified by His overarching will. It speaks to a theological understanding that even perceived enemies and threats are within the purview of divine control and can be, and are, restrained or directed according to His purposes.
For believers today, this verse provides immense comfort in times of adversity and persecution. It assures us that our struggles, even those involving tangible or seemingly insurmountable opposition, are not outside God's awareness or control. He has already accounted for the "smith" and the "destroyer." Therefore, no human plan, no weapon of war, no destructive force can ultimately succeed against those whom God shelters. Our confidence rests not in the absence of opposition, but in the One who controls the opposition.