Isaiah 57:1 kjv
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
Isaiah 57:1 nkjv
The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.
Isaiah 57:1 niv
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.
Isaiah 57:1 esv
The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
Isaiah 57:1 nlt
Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
Isaiah 57 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 57:2 | He enters into peace; they rest in their resting places, each one walking in uprightness. | Isa 3:10, Rom 2:7, Heb 4:9-10, Rev 14:13 |
| Isaiah 26:19 | Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you dwellers in the dust! | Dan 12:2, John 5:28-29, 1 Cor 15:52, 54 |
| Psalm 37:37 | Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. | Ps 37:3, Ps 112:6 |
| Proverbs 10:7 | The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. | Prov 10:11, Prov 11:10 |
| Ecclesiastes 8:14 | There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that for everything there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. | Eccl 9:2, Mal 3:18 |
| Matthew 10:28 | And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. | Luke 12:4-5 |
| Matthew 5:3-10 | Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn... Blessed are the meek... Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... Blessed are the merciful... Blessed are the pure in heart... Blessed are the peacemakers... Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... | Luke 6:20-23, Rev 19:7-9 |
| Romans 2:7 | To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. | Gal 6:9, 1 Thess 4:7 |
| 2 Timothy 4:7-8 | I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. | 2 Tim 2:5, Phil 3:14 |
| Hebrews 4:9-10 | So then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his works as God did from his. | Heb 4:1, 11 |
| Revelation 14:13 | And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they are in rest from their labors, and their deeds follow them.” | Rev 7:14-17 |
| Psalm 12:5 | “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” | Ps 72:4, Ps 11:5 |
| Jeremiah 31:16 | Thus says the LORD: “Restrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for your work shall have reward,” says the LORD, “and they shall return from the land of the enemy. | Jer 29:11, Lam 3:58 |
| 1 Peter 4:17-18 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the godless and sinners?” | 1 Cor 11:31-32, Prov 11:31 |
Isaiah 57 verses
Isaiah 57 1 Meaning
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are swept away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. They enter into peace; they rest in their resting places, each one walking in uprightness.
Isaiah 57 1 Context
Chapter 57 of Isaiah addresses a period of spiritual declension and idolatry within Judah. The people have turned away from worshipping the LORD, engaging in pagan rituals and compromising their faith. This verse lament's the unjust reality where righteous people are cut down, often due to the sinfulness and wickedness surrounding them, and this loss is not even grieved by the general populace. It speaks to the premature death of the faithful, implying a divine purpose behind it – to protect them from greater evils or suffering that would have befallen them if they had lived longer in a corrupted society. This context highlights a prophetic concern for the state of God's people and a foreshadowing of divine judgment and vindication.
Isaiah 57 1 Word Analysis
Righteous (צַדִּיק - tsaddiq): Hebrew for morally right, just, equitable. Implies conformity to God's will and law.
Perish (נוֹפֵל - nophel): Literally "falls," signifying to fall down, to perish, to be overthrown. In this context, it denotes destruction or death.
No one takes it to heart (אֵין מֵבִין - ein mevin): Literally "no one understands" or "no one considers." Emphasizes a lack of moral or spiritual awareness in the community regarding the significance of the righteous falling.
Devout (חֲסִידִים - chasidim): Hebrew for lovingkindness, mercy, devout, holy. Refers to those who are devoted to God and show His characteristic mercy.
Swept away (נֶעְקְצוּ - ne'etsku): Literally "gathered," often implies being removed or taken away, here suggesting they are removed from life.
No one understands (אֵין מֵבִין - ein mevin): Repeats the phrase from the first part of the verse, reinforcing the community's spiritual blindness and insensitivity to God’s work.
Taken away (לִקְרַאת - likrat): Literally "to meet" or "towards." In this context, it indicates being taken unto a place or condition.
Evil (רָעָה - ra'ah): Malice, wickedness, harm, disaster. Refers to the sin and its consequences.
Enter into peace (יָבֹא לְשָׁלוֹם - yavo l'shalom): To come into peace, rest, prosperity, safety. Indicates a transition to a state of well-being and tranquility.
Rest in their resting places (יִשְׁכְּנוּ עַל-מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם - yishkonu al-mishk'vottam): To dwell or lodge upon their beds or couches. This imagery evokes peaceful rest and undisturbed repose, likely in the grave.
Each one walking in uprightness (הָלַךְ נְכֹחָה - halach nekochah): To walk straightly, rightly, in a straightforward manner. Describes a life lived in moral integrity and faithfulness.
Grouped analysis: The pairing of "righteous perish" and "devout swept away" underscores the widespread removal of faithful individuals. The repetition of "no one understands" highlights a collective spiritual apathy. The phrase "taken away to be spared from evil" provides the theological explanation for these premature deaths, framing them not as punishments but as divine protective actions. The final clause describes the resulting state of peace and integrity enjoyed by those who have been thus removed.
Isaiah 57 1 Bonus Section
The verse subtly contrasts the ultimate fate of the righteous with the continuing apostasy of the unrighteous. While the wicked bring judgment upon themselves, the righteous are removed "to be spared from evil." This concept of divine deliverance, even through death, is echoed throughout Scripture, pointing towards the eternal security of believers. It implies that sometimes, life in a fallen world offers more potential for suffering and defilement than the immediate peace of God's presence. The language of "resting in their resting places" is a euphemism for death, emphasizing a tranquil transition into God's presence, a concept amplified in the New Testament's teaching on heavenly rest.
Isaiah 57 1 Commentary
This verse mourns the loss of righteous individuals, a loss that goes unnoticed and unappreciated by a spiritually dulled society. It offers a profound theological perspective: these deaths are not random or merely tragic; they are divinely orchestrated removals to protect the faithful from the encroaching wickedness and its eventual consequences. Their passing leads to peace and rest, a reward for their upright walk with God. This speaks to the ultimate vindication of the righteous, even if their full reward is realized beyond earthly life. The verse challenges believers to cultivate a heart that grieves for righteousness lost and to understand God’s deeper purposes in suffering and death.