Isaiah 57 19

Isaiah 57:19 kjv

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

Isaiah 57:19 nkjv

"I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "And I will heal him."

Isaiah 57:19 niv

creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the LORD. "And I will heal them."

Isaiah 57:19 esv

creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him.

Isaiah 57:19 nlt

bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,"
says the LORD, who heals them.

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 19 meaning

Isaiah 57:19 declares God's active role in enabling heartfelt praise and establishing profound peace for all, both those historically close to Him and those far removed. He promises complete spiritual healing and restoration, signifying a universal and inclusive invitation to reconciliation and well-being directly from the Divine source.

Isaiah 57 19 Context

Isaiah 57 details the LORD's strong condemnation of Judah's widespread idolatry, moral corruption, and rejection of His covenant. The chapter portrays a people who have strayed far, engaging in spiritual prostitution (57:3-10) and neglecting the righteous. Despite this severe rebuke and impending judgment, God reveals His compassionate character, stating He will not contend forever (57:16). He promises renewal and healing for the contrite and humble, who acknowledge their sin (57:15). Verse 19 stands as a pivotal statement of divine grace, an interruption to the judgment, where God declares His active involvement in bringing true peace and healing. This peace is offered not just to those in physical proximity or spiritual favor ("near") but also to those who are alienated, exiled, or ritually impure ("far off"). It follows a recognition that their own ways brought them no peace (57:17-18), highlighting God as the sole source of genuine restoration.

Isaiah 57 19 Word analysis

• I create (bōrēʾ בּוֹרֵא): From the Hebrew verb bara', uniquely used in the Bible for divine creation, emphasizing God's sole, sovereign, and effortless power to bring something new into existence or establish an existing thing in a new way. Here, it signifies God initiating and bringing forth true spiritual expressions, not just inspiring or acknowledging existing ones. This creation is an act of divine grace, enabling sinful people to offer genuine praise.

• the fruit of the lips (nîḇ śəp̄āṯayim נִיב שְׂפָתָיִם): "Fruit" implies outcome or produce. "Lips" represent speech. The phrase collectively denotes speech that honors God—praise, confession of sins, thanksgiving, vows, or prayers. In the Old Testament, the "fruit of the lips" could sometimes be contrasted with the fruit of offerings, showing that sincere words are more valuable to God than empty rituals. It points to a heart transformed to genuinely acknowledge and worship God, enabled by His creative act.

• Peace, peace (šālôm šālôm שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם): The repetition of shalom serves as an intensifier, emphasizing the completeness, depth, and certainty of this peace. Shalom means more than just the absence of conflict; it signifies wholeness, well-being, health, prosperity, security, and harmonious relationships with God, others, and oneself. This divine peace encompasses all aspects of existence.

• to him that is far off (lā·rā·ḥō·wōq לָֽרָח֥וֹק): Literally "to the distant one." In a geographical sense, it could refer to exiles in distant lands. Spiritually, it signifies those alienated from God due to sin, idolatry, or gentile status. It speaks of those outside the covenant community or those who have severely departed from it.

• and to him that is near (wə·lā·qā·rō·wōb וְלָֽקָר֖וֹב): Literally "to the one who is near." Historically, this refers to the Israelites, those considered part of God's covenant people. Spiritually, it denotes those who have maintained a semblance of relationship with God, even if imperfectly, or those geographically in Judah.

• saith the LORD (ʾā·mar Yahweh אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֑ה): A divine declaration formula, affirming the absolute truth, authority, and certainty of the preceding statement. This is not a human wish or prophecy based on conjecture, but an eternal promise from the self-existent God (Yahweh), the covenant-making God.

• and I will heal him (wə·ri·p̄āʾ·ṯî·w וּרְפָאתִֽיו): The verb rapha' means to heal, restore, mend, or repair. The "him" here collectively refers to both the "far off" and the "near." This is primarily a spiritual healing – restoration from the spiritual sickness of sin, idolatry, and brokenness. It implies mending the damaged relationship with God and restoring their soul, which encompasses forgiveness, renewal, and comfort from the internal wounds of spiritual decay.

• "I create the fruit of the lips": This phrase highlights divine initiative. Humans, by their sinful nature, cannot produce genuine praise on their own. God's creative act regenerates hearts and enables sincere worship, which then manifests as verbal expression. It's a re-creation or fresh inception of true devotion, indicating a profound internal work by God before outward expression.

• "Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near": This demonstrates the universality and inclusivity of God's grace and redemptive plan. It transcends national, geographical, or even spiritual proximity. In the New Testament, this is powerfully realized through Christ, who broke down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, offering peace to both (Eph 2:13-17). The repeated "peace" emphasizes that it is a full and complete peace for everyone.

Isaiah 57 19 Bonus section

The creation of the "fruit of the lips" can be understood in an eschatological context, where a redeemed people, united under God, offer ceaseless praise in the new heaven and new earth. The phrase also resonates with the New Covenant emphasis on inward, spiritual transformation. The Old Covenant stressed outward observance; the New Covenant, prophesied throughout Isaiah, focuses on a new heart (Jer 31:33) that naturally generates sincere expressions of devotion. Therefore, "I create the fruit of the lips" prefigures God writing His law on hearts, making willing and genuine praise possible for all. Furthermore, the universal invitation of peace and healing to "far off" and "near" forms a crucial bridge to the New Testament, where the Gentile inclusion into God's family, previously only hinted at, is fully revealed and enacted through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, who embodies this promise and extends it to all humanity (Acts 10:36, Eph 2:14-17). This verse strongly challenges any ethnocentric or exclusionary views of God's saving power.

Isaiah 57 19 Commentary

Isaiah 57:19 is a profound statement of God's redemptive grace, contrasting sharply with the prior descriptions of sin and idolatry. It emphasizes God's proactive role, creating the capacity for genuine praise and confession within humanity, suggesting that true worship is not merely human effort but a divinely enabled response. This "fruit of the lips" is an outward expression of an inner transformation, moving beyond mere ritual to heartfelt devotion. The dual address to "him that is far off, and to him that is near" highlights the radical inclusiveness of God's offer of shalom. This peace is not conditional on prior righteousness or social standing, but an unmerited gift, equally accessible to those most alienated by sin and those within the covenant, but needing spiritual restoration. The emphatic doubling of "peace" underscores its comprehensive nature – wholeness, well-being, and reconciliation on all levels. This ultimate peace comes with the promise of "I will heal him," a spiritual healing that addresses the deep-seated brokenness of sin and idolatry. It signifies divine intervention to mend damaged souls, forgive trespasses, and restore fellowship, leading to a vibrant, healthy relationship with God. The verse therefore encapsulates God's ultimate desire: to reconcile all people to Himself through transformative grace, leading to praise, peace, and spiritual restoration.For practical usage: This verse offers comfort and hope to anyone feeling distant from God or overwhelmed by their past sins, assuring them that God actively desires to draw them near and heal them. It reminds believers that true worship flows from a heart regenerated by God.