Isaiah 59:1 kjv
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isaiah 59:1 nkjv
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
Isaiah 59:1 niv
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
Isaiah 59:1 esv
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Isaiah 59:1 nlt
Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
Isaiah 59 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 59:1 | "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save..." | God's saving power is unfailing. |
| Psalm 121:1-2 | "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD..." | God is the source of all help. |
| Isaiah 40:28 | "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God..." | God's eternal nature ensures His power. |
| Isaiah 43:13 | "I am God, and also at that time; there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning..." | God's foreknowledge confirms His control. |
| Romans 8:31 | "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's support overcomes all opposition. |
| Jeremiah 32:17 | "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power..." | God's creative power underscores His might. |
| John 10:28-30 | "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish..." | Christ assures eternal salvation. |
| Ephesians 3:20 | "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think..." | God's ability exceeds human comprehension. |
| Hebrews 7:25 | "...he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him..." | Jesus intercedes effectively. |
| 1 John 3:20 | "...if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things." | God's knowledge surpasses human failings. |
| 1 John 5:14 | "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." | God hears prayers aligned with His will. |
| Matthew 18:20 | "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." | Christ's presence is with believers. |
| Luke 11:9-13 | "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you..." | Jesus encourages persistent prayer. |
| 1 Peter 3:12 | "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry." | God's attentiveness to the righteous. |
| Psalm 34:15 | "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry." | Similar emphasis on God's hearing. |
| 1 Kings 18:37 | "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God..." | Elijah's prayer appeals to God's power. |
| Daniel 9:17-19 | "Now, therefore, our God, hear the prayer of your servant..." | Daniel pleads with God for intervention. |
| Exodus 3:7 | "Then the LORD said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt...'" | God sees and hears the cry of His people. |
| Acts 4:24 | "When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth...'" | Early believers acknowledge God's sovereignty. |
| 2 Chronicles 7:14 | "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face..." | God's response to His people's repentance. |
| Psalm 91:15 | "When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him..." | God's promise to answer those in trouble. |
| Jeremiah 33:3 | "'Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great marvelous things, which you do not know.'" | God's invitation to call on Him. |
| John 11:41-42 | "...'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me...'" | Jesus testifies to the Father's hearing. |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 1 Meaning
Isaiah 59:1 states that the Lord's hand is not too short to save, nor is His ear too deaf to hear. This means God's power and ability to rescue are never limited, and His attentiveness to our prayers is never diminished. It refutes any idea that God is incapable or indifferent to the plight of His people.
Isaiah 59 1 Context
Isaiah 59:1-8 paints a bleak picture of Israel's spiritual state. The people are suffering because of their iniquities and sins, which have separated them from God. The prophet Isaiah addresses this communal guilt and its consequences. Verse 1 serves as an assurance from God amidst this desolation. Despite the people's fallen condition and the apparent distance, God’s capacity to deliver them remains absolute. This chapter falls within a larger prophetic message dealing with God's judgment on sin and His ultimate promise of redemption and restoration for His people. The historical backdrop involves a period of spiritual decline, where outward religious practices mask deep-seated sin, leading to national distress.
Isaiah 59 1 Word Analysis
- Behold (Hebrew: Hinei / הִנֵּה): An exclamation used to draw attention. It signals something significant or that requires immediate focus, setting a powerful tone for the declaration that follows.
- LORD (Hebrew: YHWH / יהוה): The covenant name of God, signifying His personal relationship and faithfulness to His people.
- hand (Hebrew: Yad / יָד): Symbolizes power, action, and ability. The phrase "hand is not shortened" conveys that God's capacity to act is not diminished or limited.
- is not shortened (Hebrew: Galash / גָּלַשׁ - root meaning to slide or grow): Refers to not being reduced in length or extent. In this context, it means God's power to save is not lessened.
- that it cannot save (Hebrew: Lo-Tuchal L'hoshiya / לֹא־תוּכַל לְהוֹשִׁיעַ): Explicitly states that God's power to deliver or rescue is intact and fully operational.
- neither (Hebrew: Gam / גַּם): Adds to the preceding statement, reinforcing the complete absence of limitation.
- ear (Hebrew: Ozen / אֹֹ֫זֶן): Symbolizes the ability to hear, understand, and respond.
- is not deaf (Hebrew: Qashah / קָשָׁה - meaning hard, heavy, difficult): Implies that God's hearing is not hindered or rendered ineffective; His ear is not dull or insensitive.
- to hear (Hebrew: Lishmo'a / לִשְׁמֹעַ): To perceive with the ear, but in a spiritual sense, it means to attend to, to listen attentively, and to respond.
Group of words analysis:
- "the LORD's hand is not shortened": This idiom vividly communicates that God's power to intervene and deliver His people from any situation, no matter how dire, is never insufficient.
- "nor is His ear too deaf to hear": This parallel expression emphasizes that God is always attentive to the prayers and pleas of His people; there is no spiritual blockage to His hearing them.
Isaiah 59 1 Bonus Section
The opening of Isaiah 59 with "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened..." serves a crucial purpose within the larger message of Isaiah. It is often interpreted as a theological statement preceding a severe indictment of Israel's sins. The prophet points out that the perceived silence or inaction of God is not due to His impotence but because their own sinfulness has created a barrier. This theme is echoed throughout scripture: God desires to bless and deliver, but sin obstructs the channels of communication and reception of His grace. The very act of uttering this assurance in the face of sin demonstrates God's prevenient grace and His ultimate faithfulness, which will manifest in the future Messiah, who would deal with sin directly.
Isaiah 59 1 Commentary
Isaiah 59:1 serves as a profound statement of God’s unchanging nature and boundless capacity. Even when His people are ensnared by sin, facing severe consequences, and feeling abandoned, God’s power to save and His willingness to hear are never compromised. This verse is a direct counter to despair, reminding believers that their salvation rests on the unfailing power and attentive ear of Jehovah. It sets the stage for God’s ultimate redemptive plan, demonstrating that sin can separate people from God, but it cannot ultimately defeat God’s desire to restore and save. It highlights that the issue lies with human sin, not divine inability or inattentiveness.