Isaiah 59:16 kjv
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Isaiah 59:16 nkjv
He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
Isaiah 59:16 niv
He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
Isaiah 59:16 esv
He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.
Isaiah 59:16 nlt
He was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm,
and his justice sustained him.
Isaiah 59 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:24 | "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: 'I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.'" | God's solitary creation |
| Isaiah 43:13 | "Even from eternity I am he, and there is none who delivers from my hand. I work, and who can turn it back?" | God's powerful and sovereign work |
| Psalm 110:5 | "The Lord at your right hand will shatter kings on the day of his wrath." | God's action against His enemies |
| Daniel 4:35 | "and all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'" | God's absolute sovereignty |
| Romans 11:34 | "For who has understood the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" | Unknowability of God's counsel |
| 1 Corinthians 2:16 | "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." | Christ's mind understood |
| Ephesians 1:11 | "in him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." | God's working according to His will |
| Psalm 44:3 | "For by their own sword they did not win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm and the light of your face, for you delighted in them." | God's intervention in Israel's history |
| Deuteronomy 9:5 | "Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out before you..." | God's sovereign choice |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | God's initiating love |
| Acts 1:36 | "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | Jesus made Lord and Christ |
| Philippians 2:9 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name," | Exaltation of Jesus |
| Revelation 5:12 | "saying in a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'" | Christ's worthiness |
| 1 Timothy 6:15 | "which he will display at the proper time—he who is the King of kings and Lord of lords," | Christ's ultimate authority |
| Isaiah 63:1-3 | "Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyeing garments from Bozrah, he who is glorious in his apparel, striding in the greatness of his strength? 'It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.' Why is your apparel red, and your garments like those of one who treads in the winepress?" | God's mighty salvation |
| Romans 8:31 | "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" | God's powerful support |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;" | God's choosing the weak |
| Acts 17:25 | "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all who the breath of life and all." | God's self-sufficiency |
| Psalm 33:10 | "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." | God's thwarting of human plans |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | God's solitary creation |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 16 Meaning
The verse speaks of God's solitary action in providing salvation and acting by His own counsel. No one else prompted or advised Him. His zeal and power were sufficient for the redemption of His people.
Isaiah 59 16 Context
Chapter 59 of Isaiah laments the spiritual apostasy and sinfulness of Israel, which has created a separation between them and God. The people cry out for deliverance, but God explains that their iniquities have hidden His face from them. Verse 16 begins a section that contrasts God's righteousness and redemptive power with humanity's failure. It introduces God as the one who sees the desperate need for justice and salvation and resolves to act independently. This sets the stage for the coming of the Messiah, who will bring about this salvation. Historically, this prophecy addresses the ongoing challenges and hopes of the Jewish people, particularly during periods of exile and oppression.
Isaiah 59 16 Word Analysis
And (וְ - ve): A conjunctive particle, connecting thoughts or clauses, here linking God's observation to His subsequent action.
He saw (רָאָה - ra'ah): To perceive with the eyes; figuratively, to understand, consider, or look upon. It emphasizes God's direct and comprehensive knowledge of the situation.
That (כִּי - ki): A causal conjunction, indicating the reason or cause for God's intervention.
There (אֵין - ein): "There is not"; "none". This points to an absence, specifically of any human agent capable of intervening.
Was (הָיָה - hayah): A verb indicating existence or state; here, expressing the lack of an intervening person.
A man (אִישׁ - 'ish): A man, an individual. It underscores the complete absence of any human participant.
And (וְ - ve): Again, connecting the lack of a human agent to God's subsequent initiative.
Wondered (תָּמַהּ - tamah): To be astonished, amazed, or in doubt. Here, it refers to God's marveling at the complete absence of human intervention or merit.
That (כִּי - ki): Another causal conjunction, explaining the reason for God's amazement.
Intercessor (פָּגַע - paga'): To meet, encounter, strike; in this context, to intercede or make intercession for someone.
And (וְ - ve): Connecting the lack of an intercessor to God's own actions.
His righteousness (צְדָקָה - tsedeqah): Justice, righteousness, equity. God's own perfect standard of rightness is the basis for His action.
It upheld (סָמַךְ - samak): To prop up, sustain, support, uphold. It suggests that God's own righteousness was the foundation and support for His salvific plan.
Himself (עַצְמוֹ - `atsmo): His own self. This reflexive pronoun emphasizes God's self-sufficiency and independent action.
Grouped Analysis:
- "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor": This phrase highlights God's recognition of humanity's complete inability to provide its own salvation or advocacy. It's a stark assessment of the fallen state of humankind, where no individual possesses the inherent righteousness or capacity to mediate for others or to achieve justice on their own behalf.
- "Therefore His own righteousness upheld Him, and His own zeal, it sustained Him": This part explains the basis for God's intervention. It wasn't human merit but God's intrinsic nature – His justice and His passionate desire for His people – that moved Him to act. "Uphold" and "sustain" imply that God Himself was the sufficient resource and strength for the redemption process.
Isaiah 59 16 Bonus Section
The "wonder" expressed by God here is not an expression of surprise in the human sense of encountering the unexpected. Rather, it signifies His profound consideration and acknowledgement of the depth of human fallenness, setting the stage for His unique and powerful intervention. It also underscores that the ultimate solution does not lie in finding a deserving human but in God Himself providing that solution. The Hebrew word for "intercessor" (paga') can also mean to encounter or strike, highlighting the active nature of intercession as a divine encounter on behalf of others. God's zeal ( Hebrew: qin'ah) refers to His passionate commitment and divine jealousy for His people and His own honor.
Isaiah 59 16 Commentary
God surveys the human condition and finds no one capable of mediating for His people or enacting justice. The sinfulness described earlier in the chapter has rendered humanity utterly helpless. Faced with this complete lack of human effort or intercession, God is amazed not by a fault, but by the stark absence of anyone able to help. This absence, however, doesn't paralyze God; it prompts His direct action. His motivation is His own perfect righteousness and His zealous love for His people. These attributes, intrinsic to His being, provide all the necessary power and basis for salvation. God does not wait for human initiation; He is the sole initiator and sustainer of redemption, acting entirely on His own counsel and with His own inherent strength.