Isaiah 59 18

Isaiah 59:18 kjv

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

Isaiah 59:18 nkjv

According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.

Isaiah 59:18 niv

According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.

Isaiah 59:18 esv

According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment.

Isaiah 59:18 nlt

He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds.
His fury will fall on his foes.
He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 59 verses

Isaiah 59 18 Meaning

This verse declares God's unfailing commitment to righteous judgment, asserting that He will repay individuals precisely according to their deeds. It specifically highlights divine "fury" or "wrath" against those who actively oppose Him, categorizing them as His "adversaries" and "enemies," promising them a fitting "recompense" for their actions. It is a definitive statement of God's just and certain retribution.

Isaiah 59 18 Context

Isaiah chapter 59 primarily serves as a stark indictment of Judah's widespread sin and spiritual depravity. The people's iniquities, violence, injustice, and falsehood (verses 1-8) have created a chasm between them and God, preventing His saving power from reaching them (verses 1-2). They admit their guilt (verses 9-15a), highlighting that truth has fallen, and justice is nowhere to be found. God observes this pervasive sin and the absence of any human who can intercede or deliver (verse 16), compelling Him to act personally. Verse 18 directly follows God's observation of this desperate situation, serving as the immediate declaration of His righteous response: He will step in to render judgment. This declaration of recompense, however, is not the final word. It sets the stage for God's eventual salvation and the coming of a Redeemer for the penitent (verses 19-21), demonstrating that judgment is a necessary precursor to restoration and covenant faithfulness. Historically, it reflects the social and moral decay of a nation called to be light, prompting divine intervention.

Isaiah 59 18 Word analysis

• According to their deeds (כְּעַל־גְּמוּלוֹת֙ - ke-al gemulot):

  • ke-al: Literally "according to the mouth of" or "according to," implying exact correspondence and precise measurement.
  • gemulot: (from gamal, to deal, bestow) signifies deeds, dealings, work, or recompense. The plural emphasizes the totality or cumulative nature of their actions, encompassing all their practices and behavior. God's judgment is not arbitrary but directly proportional to human conduct.

• accordingly (כֵּ֣ן - ken):

  • An emphatic particle reinforcing the "just so" nature of the repayment, mirroring the preceding "according to." It denotes certainty and direct correspondence.

• he will repay (יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם - yeshallēm):

  • (from shalem, to be whole, complete, pay back) means to make complete, restore, render, or pay back. This signifies not just punishment, but a full and righteous restoration of cosmic justice, an exhaustive settlement of accounts. God administers perfect judgment.

• fury (חֵמָ֖ה - ḥemah):

  • Denotes hot anger, wrath, or indignation. This is a strong, righteous passion, not an irrational outburst. It's God’s holy revulsion against injustice and unrighteousness, integral to His character as the just one. It expresses God’s intense displeasure with the wicked.

• to his adversaries (לְצָרָ֑יו - le-tzārāv):

  • tzārāv: "His adversaries," referring to those who cause distress, enemies, or oppressors. This specifies the target of God's wrath: those who actively oppose His rule, His people, or His standards of justice. This implies a consistent pattern of adversarial action.

• recompence (גְּמוּל֙ - gemul):

  • (Singular form of gemulot) Here used to parallel ḥemah. It solidifies the idea of an exact, fitting reward or retribution. The repetition underscores the certainty and deservedness of the repayment.

• to his enemies (לְאֹֽיְבָֽיו׃ - le-ʾoyvav):

  • ʾoyvav: "His enemies," those hostile to Him. This further clarifies the recipients of His judgment, emphasizing their state of active opposition to God Himself, not merely an offense against His laws. This term broadens the scope to any who stand against God’s divine plan and righteousness.

• According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay (כְּעַל־גְּמוּלוֹת֙ כֵּ֣ן יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם): This opening clause establishes the fundamental principle of divine retributive justice – a perfect correspondence between human actions and God’s response. It asserts a universal law of God’s moral governance.

• fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies (חֵמָ֖ה לְצָרָ֑יו גְּמוּל֙ לְאֹֽיְבָֽיו׃): This second clause specifies the nature of that repayment (fury, recompense) and identifies the recipients (adversaries, enemies). The parallelism of "fury to his adversaries" and "recompence to his enemies" intensifies the declaration, using two synonymous pairs to underscore the certainty and the deservedness of the divine judgment for those who persistently oppose God. This also confirms the identity of 'their deeds' as those done in opposition to God.

Isaiah 59 18 Bonus section

• This verse can be understood as a direct outworking of covenant curses detailed in the Pentateuch (e.g., Deut 28), where God's promises of blessing for obedience are mirrored by severe consequences for disobedience and rebellion.
• The concepts of mishpat (justice) and tzedaqah (righteousness) are paramount here. God’s “fury” is not an emotional lapse but a righteous reaction to the perversion and absence of these core attributes within society, where justice is trodden underfoot (Isa 59:4, 14).
• While primarily addressing the internal corruption of Judah, this verse also has universal implications for all who set themselves against God’s divine order, including oppressive nations or individuals who perpetuate wickedness.
• The position of this verse is crucial: it bridges the diagnostic section (ch. 59:1-17) that exposes the depths of sin, and the prognostic section (59:19-21) which proclaims the coming of a Redeemer. This demonstrates a consistent divine pattern: judgment must often precede the full manifestation of salvation and restoration.
• In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings were seen as responsible for upholding justice in their realm. By declaring that He "will repay" and deliver "fury" and "recompense," God emphatically asserts His ultimate kingship and sovereign authority over the moral order of creation.

Isaiah 59 18 Commentary

Isaiah 59:18 declares the certainty of divine retribution as a direct and just consequence of human actions. Following God's profound observation of widespread human sin and the absence of any human capable of redressing the deep injustices, this verse signifies God's direct, personal intervention in a morally compromised world. His repayment is not a fit of arbitrary temper but a calculated, righteous outpouring of judgment against persistent opposition and unrighteousness. "Fury" is His holy revulsion to evil, while "recompense" implies a full and equitable settlement. It affirms God as the supreme moral Governor of the universe, who, precisely because He is just and holy, cannot overlook systemic evil, especially against His covenant and people. This principle undergirds all biblical understanding of judgment, promising a final account for all who stand against divine truth and righteousness, and setting the stage for future redemption.