Isaiah 41:1

Isaiah 41:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)“Be silent before me, you islands! Let the nations renew their strength! Let them come forward and speak; let us meet together at the place of judgment.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment.

Context of Isaiah 41:1

“Listen to Me in silence, you islands and coastlands, And let the nations gain their strength; Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment [and decide the issue between us concerning the enemy from the east]. 2Who has stirred up and put into action one from the east [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great] Whom He calls in righteousness to His service and whom victory meets at every step? The Lord turns nations over to him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, Like wind-driven chaff with his bow. 3He (Cyrus) pursues them and passes along safely, By a way his feet had not traveled before.

Isaiah 41:1 word by word

הַחֲרִ֤ישׁוּ אֵלַי֙ אִיִּ֔ים וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ כֹ֑חַ יִגְּשׁוּ֙ אָ֣ז יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ יַחְדָּ֖ו לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט נִקְרָֽבָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Keep silenceחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
• before me, O islandsאִי'îy · coastlandH339
• and let the peopleלְאֹםle'ôm le'ôm · peopleH3816
• renewחָלַףchâlaph · to passH2498
• strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• let them come nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• then let them speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• let us come nearקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• togetherיָחְדָּוyachad · togetherH3162
• to judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941

Cross-references for Isaiah 41:1

• Isaiah 49:1Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands, And pay attention, you peoples from far away. The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He has named Me.
• Psalms 46:10“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
• Habakkuk 2:20But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth hush and be silent before Him.”
• Zechariah 2:13“Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”
• Isaiah 41:6They each help his neighbor And say to his brother [as he fashions his idols], “Be of good courage!”
• Isaiah 8:9“Be broken [in pieces], O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all you [our enemies from the] far countries. Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered; Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered.
• Job 38:3Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
• Job 40:7“Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
• Joel 3:10Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am strong!”
• Isaiah 1:18“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.
• Job 23:3Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat!
• Job 31:35Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].
• Job 40:8Will you really annul My judgment and set it aside as void? Will you condemn Me [your God] that you may [appear to] be righteous and justified?
• Micah 6:1Hear now what the Lord is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills [as witnesses] hear your voice.

Commentaries on Isaiah 41:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Keep silence before me, O islands "Let the distant nations repair to me with new force of mind" - , Septuagint. For החרישו hacharishu, be silent, they certainly read in their copy החדישו hachadishu, be renewed; which is parallel and synonymous with כח יחלפו yechalephu coach, "recover their strength;" that is, their strength of mind, their powers of reason; that they may overcome those prejudices by which they have been so long held enslaved to idolatry. A…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The design of this chapter is the same as that of the preceding, and it is to be regarded as the continuation of the argument commenced there. Its object is to lead those who were addressed, to put confidence in God. In the introduction to Isaiah 41:1. II. He specifies that he will raise up a man from the east - who should be able to overcome the enemies of the Jews, and to effect their deliverance Isaiah 41:2-4. III. The consternation of the nations at…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1God's care of his people. (Is. 41:1-9) they are encouraged not to fear. (Is. 41:10-20) The vanity and folly of idolatry. (Is. 41:21-29) Verses 1-9 Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so with Cyrus. Sinners encourage one another in the ways of sin; shall not the servants of the living God stir up one another in his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The nations gathering for a trial must listen quietly to God's arguments. Let them come forward and testify: Literally let them find new strength, which is a reference to Isaiah 40:31. God invited the nations to come and speak, challenging them to counter his case.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-291. (Zec 2:13). God is about to argue the case; therefore let the nations listen in reverential silence. Compare Ge 28:16, 17, as to the spirit in which we ought to behave before God. before me--rather (turning), "towards me" [Maurer]. islands--including all regions beyond sea (Jr 25:22), maritime regions, not merely isles in the strict sense. renew ... strength--Let them gather their strength for the argument; let them adduce their strongest arguments…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 41:1

• Island

In the dictionaries

• Predestination
• Produce
• Gods
• Isaiah
• Philosophy
• Renew
• Silence
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on Isaiah 41

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings