Isaiah 59:1

Isaiah 59:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
• New International Version (NIV)Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

Context of Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save, Nor His ear so impaired That it cannot hear. 2But your wickedness has separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. 3For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with wickedness [with sin, with injustice, with wrongdoing]; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue mutters wickedness.

Isaiah 59:1 word by word

הֵ֛ן לֹֽא־קָצְרָ֥ה יַד־יְהוָ֖ה מֵֽהוֹשִׁ֑יעַ וְלֹא־כָבְדָ֥ה אָזְנ֖וֹ מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beholdהֵןhên · look!H2005
• the Lord’sיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• handיָדyâd · hand: powerH3027
• is not shortenedקָצֵרqâtsar · be shortH7114
• that it cannot saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
• neither his earאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · earH241
• heavyכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: dullH3513
• that it cannot hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085

Cross-references for Isaiah 59:1

• Isaiah 50:2Why, when I came, was there no man [to greet Me]? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is My hand really so short that it cannot redeem [My servants]? Or have I no power to rescue? Listen carefully, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers into a desert; Their fish stink because there is no water And die of thirst.
• Genesis 18:14Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.”
• Numbers 11:23The Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand (ability, power) limited (short, inadequate)? You shall see now whether My word will come to pass for you or not.”
• Jeremiah 32:17‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You—
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this who comes from Edom, With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom], This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His might? “It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.”
• Hebrews 7:25Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
• Isaiah 6:10Make the heart of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”
• Matthew 13:15For this nation’s heart has grown hard, And with their ears they hardly hear, And they have [tightly] closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and turn [to Me] And I would heal them [spiritually].’

Commentaries on Isaiah 59:1

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened - On the meaning of this phrase, see the notes at Isaiah 50:2. Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear - On the meaning of this phrase, see the notes at Isaiah 6:10.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Reproofs of sin and wickedness. (Is. 59:1-8) Confession of sin, and lamentation for the consequences. (Is. 59:9-15) Promises of deliverance. (Is. 59:16-21) Verses 1-8 If our prayers are not answered, and the salvation we wait for is not wrought for us, it is not because God is weary of hearing prayer, but because we are weary of praying. See here sin in true colours, exceedingly sinful; and see sin in its consequences, exceedingly hurtful, separating from…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1not too short: The delay in their rescue was not due to any weakness in the Lord.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-21The reason why Jehovah does not deliver His people, notwithstanding their religious services (Is 58:3), is not want of power on His part, but because of their sins (Is 59:1-8); Is 59:9-15 contain their confession; Is 59:16-21, the consequent promise of the Messiah. 1. hand ... shortened--(See on Is 50:2). ear heavy--(Is 6:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 59:1

• God Continued...
• Hand
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Cloke
• Grope
• Heavy
• Iniquity
• Mutter
• Revolt
• Ear
• Heavy; Heaviness
• Isaiah
• Languages of the Old Testament

Commentaries on Isaiah 59

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• 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