Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 41:1
1“Be silent before me, coasts and islands! And let peoples renew their strength. Let them approach; let them testify; let’s come together for the trial.
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
“Be silent before me, coasts and islands! And let peoples renew their strength. Let them approach; let them testify; let’s come together for the trial. 2Who has stirred up someone from the east? In righteousness he calls him to serve. The Lord hands nations over to him, and he subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like wind-driven stubble with his bow. 3He pursues them, going on safely, hardly touching the path with his feet.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 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 49:1Coasts and islands, listen to me; distant peoples, pay attention. The Lord called me before I was born. He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.
- Psalms 46:10“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
- Habakkuk 2:20But the Lord is in his holy temple; let the whole earth be silent in his presence.
- Zechariah 2:13Let all humanity be silent before the Lord, for from his holy dwelling he has roused himself.”
- Isaiah 41:6Each one helps the other, and says to another, “Take courage!”
- Isaiah 8:9Band together, peoples, and be broken; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for war, and be broken; prepare for war, and be broken.
- Job 38:3Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me.
- Job 40:7Get ready to answer me like a man; When I question you, you will inform me.
- Joel 3:10Beat your plows into swords and your pruning knives into spears. Let even the weakling say, “I am a warrior.”
- Isaiah 1:18“Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool.
- Job 23:3If only I knew how to find him, so that I could go to his throne.
- Job 31:35If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose his indictment.
- Job 40:8Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself?
- Micah 6:1Now listen to what the Lord is saying: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your complaint.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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