Isaiah 57:16

Isaiah 57:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
• New International Version (NIV)I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me— the very people I have created.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would fail before Me, And the souls which I have made.

Context of Isaiah 57:16

14He said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from my people’s way.” 15For the High and Exalted One, who lives forever, whose name is holy, says this: “I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed. For I will not accuse you forever, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before me, even the breath, which I have made. 17Because of his sinful greed I was angry, so I struck him; I was angry and hid; but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart. 18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

Isaiah 57:16 word by word

כִּ֣י לֹ֤א לְעוֹלָם֙ אָרִ֔יב וְלֹ֥א לָנֶ֖צַח אֶקְּצ֑וֹף כִּי־ר֙וּחַ֙ מִלְּפָנַ֣י יַֽעֲט֔וֹף וּנְשָׁמ֖וֹת אֲנִ֥י עָשִֽׂיתִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For I will not contendרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
• for everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
• neither will I be alwaysנֵ֫צַחnetsach nêtsach · perpetuityH5331
• wrothקָצַףqâtsaph · be angryH7107
• for the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• should failעָטַף‛âţaph · be feebleH5848
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• me, and the soulsנְשָׁמָהneshâmâh · breathH5397
• I have madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213

Cross-references for Isaiah 57:16

• Psalms 78:38Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath.
• Psalms 85:5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger for all generations?
• Psalms 103:9He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.
• Jeremiah 10:24Discipline me, Lord, but with justice — not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love.
• Isaiah 42:5This is what God, the Lord, says — who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it —
• Numbers 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “God, God who gives breath to all, when one man sins, will you vent your wrath on the whole community?”
• Job 34:14If he put his mind to it and withdrew the spirit and breath he gave,
• Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
• Jeremiah 38:16King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private, “As the Lord lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who intend to take your life.”
• Zechariah 12:1A pronouncement: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him.
• Hebrews 12:9Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?

Commentaries on Isaiah 57:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For I will not contend for ever - The learned have taken a great deal of pains to little purpose on the latter part of this verses which they suppose to be very obscure. After all their labors upon it, I think the best and easiest explication of it is given in the two following elegant passages of the Psalms, which I presume are exactly parallel to it, and very clearly express the same sentiment. "But he in his tender mercy will forgive their sin And will…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For I will not contend for ever - I will not be angry with my people forever, nor always refuse to pardon and comfort them (see Psalm 103:9). This is to be regarded as having been primarily addressed to the Jews in their long and painful exile in Babylon. It is, however, couched in general language; and the idea is, that although God would punish his people for their sins, yet his wrath would not be perpetual. If they were his children, he would visit…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-21Verses 13-21 The idols and their worshippers shall come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace, shall be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know him as a holy God. He will have tender regard to those who bring their mind to their condition, and dread his wrath. He will make his abode with those whose hearts he has thus humbled, in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-21The Lord promises to be with the humble, heal them, and give them peace. This promise is for all citizens of Zion, both Jews and non-Jews. The holy one offers salvation to the humble and deals fairly with the wicked.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. For--referring to the promise in Is 57:14, 15, of restoring Israel when "contrite" (Ge 6:3; 8:21; Psa 78:38, 39; 85:5; 103:9, 13, 14; Mi 7:18). God "will not contend for ever" with His people, for their human spirit would thereby be utterly crushed, whereas God's object is to chasten, not to destroy them (La 3:33, 34; Mi 7:8, 9). With the ungodly He is "angry every day" (Psa 7:11; Re 14:11). spirit ... before me--that is, the human spirit which went…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 57:16

• Anger
• Chastisement
• God Continued...

In the dictionaries

• Bed
• Dirt
• Eternity
• Inhabit
• Lofty
• Contend; Contention
• Isaiah
• Saviour

Commentaries on Isaiah 57

• 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