Isaiah 54:16

Isaiah 54:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
• New International Version (NIV)“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

Context of Isaiah 54:16

14You will have a strong foundation of righteousness. Your cruel enemies will be far away. You will have nothing to be afraid of. No trouble will come near to frighten you. 15If anyone comes to attack you, I will not have sent them. You will win against anyone who tries to attack you. Look! I myself created the worker who knows how to use iron to make things. He makes his fire very hot, and he makes weapons from the iron. He makes weapons that are strong to fight with. I also created the armies who use their weapons to destroy people. 17But nobody can make a weapon that will beat you, when your enemies attack you. If people accuse you of bad things, you will show that they are wrong. That is what the Lord will do as a gift for his servants. Yes, I will show that they are right.’ That is what the Lord says.

Isaiah 54:16 word by word

הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ בָּרָ֣אתִי חָרָ֔שׁ נֹפֵ֙חַ֙ בְּאֵ֣שׁ פֶּחָ֔ם וּמוֹצִ֥יא כְלִ֖י לְמַעֲשֵׂ֑הוּ וְאָנֹכִ֛י בָּרָ֥אתִי מַשְׁחִ֖ית לְחַבֵּֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Behold, I have createdבָּרָאbârâ' · to createH1254
• the smithחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
• that blowethנָפַחnâphach · to breatheH5301
• the coalsפֶּחָםpechâm · coalH6352
• in the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
• and that bringeth forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: produceH3318
• an instrumentכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• for his workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
• the wasterשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
• to destroyחָבַלchâbal · to destroyH2254

Cross-references for Isaiah 54:16

• Isaiah 10:5It will be very bad for Assyria! I will use its army to punish my people, because I am angry with them. Assyria will be like a stick that I use to beat my people. That is how I will show them my anger.
• Isaiah 37:26You said that, but now listen to this! You must surely have heard it already. I decided what to do a long time ago! Now I am causing it to happen. I decided that you would destroy strong cities so that they became heaps of stones.
• Isaiah 46:11Now I will call somebody to come from the east. He will come down quickly, like an eagle that catches small birds to eat. He will come from a country that is far away. He will do for me what I want to do. Yes, I will surely do what I have decided to do. I have given the command, and I will cause it to happen.
• Exodus 9:16But I have let you live, to show you my power. Then people all over the world will know how great I am.
• Proverbs 16:4The Lord causes everything to have its proper result. Even wicked people will come to bad trouble in the end.
• Daniel 4:34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up towards heaven. My own mind returned to me again. I praised the powerful God above who lives for ever. I worshipped him as a great God. His kingdom will continue for ever. He will always have authority to rule.
• John 19:11Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power against me unless God had given it to you. So the man who sold me to you has done a worse thing than you have done.’

Commentaries on Isaiah 54:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Behold, I have created the smith - The sense of this verse is, Everything that can effect your welfare is under my control. The smith who manufactures the instruments of war or of torture is under me. His life, his strength, his skill, are all in my hands, and he can do nothing which I shall not deem it best to permit him to do. So with the enemy of the church himself - the waster who destroys. I bare made him, and he is wholly under my control and at my…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 Let the people of God, when afflicted and tossed, think they hear God speaking comfortably to them by these words, taking notice of their griefs and fears. The church is all glorious when full of the knowledge of God; for none teaches like him. It is a promise of the teaching and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All that are taught of God are taught to love one another. This seems to relate especially to the glorious times to succeed the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-17This describes a vision of Jerusalem renewed as a city under God's protection, a place of peace and righteousness (see Isaiah 59:21–60:22). This section provides the background for John's vision of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. The workman that forms "weapons against thee" (Is 54:17) is wholly in My power, therefore thou needest not fear, having Me on thy side. for his work--rather, "by his labor [Horsley]. "According to the exigencies of his work" [Maurer]. waster to destroy--(Is 10:5-7; 37:26, 27; 45:1-6). Desolating conquerors who use the "instruments" framed by "the smith." The repetition of the "I" implies, however, something in the latter half of the verse contrasted…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 54:16

• Church
• Righteous
• Smith

In the dictionaries

• Cord
• Blow
• Coal
• Ethics
• Isaiah
• Providence
• Saviour
• Handicraft

Commentaries on Isaiah 54

• 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