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

Listen! The Lord's hand is not too weak to save you. His ear is not too deaf to hear you. 2But the wrong things that you have done have made you separate from your God. Your sins have caused him to turn away from you, so that he does not listen to your prayers. 3Your hands are dirty with the blood of murder. They are dirty with all the bad things that you do. Your mouth tells lies, and it says wicked things about other people.

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 50:2Nobody was there to meet me, when I came to help you. When I called out to you, nobody answered me. Do you think that my arm is too weak to rescue you? Am I not strong enough to save you? Look! I can speak to the sea so that it becomes dry! I can cause rivers to become deserts. Then the fish die because they have no water.
• Genesis 18:14But surely, nothing is too difficult for the Lord to do. At this time next year, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.’
• Numbers 11:23Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Do you think that I, the Lord, do not have enough power to do this? I have promised you to do it. So now you will see me do it!’
• Jeremiah 32:17I said, ‘Lord God, you used your great power and strength to make the earth and the sky. Nothing is too difficult for you to do.
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this who is coming from Edom? He is coming from Bozrah and his clothes are bright red. He wears beautiful royal clothes, and he marches forward with great strength. He says, ‘It is me! I, the Lord, tell you that I have won the fight! I have the power to save you.’
• Hebrews 7:25Jesus is always alive and he asks God to help his people. So he can completely save everyone who believes in him. He will lead them to God.
• Isaiah 6:10Make them refuse to understand. Cause their ears to be deaf and their eyes to be blind. If you do not do that, they might use their eyes to see. They might use their ears to listen. They might use their minds to understand. Then they might turn back to me so that I would make them well again.’
• Matthew 13:15These people do not really want to understand. They are like people who have shut their ears. They are like people who have shut their eyes. If they did want to look, then they would really see. If they did want to listen, then they would really hear. They would understand my message. They would turn back to obey me. Then I would forgive them and I would make them well.” ’

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