God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 42:14
14I have been silent for a long time. I kept quiet and held myself back. But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out. I will gasp and pant.
Isaiah 42:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
- New International Version (NIV)“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once.
Context of Isaiah 42:14
12Let them give glory to the Lord and announce his praise on the coastlands. 13The Lord marches out like a warrior. He prepares himself for battle like a soldier. He shouts, gives the battle cry, and overpowers his enemies. I have been silent for a long time. I kept quiet and held myself back. But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out. I will gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste to mountains and hills. I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn rivers into islands. I will dry up ponds. 16I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them.
Read all of Isaiah 42Isaiah 42:14 word by word
הֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם אַחֲרִ֖ישׁ אֶתְאַפָּ֑ק כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֣ה אֶפְעֶ֔ה אֶשֹּׁ֥ם וְאֶשְׁאַ֖ף יָֽחַד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- I have long timeעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
- holden my peaceחָשָׁהchâshâh · be silentH2814
- I have been stillחָרֵשׁchârash · be quietH2790
- refrainedאָפַק'âphaq · to refrainH662
- will I cryפָּעָהpâ‛âh · to groanH6463
- like a travailing womanיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- I will destroyשָׁמֵםshâmêm · be desolate: destroyedH8074
- I will destroyנָשַׁםnâsham · to pantH5395
- and devourשָׁאַףshâ'aph · to long forH7602
- at onceיַ֫חַדyachad · unitednessH3162
Cross-references for Isaiah 42:14
- Job 32:18I’m full of words. The Spirit within me forces me ⌞to speak⌟.
- Psalms 50:2God shines from Zion, the perfection of beauty.
- Psalms 83:1O God, do not remain silent. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. Do not keep quiet, O God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:11When a sentence against a crime isn’t carried out quickly, people are encouraged to commit crimes.
- Jeremiah 15:6You have left me,” declares the Lord. “You have turned your back on me. So I will use my power against you and destroy you. I’m tired of showing compassion to you.
- Jeremiah 44:22The Lord could no longer bear the wicked and detestable things you did. That is why your land has become something ruined, destroyed, and cursed. No one lives in that land today.
- Luke 18:7Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them?
- 2 Peter 3:9The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.
Commentaries on Isaiah 42:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14I have been still "Shall I keep silence for ever" - After מעולם meolam, in the copy which the Septuagint had before them, followed the word הלעולם , heleolam, ' · · according to MSS. Pachom. and 50. D. 2 and Edit. Complut., which word, הלעולם haleolam, has been omitted in the text by an easy mistake of a transcriber, because of the similitude of the word preceding. Shall I always keep silences like that of Juvenal: Semper ego auditor tantum? Shall I…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14I have long time holden my peace - This is the language of Yahweh, and it means that he had for a long time been patient and forbearing; but that now he would go forth as a warrior to overpower and destroy his foes. I will destroy - The word used here (from נשׁם nâsham ) denotes properly to breathe hard, to pant, as a woman in travail; and then to breathe hard in any manner. It here denotes the hard breathing which is indicative of anger, or a purpose to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 The Lord will appear in his power and glory. He shall cry, in the preaching of his word. He shall cry aloud in the gospel woes, which must be preached with gospel blessings, to awaken a sleeping world. He shall conquer by the power of his Spirit. And those that contradict and blaspheme his gospel, he shall put to silence and shame; and that which hinders its progress shall be taken out of the way. To those who by nature were blind, God will…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14I have kept silent … and restrained: Israel felt God's absence during the exile in Babylon, which happened due to their idol worship (Isaiah 57:11–13; 2 Kings 17:6–24). The faithful will pray for God's presence and renewed involvement in their lives (Isaiah 64:12), and the Lord will answer their prayers because he is committed to their redemption (62:1, 6).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1613-16. Jehovah will no longer restrain His wrath: He will go forth as a mighty warrior (Ex 15:3) to destroy His people's and His enemies, and to deliver Israel (compare Psa 45:3). stir up jealousy--rouse His indignation. roar--image from the battle cry of a warrior.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 42:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 42
- 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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