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 says, “Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!” 15For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged. For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created. 17I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn. 18I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.

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 is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger, and does not stir up his fury.
• Psalms 85:5Will you stay mad at us forever? Will you remain angry throughout future generations?
• Psalms 103:9He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.
• Jeremiah 10:24Correct us, Lord, but only in due measure. Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.
• Micah 7:18There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.
• Isaiah 42:5This is what the true God, the Lord, says – the one who created the sky and stretched it out, the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it, the one who gives breath to the people on it, and life to those who live on it:
• Numbers 16:22Then they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all people, will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?”
• Job 34:14If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,
• Ecclesiastes 12:7and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.
• Jeremiah 38:16So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, “As surely as the Lord lives who has given us life and breath, I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you.”
• Zechariah 12:1The revelation of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: The Lord – he who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person – says,
• Hebrews 12:9Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?

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