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

Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you. 2But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. 3For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words.

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 50:2Why does no one challenge me when I come? Why does no one respond when I call? Is my hand too weak to deliver you? Do I lack the power to rescue you? Look, with a mere shout I can dry up the sea; I can turn streams into a desert, so the fish rot away and die from lack of water.
• Genesis 18:14Is anything impossible for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.”
• Numbers 11:23And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you will see whether my word to you will come true or not!”
• Jeremiah 32:17‘Oh, Lord God, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you!
• Isaiah 63:1Who is this who comes from Edom, dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? Who is this one wearing royal attire, who marches confidently because of his great strength? “It is I, the one who announces vindication, and who is able to deliver!”
• Hebrews 7:25So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
• Isaiah 6:10Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.”
• Matthew 13:15For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

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