New English Translation
Isaiah 59:17
17He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.
Isaiah 59:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
- New International Version (NIV)He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
Context of Isaiah 59:17
15Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The Lord watches and is displeased, for there is no justice. 16He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on. He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe. 18He repays them for what they have done, dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries and punishing his enemies. He repays the coastlands. 19In the west, people respect the Lord’s reputation; in the east they recognize his splendor. For he comes like a rushing stream driven on by wind sent from the Lord.
Read all of Isaiah 59Isaiah 59:17 word by word
וַיִּלְבַּ֤שׁ צְדָקָה֙ כַּשִּׁרְיָ֔ן וְכ֥וֹבַע יְשׁוּעָ֖ה בְּרֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּלְבַּ֞שׁ בִּגְדֵ֤י נָקָם֙ תִּלְבֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיַּ֥עַט כַּמְעִ֖יל קִנְאָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For he put onלָבֵשׁlâbash lâbêsh · to clotheH3847
- righteousnessצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
- as a breastplateשִׁרְיוֹןshiryôn shiryân shiryâh shiryônâh · armorH8302
- and an helmetכּוֹבַעkôba‛ · helmetH3553
- of salvationיְשׁוּעָהyeshû‛âh · salvationH3444
- upon his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- the garmentsבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · garmentH899
- of vengeanceנָקָםnâqâm · vengeanceH5359
- clothingתִּלְבֹּשֶׁתtalbôsheth · clothingH8516
- and was cladעָטָה‛âţâh · to enwrapH5844
- with zealקִנְאָהqin'âh · jealousyH7068
- as a clokeמְעִילme‛îyl · robeH4598
Cross-references for Isaiah 59:17
- Isaiah 11:5Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.
- Isaiah 51:9Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the Lord! Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity! Did you not smash the Proud One? Did you not wound the sea monster?
- Job 29:14I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;
- Romans 13:12The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,
- Ephesians 6:14Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.
- Revelation 19:11Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice he judges and goes to war.
- Deuteronomy 32:35I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them!”
- Psalms 94:1O Lord, the God who avenges! O God who avenges, reveal your splendor!
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Hebrews 10:30For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
- Isaiah 9:7His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The Lord’s intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.
- Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion!
- Psalms 69:9Certainly zeal for your house consumes me; I endure the insults of those who insult you.
- Zechariah 1:14Turning to me, the messenger then said, “Cry out that the Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much moved for Jerusalem and for Zion.
Commentaries on Isaiah 59:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For clothing "For his clothing" - תלבשת tilbosheth . "I cannot but think that this word, תלבשת tilbosheth, is an interpolation. It is in no one ancient version. It is redundant in the sense, as it is before expressed in בגדי bigdey . It makes the hemistich just so much longer than it ought to be, if it is compared with the others adjoining. It makes a form of construction in this clause less elegant than that in the others. It might probably be in some…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For he put on righteousness - That is, God the Redeemer. The prophet here introduces him as going forth to vindicate his people clad like an ancient warrior. In the declaration that he put on righteousness,‘ the essential idea is, that he was pure and holy. The same image is used by the prophet in another figure in Isaiah 11:5 (see the note at that place). As a breastplate - The breastplate was a well-known piece of ancient armor, designed to defend the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 This passage is connected with the following chapters. It is generally thought to describe the coming of the Messiah, as the Avenger and Deliverer of his church. There was none to intercede with God to turn away his wrath; none to interpose for the support of justice and truth. Yet He engaged his own strength and righteousness for his people. God will make his justice upon the enemies of his church and people plainly appear. When the enemy…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17The Lord acts like a warrior, determined to win against evil (see Ephesians 6:14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Messiah is represented as a warrior armed at all points, going forth to vindicate His people. Owing to the unity of Christ and His people, their armor is like His, except that they have no "garments of vengeance" (which is God's prerogative, Ro 12:19), or "cloak of zeal" (in the sense of judicial fury punishing the wicked; this zeal belongs properly to God, 2Ki 10:16; Ro 10:2; Php 3:6; "zeal," in the sense of anxiety for the Lord's honor, they have…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 59:17
In the dictionaries
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
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