New International Version
Isaiah 42:14
14“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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He will say, “I have long been silent; yes, I have restrained myself. But now, like a woman in labor, I will cry and groan and pant.
Context of Isaiah 42:14
12Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. 13The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. “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. 15I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. 16I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake 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 32:18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
- Psalms 50:2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
- Psalms 83:1O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:11When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
- Jeremiah 15:6You have rejected me,” declares the Lord. “You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back.
- Jeremiah 44:22When the Lord could no longer endure your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse and a desolate waste without inhabitants, as it is today.
- Luke 18:7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
- 2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
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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