New King James Version
Isaiah 54:16
16“Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.
Isaiah 54:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
- New International Version (NIV)“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
- English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
- New Living Translation (NLT)“I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy.
Context of Isaiah 54:16
14In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. “Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. 17No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.
Read all of Isaiah 54Isaiah 54:16 word by word
הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ בָּרָ֣אתִי חָרָ֔שׁ נֹפֵ֙חַ֙ בְּאֵ֣שׁ פֶּחָ֔ם וּמוֹצִ֥יא כְלִ֖י לְמַעֲשֵׂ֑הוּ וְאָנֹכִ֛י בָּרָ֥אתִי מַשְׁחִ֖ית לְחַבֵּֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Behold, I have createdבָּרָאbârâ' · to createH1254
- the smithחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
- that blowethנָפַחnâphach · to breatheH5301
- the coalsפֶּחָםpechâm · coalH6352
- in the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- and that bringeth forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: produceH3318
- an instrumentכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- for his workמַעֲשֶׂהma‛ăώeh · deed: workH4639
- the wasterשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- to destroyחָבַלchâbal · to destroyH2254
Cross-references for Isaiah 54:16
- Isaiah 10:5“Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation.
- Isaiah 37:26“Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.
- Isaiah 46:11Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
- Exodus 9:16But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
- Proverbs 16:4The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.
- Daniel 4:34And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
- John 19:11Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Commentaries on Isaiah 54:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Behold, I have created the smith - The sense of this verse is, Everything that can effect your welfare is under my control. The smith who manufactures the instruments of war or of torture is under me. His life, his strength, his skill, are all in my hands, and he can do nothing which I shall not deem it best to permit him to do. So with the enemy of the church himself - the waster who destroys. I bare made him, and he is wholly under my control and at my…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 Let the people of God, when afflicted and tossed, think they hear God speaking comfortably to them by these words, taking notice of their griefs and fears. The church is all glorious when full of the knowledge of God; for none teaches like him. It is a promise of the teaching and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All that are taught of God are taught to love one another. This seems to relate especially to the glorious times to succeed the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-17This describes a vision of Jerusalem renewed as a city under God's protection, a place of peace and righteousness (see Isaiah 59:21–60:22). This section provides the background for John's vision of the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. The workman that forms "weapons against thee" (Is 54:17) is wholly in My power, therefore thou needest not fear, having Me on thy side. for his work--rather, "by his labor [Horsley]. "According to the exigencies of his work" [Maurer]. waster to destroy--(Is 10:5-7; 37:26, 27; 45:1-6). Desolating conquerors who use the "instruments" framed by "the smith." The repetition of the "I" implies, however, something in the latter half of the verse contrasted…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 54:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 54
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries