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

14Then it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every stumbling block out of the way of My people.” 15For thus says the High and Exalted One who inhabits eternity, whose Name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, yet also with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry, for the spirit would grow weak before Me, the breath of those whom I made. 17Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry; I struck him; I hid My face; I was angry—but he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. 18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him. I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners.

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 78:38But He is compassionate, forgives iniquity and does not destroy. Yes, many times He restrains His anger, and does not stir up all His wrath.
• Psalms 85:5Restore us, O God of our salvation, and renounce Your indignation with us.
• Psalms 103:9He will not always accuse, nor will He keep His anger forever.
• Jeremiah 10:24Chasten me, Adonai, but with justice, not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like You pardoning iniquity, overlooking transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.
• Isaiah 42:5Thus says God, Adonai, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and Ruach to those who walk in it—
• Numbers 16:22But they fell on their faces and cried out, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, will you be angry with the entire community?”
• Job 34:14“If He were to set His heart on it, and gather to Himself His Ruach and breath,
• Ecclesiastes 12:7Then the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
• Jeremiah 38:16So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying: “As Adonai lives, that gave us life, I will not put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men seeking your life.”
• Zechariah 12:1The burden of the word of Adonai concerning Israel. A declaration of Adonai, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
• Hebrews 12:9Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

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