Isaiah 59 · Verse 1

Isaiah 59:1

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isaiah 59:1, King James Version

Isaiah 59:1 in other translations

BSBSurely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
WEBBehold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; nor his ear dull, that it can’t hear.
ASVBehold, Jehovah’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
YLTLo, the hand of Jehovah Hath not been shortened from saving, Nor heavy his ear from hearing.
DARBYBehold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear;
BBETruly, the Lord's hand has not become short, so that he is unable to give salvation; and his ear is not shut from hearing:
WebsterBehold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

What does Isaiah 59:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Is 59:1-21. The People's Sin the Cause of Judgments: They at Last Own It Themselves: the Redeemer's Future Interposition in Their Extremity.

The 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Thy chapter contains a more general reproof of the wickedness of the Jews, Isa 59:1-8. After this they are represented confessing their sins, and deploring the unhappy consequences of them, Isa 59:9-15. On this act of humiliation God, ever ready to pardon the penitent, promises that he will have mercy on them; that the Redeemer will come, mighty to save; and that he will deliver his people, subdue his enemies and establish a new and everlasting covenant, Isa 59:16-21. The foregoing elegant chapter contained a severe reproof of the Jews, in particular for their hypocrisy in pretending to make themselves accepted with God by fasting and outward humiliation without true repentance; while they still continued to oppress the poor, and indulge their own passions and vices; with great promises however of God's favor on condition of their reformation. This chapter contains a more general reproof of their wickedness, bloodshed, violence, falsehood, injustice. At Isa 59:9 they are introduced as making, themselves, an ample confession of their sins, and deploring their wretched state in consequence of them. On this act of humiliation a promise is given that God, in his mercy and zeal for his people, will rescue them from this miserable condition, that the Redeemer will come like a mighty hero to deliver them; he will destroy his enemies, convert both Jews and Gentiles to himself, and give them a new covenant, and a law which shall never be abolished. As this chapter is remarkable for the beauty, strength, and variety of the images with which it abounds; so is it peculiarly distinguished by the elegance of the composition, and the exact construction of the sentences. From the first verse to the two last it falls regularly into stanzas of four lines, (see Prelim. Dissert. p. xxi.), which I have endeavored to express as nearly as possible in the form of the original. - L.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 59:1-8
Reproofs 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 God, and so separating us, not only from all good, but to all evil. Yet numbers feed, to their own destruction, on infidel and wicked systems. Nor can their skill or craft, in devising schemes, as the spider weaves its web, deliver or save them. No schemes of self-wrought salvation shall avail those who despise the Redeemer's robe of righteousness. Every man who is destitute of the Spirit of Christ, runs swiftly to evil of some sort; but those regardless of Divine truth and justice, are strangers to peace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 59:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הֵ֛ןhenhere!H2005
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
קָצְרָ֥הka.tze.Rahit is [too] shortH7114
יַד\־yad-[the] hand ofH3027
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
מֵֽהוֹשִׁ֑יעַme.ho.Shi.a'for savingH3467
וְלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
כָבְדָ֥הkha.ve.Dahit is [too] heavyH3513
אָזְנ֖וֹ'a.ze.Noear hisH241
מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ\׃mi.she.Mo.a'for hearingH8085

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 59:1

  • Jeremiah 32:17

    Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

  • Isaiah 50:2

    Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

  • Numbers 11:23

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

  • Isaiah 65:24

    And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

  • Genesis 18:14

    Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • Hebrews 7:25

    Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

  • Matthew 13:15

    For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

  • Isaiah 58:9

    Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

  • Isaiah 6:10

    Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Isaiah 63:1

    Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The calamities of the Jews not owing to want of saving power in God, but to their own enormous sins.
16 Salvation is only of God.
20 The covenant of the Redeemer.

the Lord's.
50:2; Ge 18:14; Nu 11:23; Jer 32:17
that it cannot save.
63:1; Heb 7:25
his ear.
6:10; Mt 13:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 59:1

    Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

  • Isaiah 59:2

    But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Read all of Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		HE aquí que no se ha acortado la mano de Jehová para salvar, ni hase agravado su oído para oir:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, la main de l’ Éternel n’est pas devenue trop courte pour délivrer, ni son oreille trop appesantie pour entendre;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, die Hand Jehovas ist nicht zu kurz, um zu retten, und sein Ohr nicht zu schwer, um zu hören;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ecce non est abbreviata manus Domini, ut salvare nequeat, neque aggravata est auris ejus, ut non exaudiat.