Focused Passage

Isaiah 41:8-20

The LORD’s Courtroom, the Futility of Idols, and Comfort for Israel His Servant

Isaiah 41 moves from the LORD summoning the nations and coastlands into courtroom silence, to His sovereign raising of a conqueror from the east, to the nations’ fearful idol-making, to the LORD’s tender assurance to Israel His servant, to the promise that enemies will become nothing, to the transformation of weak Jacob into a threshing sledge, to wilderness provision for the poor and needy, and finally to the LORD’s challenge for idols to prove themselves by declaring the future, which they cannot do.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

9I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you.

10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

11Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.

12You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.

13For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.

14Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.

16You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

18I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.

19I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,

20so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

But youוְאַתָּה֙H859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularO Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularMy servantעַבְדִּ֔יH5650Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularJacobיַעֲקֹ֖בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularwhomאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeI have chosenבְּחַרְתִּ֑יךָH977Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singulardescendantזֶ֖רַעH2233Noun - masculine singular constructof Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֥םH85Noun - proper - masculine singularMy friendאֹהֲבִֽי׃H157Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 9

Original words

I broughtהֶחֱזַקְתִּ֙יךָ֙H2388Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularyou fromאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativethe endsמִקְצ֣וֹתH7098Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural constructof the earthהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularand called youקְרָאתִ֑יךָH7121Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularfrom its farthest cornersוּמֵאֲצִילֶ֖יהָH678Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularI saidוָאֹ֤מַרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularYouאַ֔תָּהH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularare My servantעַבְדִּי־H5650Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularI have chosenבְּחַרְתִּ֖יךָH977Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularand notוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlerejected youמְאַסְתִּֽיךָ׃H3988Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbfearתִּירָא֙H3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularforכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionIאָ֔נִיH589Pronoun - first person common singularam with youעִמְּךָ־H5973Preposition | second person masculine singulardo notאַל־H408Adverbbe afraidתִּשְׁתָּ֖עH8159Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionIאֲנִ֣יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam your Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularI will strengthen youאִמַּצְתִּ֙יךָ֙H553Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularvvvאַף־H637ConjunctionI will surely help youעֲזַרְתִּ֔יךָH5826Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular. . .אַף־H637ConjunctionI will uphold youתְּמַכְתִּ֖יךָH8551Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singularwith My righteousצִדְקִֽי׃H6664Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularright handבִּימִ֥יןH3225Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Verse 11

Original words

Beholdהֵ֤ןH2005Interjectionallכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructwho rageהַנֶּחֱרִ֣יםH2734Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralagainst youבָּ֑ךְPreposition | second person masculine singularwill be ashamedיֵבֹ֙שׁוּ֙H954Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland disgracedוְיִכָּ֣לְמ֔וּH3637Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthose who contendאַנְשֵׁ֥יH582Noun - masculine plural constructwith youרִיבֶֽךָ׃H7379Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularwill beיִֽהְי֥וּH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralreduced to nothingכְאַ֛יִןH369Preposition-k | Adverband will perishוְיֹאבְד֖וּH6Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 12

Original words

You will seekתְּבַקְשֵׁם֙H1245Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural[them]אַנְשֵׁ֖יH582Noun - masculine plural construct. . .מַצֻּתֶ֑ךָH4695Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularbut will notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlefind themתִמְצָאֵ֔םH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralThose who wage warמִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ׃H4421Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularagainst youאַנְשֵׁ֥יH582Noun - masculine plural constructwill comeיִהְי֥וּH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto nothingכְאַ֛יִןH369Preposition-k | Adverb. . .וּכְאֶ֖פֶסH657Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

Forכִּ֗יH3588ConjunctionI amאֲנִ֛יH589Pronoun - first person common singularthe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularwho takes holdמַחֲזִ֣יקH2388Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularof your right handיְמִינֶ֑ךָH3225Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand tellsהָאֹמֵ֥רH559Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularyouלְךָ֛Preposition | second person masculine singularDo notאַל־H408Adverbfearתִּירָ֖אH3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularIאֲנִ֥יH589Pronoun - first person common singularwill help youעֲזַרְתִּֽיךָ׃סH5826Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

Do notאַל־H408Adverbfearתִּֽירְאִי֙H3372Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singularO Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בH3290Noun - proper - masculine singularyou wormתּוֹלַ֣עַתH8438Noun - feminine singular constructO few menמְתֵ֖יH4962Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularIאֲנִ֤יH589Pronoun - first person common singularwill help youעֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙H5826Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularYour Redeemerוְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְH1350Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singularis the Holyקְד֥וֹשׁH6918Adjective - masculine singular constructOne of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Beholdהִנֵּ֣הH2009InterjectionI will make youשַׂמְתִּ֗יךְH7760Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singularinto a threshing sledgeלְמוֹרַג֙H4173Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructnewחָדָ֔שׁH2319Adjective - masculine singular[and] sharpחָר֣וּץH2742Noun - masculine singularwithבַּ֖עַלH1167Noun - masculine singularmany teethפִּֽיפִיּ֑וֹתH6374Noun - feminine pluralYou will threshתָּד֤וּשׁH1758Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe mountainsהָרִים֙H2022Noun - masculine pluraland crush themוְתָדֹ֔קH1854Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - second person masculine singularand reduceתָּשִֽׂים׃H7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe hillsוּגְבָע֖וֹתH1389Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine pluralto chaffכַּמֹּ֥ץH4671Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 16

Original words

You will winnow themתִּזְרֵם֙H2219Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraland a windוְר֣וּחַH7307Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singularwill carry them awayתִּשָּׂאֵ֔םH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plurala galeוּסְעָרָ֖הH5591Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularwill scatterתָּפִ֣יץH6327Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthemאוֹתָ֑םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralBut youוְאַתָּה֙H859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularwill rejoiceתָּגִ֣ילH1523Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularin the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֔הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularyou will gloryתִּתְהַלָּֽל׃פH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singularin the Holyבִּקְד֥וֹשׁH6918Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular constructOne of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

The poorהָעֲנִיִּ֨יםH6041Article | Adjective - masculine pluraland needyוְהָאֶבְיוֹנִ֜יםH34Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine pluralseekמְבַקְשִׁ֥יםH1245Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralwaterמַ֙יִם֙H4325Noun - masculine pluralbut there is noneוָאַ֔יִןH369Conjunctive waw | Adverbtheir tonguesלְשׁוֹנָ֖םH3956Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine pluralare parchedנָשָׁ֑תָּהH5405Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularwith thirstבַּצָּמָ֣אH6772Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularIאֲנִ֤יH589Pronoun - first person common singularthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwill answer themאֶעֱנֵ֔םH6030Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralI, the Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularwill notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleforsake themאֶעֶזְבֵֽם׃H5800Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

I will openאֶפְתַּ֤חH6605Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularriversנְהָר֔וֹתH5104Noun - masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe barren heightsשְׁפָיִים֙H8205Noun - masculine pluraland fountainsמַעְיָנ֑וֹתH4599Noun - masculine pluralin the middleוּבְת֥וֹךְH8432Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the valleysבְּקָע֖וֹתH1237Noun - feminine pluralI will turnאָשִׂ֤יםH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularthe desertמִדְבָּר֙H4057Noun - masculine singularinto a poolלַאֲגַם־H98Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructof waterמַ֔יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluraland the dryצִיָּ֖הH6723Adjective - feminine singularlandוְאֶ֥רֶץH776Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructinto flowing springsלְמוֹצָ֥אֵיH4161Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .מָֽיִם׃H4325Noun - masculine plural
Verse 19

Original words

I will plantאֶתֵּ֤ןH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularcedarsאֶ֣רֶזH730Noun - masculine singularin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּר֙H4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularacaciasשִׁטָּ֔הH7848Noun - feminine singularmyrtlesוַהֲדַ֖סH1918Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand oliveשָׁ֑מֶןH8081Noun - masculine singulartreesוְעֵ֣ץH6086Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructI will setאָשִׂ֣יםH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularcypressesבְּר֛וֹשׁH1265Noun - masculine singularin the desertבָּעֲרָבָ֗הH6160Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularelmsתִּדְהָ֥רH8410Noun - masculine singularand boxwoodוּתְאַשּׁ֖וּרH8391Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singulartogetherיַחְדָּֽו׃H3162Adverb

BSB notes

  • Or pines or junipers or firs
Verse 20

Original words

so thatלְמַ֧עַןH4616Conjunctionallיַחְדָּ֔וH3162Adverbmay seeיִרְא֣וּH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland knowוְיֵדְע֗וּH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralmay considerוְיָשִׂ֤ימוּH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluraland understandוְיַשְׂכִּ֙ילוּ֙H7919Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthe handיַד־H3027Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas doneעָ֣שְׂתָהH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularthisזֹּ֑אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularand the Holyוּקְד֥וֹשׁH6918Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular constructOne of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularhas created itבְּרָאָֽהּ׃פH1254Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.