Focused Passage

Isaiah 48:17-19

The LORD Refines Stubborn Israel and Calls His People Out of Babylon

From Israel’s hypocritical covenant identity, to the LORD’s proof through fulfilled prophecy, to his restraint and refining for his name’s sake, to his self-revelation as Creator and sovereign speaker, to the command to leave Babylon, to the warning that peace does not belong to the wicked.

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

17 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.

18 If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

19 Your descendants would have been as countless as the sand, and your offspring as numerous as its grains; their name would never be cut off or eliminated from My presence.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

Psalms 32:8 Classic cross-references Psalms 25:12 Classic cross-references Job 22:21 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 8:17 Classic cross-references Isaiah 30:20 Classic cross-references James 1:22-25 OliveGrove study links John 14:6 OliveGrove study links Matthew 11:28-30 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Thus כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb says אָמַ֧ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your Redeemer גֹּאַלְךָ֖ H1350 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular the Holy קְד֣וֹשׁ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular construct One of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular I אֲנִ֨י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָ֤ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular who teaches מְלַמֶּדְךָ֣ H3925 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular you for your benefit לְהוֹעִ֔יל H3276 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct who directs מַדְרִֽיכֲךָ֖ H1869 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular you in the way בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ H1870 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular you should go תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

Philippians 4:7 Classic cross-references Psalms 81:13 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 5:29 Classic cross-references Isaiah 66:12 Classic cross-references Psalms 119:165 Classic cross-references James 1:22-25 OliveGrove study links John 14:6 OliveGrove study links Matthew 11:28-30 OliveGrove study links

Original words

If only ל֥וּא H3863 Preposition you had paid attention הִקְשַׁ֖בְתָּ H7181 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular to My commandments לְמִצְוֺתָ֑י H4687 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular your peace שְׁלוֹמֶ֔ךָ H7965 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular would have been וַיְהִ֤י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular like a river כַנָּהָר֙ H5104 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular and your righteousness וְצִדְקָתְךָ֖ H6666 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular like waves כְּגַלֵּ֥י H1530 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct of the sea הַיָּֽם׃ H3220 Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Hosea 1:10 Classic cross-references Isaiah 56:5 Classic cross-references Isaiah 10:22 Classic cross-references Genesis 22:17 Classic cross-references Hebrews 11:12 Classic cross-references James 1:22-25 OliveGrove study links John 14:6 OliveGrove study links Matthew 11:28-30 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Your descendants זַרְעֶ֔ךָ H2233 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular would have been וַיְהִ֤י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular as [countless as] the sand כַחוֹל֙ H2344 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular and your offspring וְצֶאֱצָאֵ֥י H6631 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct . . . מֵעֶ֖יךָ H4578 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular as [numerous as] its grains כִּמְעֹתָ֑יו H4579 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular their name שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular would never לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be cut off יִכָּרֵ֧ת H3772 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . וְֽלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle or eliminated יִשָּׁמֵ֛ד H8045 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular from My presence מִלְּפָנָֽי׃ H6440 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

Literally like the sand, and your offspring like its grains

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