King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
These two [things] are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
Complete Jewish Bible:
These two disasters have overcome you - yet who will grieve with you? - plunder and destruction, famine and sword; by whom can I comfort you?
Berean Standard Bible:
These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Who will grieve for you? Who can comfort you?
American Standard Version:
These two things are befallen thee, who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; how shall I comfort thee?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
These two{H8147} things are come{H7122} unto thee; who shall be sorry{H5110} for thee? desolation{H7701}, and destruction{H7667}, and the famine{H7458}, and the sword{H2719}: by whom shall I comfort{H5162} thee?
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 47:9
- But these two [things] shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Amos 7:2
- And it came to pass, [that] when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he [is] small.
Job 42:11
- Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
Isaiah 61:2
- To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
2 Corinthians 7:6
- Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
2 Corinthians 7:7
- And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Ezekiel 14:21
- For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
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Commentary for Isaiah 51:19
Isaiah 51:19 is part of the larger section of the Book of Isaiah known as the "Book of Comfort," which spans from chapters 40 to 55. This section is directed towards the Israelites during their exile in Babylon, offering hope and consolation. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, which occurred in the 6th century BCE when the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah, destroying Jerusalem and the Temple, and deporting many of its inhabitants.
In verse 51:19, the prophet Isaiah is conveying the stark reality of the judgment that has befallen Judah. The verse enumerates a series of calamities—desolation, destruction, famine, and sword—that have come upon the people as a result of their disobedience to God. These afflictions are depicted as personified entities that have arrived and settled upon the nation, leaving it in a state of despair.
The theme of the verse is one of lament and rhetorical questioning. Isaiah asks, "Who shall be sorry for thee?" suggesting that the situation is so dire that it seems no one could possibly offer comfort. The question, "By whom shall I comfort thee?" implies that the usual sources of comfort have been exhausted or are inadequate in the face of such overwhelming suffering.
This verse underscores the gravity of the judgment while also setting the stage for the message of hope and restoration that follows in the subsequent chapters. Isaiah is preparing his audience to recognize their need for divine comfort and to look to God as the only source capable of providing true solace and renewal. The prophet is essentially saying that human efforts are insufficient in the face of such profound loss and that only God can bring about the necessary healing and restoration.
In summary, Isaiah 51:19 reflects the profound suffering of the Israelites during their exile, emphasizing the inadequacy of human comfort in the face of divine judgment. It serves as a prelude to the prophetic assurance of God's future comfort and redemption, inviting the people to turn back to God as their ultimate comforter and deliverer.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H7122
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner; befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon), fall out, happen, meet. - Strong's Number: H5110
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נוּד
Transliteration: nûwd
Pronunciation: nood
Description: a primitive root; to nod, i.e. waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt; bemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering. - Strong's Number: H7701
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֹׁד
Transliteration: shôd
Pronunciation: shode
Description: or שׁוֹד; (Job 5:21), from שׁוּד; violence, ravage; desolation, destruction, oppression, robbery, spoil(-ed, -er, -ing), wasting. - Strong's Number: H7667
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׁבֶר
Transliteration: sheber
Pronunciation: sheh'-ber
Description: or שֵׁבֶר; from שָׁבַר; a fracture, figuratively, ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream); affliction, breach, breaking, broken(-footed, -handed), bruise, crashing, destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation. - Strong's Number: H7458
There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעָב
Transliteration: râʻâb
Pronunciation: raw-awb'
Description: from רָעֵב; hunger (more or less extensive); dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger. - Strong's Number: H2719
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶרֶב
Transliteration: chereb
Pronunciation: kheh'-reb
Description: from חָרַב; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement; axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. - Strong's Number: H5162
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָחַם
Transliteration: nâcham
Pronunciation: naw-kham'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself); comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self).