Isaiah 12:1

Translation
King James Version
¶ And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And in that day H3117 thou shalt say H559, O LORD H3068, I will praise H3034 thee: though thou wast angry H599 with me, thine anger H639 is turned away H7725, and thou comfortedst H5162 me.
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Complete Jewish Bible
On that day you will say: "I thank you, ADONAI, because, although you were angry at me, your anger is now turned away; and you are comforting me.
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Berean Standard Bible
In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.
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American Standard Version
And in that day thou shalt say, I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me.
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World English Bible Messianic
In that day you will say, “I will give thanks to you, the LORD; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And thou shalt say in that day, O Lord, I will prayse thee: though thou wast angrie with me, thy wrath is turned away, and thou comfortest me.
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Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast said in that day: `I thank thee, O Jehovah, Though Thou hast been angry with me, Turn back doth Thine anger, And Thou dost comfort me.
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See also
Psalms 30:5Isaiah 25:1Isaiah 54:8Hosea 6:1Zechariah 14:9Isaiah 40:1Isaiah 40:2
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Isaiah 12:1 serves as a profound declaration of praise and thanksgiving, marking a pivotal shift from the preceding chapters' themes of judgment and discipline to one of exuberant joy and renewed intimacy with God. This verse anticipates a future day of divine salvation and restoration, encapsulating a deeply personal and communal acknowledgment of God's righteous anger, swiftly followed by the miraculous turning away of that wrath and the outpouring of His comforting presence, eliciting a heartfelt response of adoration and worship.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Isaiah 12:1 introduces a short, jubilant hymn (Isaiah 12:1-6) that functions as a climactic doxology, concluding the first major section of Isaiah's prophecies (chapters 1-12). This hymn provides a stark contrast to the preceding chapters, particularly Isaiah 7-11, which detail severe warnings of judgment against Judah and surrounding nations, interspersed with profound Messianic prophecies. The recurring prophetic marker "in that day" (Hebrew: bayôm hahûʼ) consistently points forward to a future eschatological era—often understood as the Messianic age—when God's promises of deliverance and righteous rule will be fully realized. This hymn represents the anticipated response of a redeemed people, celebrating God's faithfulness and salvation after experiencing His disciplinary hand. It offers a hopeful resolution to the narrative arc of judgment and promise, setting the stage for the subsequent oracles against the nations in Isaiah 13.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Isaiah prophesied during the tumultuous 8th century BCE, a period of immense geopolitical upheaval for the Southern Kingdom of Judah, dominated by the rising threat of the Assyrian Empire. The people of Judah frequently vacillated between trust in the Lord and reliance on foreign alliances, leading to spiritual apostasy and social injustice. God's "anger" in the verse reflects the historical consequences of their disobedience, often manifested through national crises and foreign invasions, such as the Syro-Ephraimite War described in Isaiah 7. Culturally, communal praise and thanksgiving were central to Israelite worship, often expressed through hymns sung in the Temple or during festivals. This verse, therefore, is not merely a private sentiment but a prophetic anticipation of a collective, national outpouring of gratitude, mirroring the psalms of lament and praise that characterized their spiritual life. The concept of God's anger turning away would have resonated deeply with a people who had experienced or feared divine judgment, offering profound hope for restoration and covenant renewal.
  • Key Themes: This verse encapsulates several profound theological themes central to Isaiah's overarching message. Firstly, it highlights the Sovereignty of God's Justice and Mercy. It acknowledges God's righteous anger ("though thou wast angry with me"), which is a just response to sin and disobedience, yet swiftly pivots to the turning away of that anger and the outpouring of divine comfort. This tension beautifully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, balancing His justice with His abundant mercy and faithfulness, as profoundly expressed in Psalm 30:5. Secondly, the verse emphasizes Praise and Thanksgiving as the Proper Response to Salvation. The declaration "O LORD, I will praise thee" is not a reluctant acknowledgment but a joyful, heartfelt expression of gratitude for deliverance from distress and the experience of God's renewed favor, echoing the call to worship found throughout the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 100:4). Finally, it underscores Divine Comfort and Restoration. The phrase "thou comfortedst me" signifies God's active intervention to bring solace, healing, and restoration after a period of tribulation or discipline, affirming God's role as the ultimate source of peace and security for His people, transforming sorrow into enduring joy, a theme also explored in Isaiah 40:1.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • day (Hebrew, yôwm', H3117): Meaning "a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term)." In this context, "in that day" is a crucial prophetic idiom, signifying a specific, future period of divine intervention and fulfillment, often associated with the Messianic era or the eschatological climax of God's plan. It points to a definitive, divinely appointed moment in salvation history, distinct from the present.
  • praise (Hebrew, yâdâh', H3034): A primitive root meaning "to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)." Here, it is used in the favorable sense of expressing gratitude and worship, often with uplifted hands, signifying an open, unreserved declaration of God's goodness and mighty acts. It implies public acknowledgment and joyful celebration of God's character and deeds.
  • comfortedst (Hebrew, nâcham', H5162): A primitive root meaning "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)." In this verse, it carries the profound meaning of divine consolation and solace. It speaks of God's tender and compassionate intervention to alleviate distress, bring peace, and restore well-being after a period of suffering or discipline, transforming sorrow into relief and joy.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And in that day thou shalt say": This opening clause sets the scene for a future, divinely appointed time. The "day" is not merely a chronological period but a significant epoch in salvation history, when God's redemptive purposes will culminate. The "thou shalt say" indicates a prophetic certainty and anticipates a communal, heartfelt response from God's people, signifying a new era of spiritual understanding and expression.
  • "O LORD, I will praise thee": This is the direct address and the core declaration of the verse. "O LORD" (Yahweh, H3068) emphasizes God's covenant name, highlighting His personal and relational identity with His people. The resolute "I will praise thee" (from yâdâh) signifies a joyful, open, and deliberate act of worship and thanksgiving, acknowledging God's inherent worthiness and His saving acts. It is a vow of adoration.
  • "though thou wast angry with me": This clause provides the crucial backdrop to the praise. It is an honest acknowledgment of past sin and the resultant divine displeasure. God's anger (from H599, ʼânaph, meaning "to breathe hard, be enraged"; and H639, ʼaph, meaning "nose/nostril," hence "ire" or "wrath") is depicted as a just and necessary response to the people's unfaithfulness, leading to discipline or tribulation. It underscores the severity of their past transgressions.
  • "thine anger is turned away": This is the pivotal moment of divine grace and reversal. The Hebrew verb "turned away" (H7725, shûwb) means "to turn back" or "to return." Here, it signifies a complete cessation and reversal of God's disposition from wrath to favor. It implies a definitive end to divine judgment and the removal of the consequences of His anger, making way for reconciliation and renewed blessing.
  • "and thou comfortedst me": This final clause expresses the profound outcome of God's turned-away anger. The comfort (H5162, nâcham) is not merely the absence of wrath but the active, compassionate presence of God bringing solace, healing, and restoration. It is the experience of divine peace and renewed fellowship after a period of estrangement or hardship, transforming sorrow into enduring joy.

Literary Devices

Isaiah 12:1 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of divine transformation and human response. The most prominent is Antithesis, where the initial state of God's anger is directly contrasted with the subsequent state of His comfort and the turning away of His wrath. This sharp juxtaposition highlights the dramatic shift in God's disposition towards His people, emphasizing the profound nature of His mercy and the completeness of His redemptive work. The phrase "in that day" functions as a Prophetic Marker, signaling a future, divinely ordained time of fulfillment, lending an eschatological dimension to the immediate context and pointing to a climactic moment in salvation history. The direct address, "O LORD," is a clear example of Apostrophe, where the speaker directly addresses God, creating a sense of intimacy, personal devotion, and immediate dialogue. Furthermore, the imagery of "thine anger is turned away" uses Personification to describe God's wrath as something that can literally "turn," implying a cessation of its active expression and a transformative change in divine posture, leading to reconciliation and peace.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Isaiah 12:1 beautifully encapsulates the core tension and resolution within God's character: His righteous justice and His boundless mercy. It affirms that while God's anger is a legitimate and necessary response to sin, it is not His final word for His repentant people. His ultimate desire is to restore and comfort, transforming their sorrow into praise. This dynamic underscores the covenant faithfulness of God, who, even in discipline, prepares the way for reconciliation and a deeper relationship with His chosen ones. The future "day" signifies a time when this divine compassion will be fully manifest, leading to an uninhibited outpouring of gratitude from a people who have experienced the profound turning of His wrath into grace and the active embrace of His comforting presence.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Isaiah 12:1 offers profound hope and a clear call to worship for believers in every generation. It reminds us that even when we experience God's discipline, face difficult circumstances as a consequence of sin, or simply endure the trials of life, His ultimate purpose is always our restoration and comfort. This verse encourages us to confront our own failings honestly, acknowledging that God's "anger" is a just response to sin, but to hold firm to the promise that for those who turn to Him, His wrath is temporary and His comfort is enduring. Our proper response to such divine grace is heartfelt praise and thanksgiving, not just for deliverance from hardship, but for the very character of God who is both just and merciful. It invites us to live in a posture of gratitude, anticipating the full realization of God's comforting presence in our lives and in the world, and to share this hope with others.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of your life have you experienced God's discipline, and how did that lead to a deeper appreciation for His comfort?
  • How does the tension between God's anger and His comfort in this verse shape your understanding of His character and your relationship with Him?
  • What does it mean for you personally to "praise" the LORD, especially after a period of difficulty or spiritual struggle, and how can you express that praise authentically?
  • How can you cultivate a more consistent attitude of thanksgiving, even when you are still awaiting God's full comfort or the turning away of a difficult situation?

FAQ

What is the significance of the phrase "in that day" in Isaiah 12:1?

Answer: The phrase "in that day" (Hebrew: bayôm hahûʼ) is a crucial prophetic idiom used frequently throughout Isaiah and other prophetic books. It does not refer to a literal 24-hour period but rather to a specific, significant, and often eschatological era in God's redemptive plan. In Isaiah, it typically points forward to a future time of divine intervention, judgment, and ultimate salvation. While it can have immediate historical applications, its fullest meaning often anticipates the Messianic age, the coming of God's kingdom, and the final restoration of His people. For instance, Isaiah 11:10 speaks of "in that day" when the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples, clearly pointing to the Messiah. Thus, Isaiah 12:1 looks beyond immediate historical deliverance to a climactic moment when God's anger is definitively turned away, and His comfort fully experienced by His redeemed people.

How can God be both "angry" and "comforting" as described in this single verse?

Answer: This verse beautifully illustrates the multifaceted nature of God's character, particularly His justice and His mercy. God's "anger" is not a capricious or uncontrolled emotion, but a righteous and holy response to sin, rebellion, and injustice. It reflects His perfect standard and His intolerance for evil. However, God's anger is always balanced by His profound love and mercy. For His covenant people, His anger is often disciplinary, designed to lead them to repentance and restoration, rather than annihilation. Once repentance occurs, or in His sovereign timing, God's anger "turns away," indicating a cessation of judgment and a return to favor. This turning away is immediately followed by His active "comfort," which signifies His tender care, solace, and healing. This dynamic reveals that God's ultimate desire is not to remain angry but to reconcile and restore, demonstrating His steadfast love and faithfulness, as seen in passages like Psalm 103:8-10.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Isaiah 12:1 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "day" to which the prophet looks forward is inaugurated by Christ's first advent and will be fully realized at His second coming. It is through His atoning sacrifice on the cross that God's righteous anger against sin is definitively "turned away" for all who believe. As Romans 5:9 declares, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, bearing the full weight of divine wrath so that we might receive divine comfort. Moreover, Christ is the ultimate source of comfort; He promised the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to His disciples (John 14:16). Through Christ, we are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19), experiencing not only the cessation of God's wrath but also the active, indwelling presence of His peace and solace. Our praise, as anticipated in Isaiah 12:1, is now offered in and through Him, for He is the one who has opened the way for us to draw near to God with confidence. Thus, the prophetic hope of Isaiah 12:1 is not merely a historical relief but an eternal reality made possible by the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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Commentary on Isaiah 12 verses 1–3

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

This is the former part of the hymn of praise which is prepared for the use of the church, of the Jewish church when God would work great deliverances for them, and of the Christian church when the kingdom of the Messiah should be set up in the world in despite of the opposition of the powers of darkness: In that day thou shalt say, O Lord! I will praise thee. The scattered church, being united into one body, shall, as one man, with one mind and one mouth, thus praise God, who is one and his name one. In that day, when the Lord shall do these great things for thee, thou shalt say, O Lord! I will praise thee. That is,

I. "Thou shalt have cause to say so." The promise is sure, and the blessings contained in it are very rich, and, when they are bestowed, will furnish the church with abundant matter for rejoicing and therefore with abundant matter for thanksgiving. The Old Testament prophecies of gospel times are often expressed by the joy and praise that shall then be excited; for the inestimable benefits we enjoy by Jesus Christ require the most elevated and enlarged thanksgivings.

II. "Thou shalt have a heart to say so." All God's other gifts to his people shall be crowned with this. He will give them grace to ascribe all the glory of them to him, and to speak of them upon all occasions with thankfulness to his praise. Thou shalt say, that is, thou oughtest to say so. In that day, when many are brought home to Jesus Christ and flock to him as doves to their windows, instead of envying the kind reception they find with Christ, as the Jews grudged the favour shown to the Gentiles, thou shalt say, O Lord! I will praise thee. Note, we ought to rejoice in, and give thanks for, the grace of God to others as well as to ourselves.

1.Believers are here taught to give thanks to God for the turning away of his displeasure from them and the return of his favour to them (Isa 12:1): O Lord! I will praise thee, though thou wast angry with me. Note, Even God's frowns must not put us out of tune for praising him; though he be angry with us, though he slay us, yet we must put our trust in him and give him thanks. God has often just cause to be angry with us, but we have never any reason to be angry with him, nor to speak otherwise than well of him; even when he blames us we must praise him. Thou was angry with us, but thy anger is turned away. Note, (1.) God is sometimes angry with his own people and the fruits of his anger do appear, and they ought to take notice of this, that they may humble themselves under his mighty hand. (2.) Though God may for a time be angry with his people, yet his anger shall at length be turned away; it endures but for a moment, nor will he contend for ever. By Jesus Christ, the root of Jesse, God's anger against mankind was turned away; for he is our peace. (3.) Those whom God is reconciled to he comforts; even the turning away of his anger is a comfort to them; yet that is not all: those that are at peace with God may rejoice in hope of the glory of God, Rom 5:1, Rom 5:2. Nay, God sometimes brings his people into a wilderness that there he may speak comfortably to them, Hos 2:14. (4.) The turning away of God's anger, and the return of his comforts to us, ought to be the matter of our joyful thankful praises.

2.They are taught to triumph in God and their interest in him (Isa 12:2): "Behold, and wonder; God is my salvation; not only my Saviour, by whom I am saved, but my salvation, in whom I am safe. I depend upon him as my salvation, for I have found him to be so. He shall have the glory of all the salvations that have been wrought for me, and from him only will I expect the salvations I further need, and not from hills and mountains: and if God be my salvation, if he undertake my eternal salvation, I will trust in him to prepare me for it and preserve me to it. I will trust him with all my temporal concerns, not doubting but he will make all to work for my good. I will be confident, that is, I will be always easy in my own mind." Note, Those that have God for their salvation may enjoy themselves with a holy security and serenity of mind. Let faith in God as our salvation be effectual, (1.) To silence our fears. We must trust, and not be afraid, not be afraid that the God we trust in will fail us; no, there is no danger of that; not be afraid of any creature, though ever so formidable and threatening. Note, Faith in God is a sovereign remedy against disquieting tormenting fears. (2.) To support our hopes. Is the Lord Jehovah our salvation? Then he will be our strength and song. We have work to do and temptations to resist, and we may depend upon him to enable us for both, to strengthen us with all might by his Spirit in the inner man, for he is our strength; his grace is so, and that grace shall be sufficient for us. We have many troubles to undergo, and must expect griefs in a vale of tears; and we may depend upon him to comfort us in all our tribulations, for he is our song; he giveth songs in the night. If we make God our strength, and put our confidence in him, he will be our strength; if we make him our song, and place our comfort in him, he will be our song. Many good Christians have God for their strength who have him not for their song; they walk in darkness: but light is sown for them. And those that have God for their strength ought to make him their song, that is, to give him the glory of it (see Psa 68:35) and to take to themselves the comfort of it, for he will become their salvation. Observe the title here given to God: Jah, Jehovah. Jah is the contraction of Jehovah, and both signify his eternity and unchangeableness, which are a great comfort to those that depend upon him as their strength and their song. Some make Jah to signify the Son of God made man; he is Jehovah, and in him we may glory as our strength, and song, and salvation.

3.They are aught to derive comfort to themselves from the love of God and all the tokens of that love (Isa 12:3): "Therefore, because the Lord Jehovah is your strength and song and will be your salvation, you shall draw water with joy." Note, The assurances God has given us of his love, and the experiences we have had of the benefit and comfort of his grace, should greatly encourage our faith in him and our expectations from him: "Out of the wells of salvation in God, who is the fountain of all good to his people, you shall draw water with joy. God's favour shall flow forth to you, and you shall have the comfort of it and make use of the blessed fruits of it." Note, (1.) God's promises revealed, ratified, and given out to us, in his ordinances, are wells of salvation; wells of the Saviour (so some read it), for in them the Saviour and salvation are made known to us and made over to us. (2.) It is our duty by faith to draw water out of these wells, to take to ourselves the benefit and comfort that are treasured up for us in them, as those that acknowledge all our fresh springs to be there and all our fresh streams to be thence, Psa 87:7. (3.) Water is to be drawn out of the wells of salvation with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. It is the will of God that we should rejoice before him and rejoice in him (Deu 26:11), be joyful in his house of prayer (Isa 56:7), and keep his feasts with gladness, Act 2:46.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–3. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
And you shall say on that day: I will praise you, O Lord, for you were angry with me, but your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. You who were the first to speak in the wilderness, when you came out of the land of Egypt, and when the Red Sea was dried up before you: Let us sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea (Exodus 15:1), and the rest of the verse. Now with the tongue of the Egyptian sea struck, and its river dried up and cut off, and humiliated, glorify the Lord, and say: I will praise you, O Lord, for I have obtained mercy after deserving your wrath and fury; for you are my Savior, that is, Jesus, and I have no confidence in idols, nor will I fear what is not to be feared; but you are my strength and my praise, who have become my salvation. Let the most wicked heresy be heard, that the Lord was made by those who are saved, and that he was not previously Lord, so that we may understand in the holy scriptures both creation and making, not always the condition of those things that were not, but sometimes the grace that is bestowed on those who have deserved to become God.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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