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Translation
King James Version
For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
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KJV (with Strong's)
For I the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will hold H2388 thy right hand H3225, saying H559 unto thee, Fear H3372 not; I will help H5826 thee.
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Complete Jewish Bible
For I, ADONAI, your God, say to you, as I hold your right hand, 'Have no fear; I will help you.
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Berean Standard Bible
For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.
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American Standard Version
For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
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World English Bible Messianic
For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’
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Geneva Bible (1599)
For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying vnto thee, Feare not, I wil helpe thee.
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Young's Literal Translation
For I, Jehovah thy God, Am strengthening thy right hand, He who is saying to thee, `Fear not, I have helped thee.'
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Isaiah 41:13 delivers a profound message of divine comfort and unwavering assurance, revealing the Lord God's intimate involvement and steadfast commitment to His people. In a context of fear and uncertainty, this verse encapsulates God's personal presence, His direct command to relinquish fear, and His definitive promise of active, sustaining help, emphasizing His identity as the sovereign and faithful covenant-keeping God who intimately upholds those who belong to Him.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Isaiah 41:13 is situated within the second major section of the book of Isaiah, often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55). This section primarily addresses the exilic and post-exilic community of Israel, a people grappling with profound despair, national humiliation, and existential fear regarding their future and God's faithfulness. The preceding verses in Isaiah 41:10-12 set the immediate stage, repeatedly issuing the divine imperative "Fear not" and assuring Israel that their enemies will be utterly confounded, while they themselves will be upheld by God's righteous right hand. This particular verse deepens that assurance by personifying God's active support through the imagery of holding their hand, reinforcing the themes of divine presence and powerful intervention against all odds.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The prophecies in Isaiah 40-55 are largely directed towards the Israelites facing or anticipating the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national crisis, displacement, and spiritual questioning. The people were surrounded by powerful pagan empires and their idolatrous practices, leading to doubts about the supremacy of their God, Yahweh. In this geopolitical and spiritual climate, the imagery of God holding a hand would have resonated deeply. In the ancient Near East, holding someone's hand signified protection, guidance, a pledge of support, or even a declaration of ownership and intimate relationship. The promise of help from "the LORD thy God" directly confronts the despair and the perceived impotence of their God in the face of mighty empires and their false deities, reasserting Yahweh's unique power and covenant fidelity.
  • Key Themes: This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent throughout Isaiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights Divine Intimacy and Presence, portraying God not as a distant deity but as one who actively engages with His people, symbolized by the personal act of "holding thy right hand." This gesture speaks of protection, guidance, and profound solidarity. Secondly, the direct command, "Fear not," underscores Assurance Against Fear, a recurring divine imperative throughout Scripture, especially in moments of great challenge or revelation. It addresses the deep-seated anxieties of a vulnerable people, providing divine peace in the face of human apprehension, a theme echoed in Isaiah 43:1 and Isaiah 44:2. Lastly, the explicit promise, "I will help thee," emphasizes Unwavering Divine Help and Sovereignty, assuring believers that they are not alone in their struggles and that the omnipotent God is committed to providing necessary aid and deliverance, stemming from His identity as "the LORD thy God," a powerful declaration of His covenant relationship and supreme authority over all creation, as seen in Isaiah 40:28-31.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • LORD (Hebrew, Yᵉhôvâh', H3068): Data, this is the sacred, covenant name of God, often rendered "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." It signifies "the self-Existent or Eternal," emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty, unchanging faithfulness, and eternal nature. In this context, the promise of holding and helping comes from the One who is utterly reliable and supreme, grounding the assurance in His very being and covenant commitment to His people.
  • hold (Hebrew, châzaq', H2388): Derived from the Strong's H2388 data, this root means "to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify)." In the context of God holding one's hand, châzaq conveys a firm, secure, and active grasp. It signifies God's powerful support, His strengthening presence, and His protective grip that prevents falling and imparts courage, demonstrating His active intervention and empowering care.
  • help (Hebrew, ʻâzar', H5826): From Strong's H5826, this root means "to surround, i.e. protect or aid; help, succour." This word signifies comprehensive and active assistance, implying not just moral support but tangible, effective intervention. God's promise to ʻâzar His people means He will surround them with His protection and provide all necessary aid and deliverance from their distress, flowing from His nature as the covenant-keeping God who actively sustains His own.

Verse Breakdown

  • "For I the LORD thy God": This opening clause establishes the identity and authority of the speaker. "The LORD" (Yahweh) emphasizes His covenant faithfulness and self-existent nature, while "thy God" highlights the personal, intimate, and exclusive relationship He has with His people, Israel. The promise is rooted in His very character and His commitment to His chosen ones.
  • "will hold thy right hand": This is a powerful anthropomorphic image depicting God's active and intimate involvement. The "right hand" symbolizes strength, power, and action. For God to hold it signifies His personal support, guidance, and the impartation of His strength to His people, preventing them from falling or faltering. It conveys protection, solidarity, and a pledge of assistance.
  • "saying unto thee, Fear not;": This is a direct, imperative command from God, addressing the deep-seated anxieties and fears of His people. It is not a suggestion but a divine injunction to overcome apprehension through trust in His presence and power. This phrase serves as a profound source of comfort and reassurance, directly confronting human weakness with divine authority.
  • "I will help thee.": This is a definitive and unconditional promise of divine intervention and succor. It assures the recipient that they are not alone in their struggles and that the omnipotent God is committed to providing all necessary aid, support, and deliverance. It is a declaration of active, effective assistance that flows from His nature as the covenant-keeping God.

Literary Devices

Isaiah 41:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of comfort and assurance. Anthropomorphism is central, as God is depicted with human attributes—specifically, a hand that can "hold" another's. This makes the abstract concept of divine care tangible and relatable, fostering a sense of intimacy and personal connection. The phrase "Fear not" functions as a direct Imperative, a divine command that is both authoritative and deeply compassionate, demanding a response of trust rather than succumbing to anxiety. The "right hand" is a powerful Symbol, representing strength, honor, and decisive action; God holding Israel's right hand therefore symbolizes His impartation of strength, His protective guidance, and His active intervention on their behalf. Furthermore, the recurring "Fear not" theme throughout Isaiah 40-55, including in this verse, demonstrates Repetition as a rhetorical strategy, reinforcing this critical message of divine assurance in the face of overwhelming despair. The concise, declarative statements also lend a sense of Authority and Certainty to God's promises.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Isaiah 41:13 profoundly articulates the theological truth of God's immanence and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It reveals a God who is not distant or detached but intimately involved in the lives of individuals, especially in their moments of deepest fear and vulnerability. This verse underscores His sovereignty, demonstrating that His power is not merely abstract but actively deployed for the succor of those He calls His own. The promise to "hold thy right hand" and "help thee" flows directly from His self-declared identity as "the LORD thy God," emphasizing His faithfulness to His covenant promises and His character as the ultimate source of strength and deliverance. It is a testament to divine grace, where God initiates and sustains His people through their trials, not based on their merit, but on His steadfast love and omnipotence. This passage serves as a foundational declaration of God's personal care, assuring believers that His presence is an active, sustaining force against all fear and adversity.

  • Psalm 73:23: "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand."
  • Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
  • Philippians 4:6-7: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Isaiah 41:13 offers a timeless wellspring of comfort and strength for believers navigating the complexities and anxieties of contemporary life. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, personal struggles, and overwhelming challenges, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that our Almighty God is not only aware of our fears but is intimately present and actively engaged in our lives. When we feel weak, lost, or overwhelmed by circumstances, we are invited to lean into the profound promise that the Creator of the universe is literally holding our hand, guiding us through the darkness and providing the precise strength we need. This divine assurance encourages us to surrender our anxieties to Him, trusting in His unfailing help and constant presence. It calls us to shift our focus from our limited human capabilities to His infinite power, affirming that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone, for our faithful God is with us to help, sustain, and lead us, just as He promised Israel.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the imagery of God holding your right hand personally comfort you when you face moments of fear or uncertainty?
  • What specific fears or anxieties in your life are you invited to surrender to the Lord, trusting in His explicit promise, "I will help thee"?
  • In what practical ways can you actively lean into God's promised presence and strength when you feel overwhelmed or inadequate?

FAQ

What does "holding thy right hand" signify in Isaiah 41:13?

Answer: The phrase "holding thy right hand" is a powerful anthropomorphic image signifying God's intimate presence, active support, and protective guidance. In ancient cultures, the right hand symbolized strength, honor, and decisive action. For God to hold someone's right hand means He is imparting His strength, preventing them from falling, leading them forward, and providing a secure, personal pledge of His unwavering assistance and solidarity. It conveys a deeply personal and active relationship, much like a parent holding a child's hand through a difficult path.

Why does God repeatedly say "Fear not" in Isaiah, especially in chapters 40-55?

Answer: The repeated divine imperative "Fear not" (e.g., Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 44:2) serves as a foundational theme in Isaiah's "Book of Comfort" because it directly addresses the profound despair, anxiety, and sense of abandonment felt by the Israelite exiles. They were facing national humiliation, displacement, and the perceived triumph of pagan gods. God's repeated command to "Fear not" is a direct challenge to their human apprehension, rooted in His declaration of His own sovereign identity and His unfailing covenant faithfulness. It is a call to trust in His supreme power over all nations and idols, and His ultimate plan for their redemption and restoration.

How does this verse apply to personal struggles and anxieties in the modern world?

Answer: Isaiah 41:13 transcends its original historical context to offer profound comfort and practical application for individuals today. In a world filled with personal anxieties, economic uncertainties, health challenges, and relational strains, the verse reminds us that God's character as "the LORD thy God" remains unchanged. His promise to "hold thy right hand" means He is intimately present in our struggles, offering His strength and guidance. The command "Fear not" is a divine invitation to surrender our worries to Him, trusting that His promise "I will help thee" is active and true. It encourages believers to find peace and courage not in their own abilities or circumstances, but in the unfailing, personal support of the Almighty God, who is always with them to sustain and deliver.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Isaiah 41:13 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While God promised to hold Israel's hand and help them, Jesus embodies the very presence of God "with us," becoming Immanuel. He is the ultimate manifestation of God's intimate presence and active help. In His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated God's power to calm fears, not just by words but by divine action, as seen when He rebuked the storm and brought peace, echoing the "Fear not" imperative. He literally "held the hands" of the sick and afflicted, bringing healing and restoration. More significantly, Jesus' entire life, death, and resurrection represent God's supreme act of "help" for humanity. Through His sacrifice, He provided the ultimate deliverance from sin and death, offering a help far beyond temporal aid. The promise "I will help thee" culminates in Christ's work on the cross, where He bore the weight of human fear and sin, and in His resurrection, which guarantees victory and eternal life. Furthermore, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the "Helper" or "Comforter" promised by Jesus in John 14:26, believers continue to experience God's intimate presence and sustaining power, ensuring that He will never leave nor forsake them, fulfilling the spirit of Isaiah 41:13 in every generation.

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Commentary on Isaiah 41 verses 10–20

The scope of these verses is to silence the fears, and encourage the faith, of the servants of God in their distresses. Perhaps it is intended, in the first place, for the support of God's Israel, in captivity; but all that faithfully serve God through patience and comfort of this scripture may have hope. And it is addressed to Israel as a single person, that it might the more easily and readily be accommodated and applied by every Israelite indeed to himself. That is a word of caution, counsel, and comfort, which is so often repeated, Fear thou not; and again (Isa 41:13), Fear not; and (Isa 41:14), "Fear not, thou worm Jacob; fear not the threatenings of the enemy, doubt not the promise of thy God; fear not that thou shalt perish in thy affliction or that the promise of thy deliverance shall fail." It is against the mind of God that his people should be a timorous people. For the suppressing of fear he assures them,

I. That they may depend upon his presence with them as their God, and a God all-sufficient for them in the worst of times. Observe with what tenderness God speaks, and how willing he is to let the heirs of promise know the immutability of his counsel, and how desirous to make them easy: "Fear thou not, for I am with thee, not only within call, but present with thee; be not dismayed at the power of those that are against thee, for I am thy God, and engaged for thee. Art thou weak? I will strengthen thee. Art thou destitute of friends? I will help thee in the time of need. Art thou ready to sink, ready to fall? I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, that right hand which is full of righteousness, in dispensing rewards and punishments," Psa 48:10. And again (Isa 41:13) it is promised, 1. That God will strengthen their hands, that is, will help them: "I will hold thy right hand, go hand in hand with thee" (so some): he will take us by the hand as our guide, to lead us in our way, will help us up when we are fallen or prevent our falls; when we are weak he will hold us up - wavering, he will fix us - trembling, he will encourage us, and so hold us by the right hand, Psa 73:23. 2. That he will silence their fears: Saying unto thee, Fear not. He has said it again and again in his word, and has there provided sovereign antidotes against fear: but he will go further; he will by his Spirit say it to their hearts, and make them to hear it, and so will help them.

II. That though their enemies be now very formidable, insolent, and severe, yet the day is coming when God will reckon with them and they shall triumph over them. There are those that are incensed against God's people, that strive with them (Isa 41:11), that war against them (Isa 41:12), that hate them, that seek their ruin, and are continually picking quarrels with them. But let not God's people be incensed at them, nor strive with them, nor render evil for evil; but wait God's time, and believe, 1. That they shall be convinced of the folly, at least, if not of the sin of striving with God's people; and, finding it to no purpose, they shall be ashamed and confounded, which might bring them to repentance, but will rather fill them with rage. 2. That they shall be quite ruined and undone (Isa 41:11): They shall be as nothing before the justice and power of God. When God comes to deal with his proud enemies he makes nothing of them. Or they shall be brought to nothing, shall be as if they had never been. This is repeated (Isa 41:12): They shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought, or as that which is gone and has failed. Those that were formidable shall become despicable; those that fancied they could do any thing shall be able to bring nothing to pass; those that made a figure in the world, and a mighty noise, shall become mere ciphers and be buried in silence. They shall perish, not only be nothing, but be miserable: Thou shalt seek them, shalt enquire what has become of them, that they do not appear as usual, but thou shalt not find them as David, Psa 37:36. I sought him, but he could not be found.

III. That they themselves should become a terror to those who were now a terror to them, and victory should turn on their side, Isa 41:14-16. See here, 1. How Jacob and Israel are reduced and brought very low. It is the worm Jacob, so little, so weak, and so defenceless, despised and trampled on by every body, forced to creep even into the earth for safety; and we must not wonder that Jacob has become a worm, when even Jacob's King calls himself a worm and no man, Psa 22:6. God's people are sometimes as worms, in their humble thoughts of themselves and their enemies' haughty thoughts of them - worms, but not vipers, as their enemies are, not of the serpent's seed. God regards Jacob's low estate, and says, "Fear not, thou worm Jacob; fear not that thou shalt be crushed; and you men of Israel" (you few men, so some read it, you dead men, so others) "do not give up yourselves for gone notwithstanding." Note, The grace of God will silence fears even when there seems to be the greatest cause for them. Perplexed but not in despair. 2. How Jacob and Israel are advanced from this low estate, and made as formidable as ever they have been despicable. But by whom shall Jacob arise, for he is small? We are here told: I will help thee, saith the Lord; and it is the honour of God to help the weak. He will help them, for he is their Redeemer, who is wont to redeem them, who has undertaken to do it. Christ is the Redeemer, from him is our help found. He will help them, for he is the Holy One of Israel, worshipped among them in the beauty of holiness and engaged by promise to them. The Lord will help them by enabling them to help themselves and making Jacob to become a threshing instrument. Observe, He is but an instrument, a tool in God's hand, that he is pleased to make use of; and he is an instrument of God's making and is no more than God makes him. But, if God make him a threshing instrument, he will make use of him, and therefore will make him fit for use, new and sharp, and having teeth, or sharp spikes; and then, by divine direction and strength, thou shalt thresh the mountains, the highest, and strongest, and most stubborn of thy enemies: thou shalt not only beat them, but beat them small; they shall not be a corn threshed out, which is valuable, and is carefully preserved (such God's people are when they are under the flail, Isa 21:10 : O my threshing! yet the corn of my floor, that shall not be lost); but these are made as chaff, which is good for nothing, and which the husbandman is glad to get rid of. He pursues the metaphor, Isa 41:16. Having threshed them, thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall scatter them. This perhaps had its accomplishment, in part, in the victories of the Jews over their enemies in the times of the Maccabees; but it seems in general designed to read the final doom of all the implacable enemies of the church of God, and to have its accomplishment likewise in the triumphs of the cross of Christ, the gospel of Christ, and all the faithful followers of Christ, over the powers of darkness, which, first or last, shall all be dissipated, and in Christ all believers shall be more than conquerors, and he that overcomes shall have power over the nations, Rev 2:26.

IV. That, hereupon, they shall have abundance of comfort in God, and God shall have abundance of honour from them: Thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, Isa 41:16. When we are freed from that which hindered our joy, and are blessed with that which is the matter of it, we ought to remember that God is our exceeding joy and in him all our joys must terminate. When we rejoice over our enemies we must rejoice in the Lord, for to him alone we owe our liberties and victories. "Thou shalt also glory in the Holy One of Israel, in thy interest in him and relation to him, and what he has done for thee." And, if thus we make God our praise and glory, we become to him for a praise and a glory.

V. That they shall have seasonable and suitable supplies of every thing that is proper for them in the time of need; and, if there be occasion, God will again do for them as he did for Israel in their march from Egypt to Canaan, Isa 41:17-19. When the captives, either in Babylon or in their return thence, are in distress for want of water or shelter, God will take care of them, and, one way or other, make their journey, even through a wilderness, comfortable to them. But doubtless this promise has more than such a private interpretation. Their return out of Babylon was typical of our redemption by Christ; and so the contents of these promises, 1. Were provided by the gospel of Christ. That glorious discovery of his love has given full assurance to all those who hear this joyful sound that God has provided inestimable comforts for them, sufficient for the supply of all their wants, the balancing of all their griefs, and the answering of all their prayers. 2. They are applied by the grace and Spirit of Christ to all believers, that they may have strong consolation in their way and a complete happiness in their end. Our way to heaven lies through the wilderness of this world. Now, (1.) It is here supposed that the people of God, in their passage through this world, are often in straits: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none; the poor in spirit hunger and thirst after righteousness. The soul of man, finding itself empty and necessitous, seeks for satisfaction somewhere, but soon despairs of finding it in the world, that has nothing in it to make it easy: creatures are broken cisterns, that can hold no water; so that their tongue fails for thirst, they are weary of seeking that satisfaction in the world which is not to be had in it. Their sorrow makes them thirsty; so does their toil. (2.) It is here promised that, one way or other, all their grievances shall be redressed and they shall be made easy. [1.] God himself will be nigh unto them in all that which they call upon him for. Let all the praying people of God take notice of this, and take comfort of it; he has said, "I the Lord will hear them, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them; I will be with them, as I have always been, in their distresses." While we are in the wilderness of this world this promise is to us what the pillar of cloud and fire was to Israel, an assurance of God's gracious presence. [2.] They shall have a constant supply of fresh water, as Israel had in the wilderness, even where one would least expect it (Isa 41:18): I will open rivers in high places, rivers of grace, rivers of pleasure, rivers of living water, which he spoke of the Spirit (Joh 7:38, Joh 7:39), that Spirit which should be poured out upon the Gentiles, who had been as high places, dry and barren, and lifted up on their own conceit above the necessity of that gift. And there shall be fountains in the midst of the valleys, the valleys of Baca (Psa 84:6), that are sandy and wearisome; or among the Jews, who had been as fruitful valleys in comparison with the Gentile mountains. The preaching of the gospel to the world turned that wilderness into a pool of water, yielding fruit to the owner of it and relief to the travellers through it. [3.] They shall have a pleasant shade to screen them from the scorching heat of the sun, as Israel when they pitched at Elim, where they had not only wells of water, but palm-trees (Exo 15:27): "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, Isa 41:19. I will turn the wilderness into an orchard or garden, such as used to be planted with these pleasant trees, so that they shall pass through the wilderness with as much ease and delight as a man walks in his grove. These trees shall be to them what the pillar of cloud was to Israel in the wilderness, a shelter from the heat." Christ and his grace are so to believers, as the shadow of a great rock, Isa 32:2. When God sets up his church in the Gentile wilderness there shall be as great a change made by it in men's characters as if thorns and briers were turned into cedars, and fir-trees, and myrtles; and by this a blessed change is described, Isa 55:13. [4.] They shall see and acknowledge the hand of God, his power and his favour, in this, Isa 41:20. God will do these strange and surprising things on purpose to awaken them to a conviction and consideration of his hand in all: That they may see this wonderful change, and knowing that it is above the ordinary course and power of nature may consider that therefore it comes from a superior power, and, comparing notes upon it, may understand together, and concur in the acknowledgment of it, that the hand of the Lord, that mighty hand of his which is stretched out for his people and stretched out to them, has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it, made it anew, made it out of nothing, made it for the comfort of his people. Note, God does great things for his people, that he may be taken notice of.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 10–20. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verse 8 and following) And you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend. I have taken hold of you from the ends of the earth, and summoned you from its farthest corners. I said to you, 'You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.' So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. You will seek them, and you will not find them: your rebel men will be as if they were not: and like the destruction of warring men against you. For I, the Lord your God, took hold of your hand, saying to you: Do not fear, I have helped you. Do not fear, words of Jacob, you who are dead from Israel. I have helped you, says the Lord, and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. I have made you like a new threshing sledge, with sharp teeth. You will crush the mountains and reduce them to dust; you will make them like fine dust. You will scatter them to the wind, and a whirlwind will blow them away. Then you will rejoice in the Lord; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. LXX: But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, they shall be confounded and ashamed, all your adversaries. They shall be as if they were not, and all your enemies shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them, those who rage against you. They shall be as if they were not, and they shall not fight against you. For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, 'Do not fear, O Jacob, O little Israel.' I have helped you, says God, who redeems you, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I have made you like new grinding wheels of a wagon, in the manner of saws: and you will grind the mountains and crush the hills: and you will scatter them like dust and the wind will carry them away, and the storm will disperse them. But you will rejoice in the Lord and in the holy ones of Israel. Paul the Apostle teaches that Jacob and Israel are both carnal and spiritual: See Israel according to the flesh (1 Cor. 10). From which we understand that there is also another according to the spirit; and the carnal are called Israel: If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham. And above all, it is said (In Chapter 40, verse 27): Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel: My way is hidden from the Lord: and my judgment has passed over from my God? On the contrary, now God speaks to the spiritual Israel, who has received the coming of his Lord, whom he first calls servant, then chosen, and finally the seed of Abraham. For before we received the spirit of slavery in fear (Romans 8); and afterwards, as the chosen ones, we are joined in friendship with God. Therefore, after the calling of the Gentiles, when they saw the islands and were afraid, they were astonished at the ends of the earth; they came near and approached, they are called the remnants, according to the choice of grace, of whom both the Gospel and the Evangelist write: Jesus chose these twelve, whom he also named Apostles (Luke 6), who were chosen after the servitude of the Law, in the Gospel; and they deserved to be the seed of Abraham, friends of God. For in that he apprehended them from the ends of the earth, and called Israel from its farthest borders, gathering first the people of the Jews, of whom also the Apostle Paul says: 'It was necessary that the word be preached to you first, but since you reject it, we will go to the Gentiles' (Acts 13:46). Therefore, to you, who are both my servant and my chosen one, who will preach among the Gentiles and endure many persecutions, I say, do not be afraid, for I am with you, to whom I speak in the Gospel: Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Do not wander, nor deviate from the truth, nor deceive yourself with false persuasion, thinking that with your inexperienced and unarmed strength, you can enter the wilderness of the nations and call the fiercest nations to gentleness. I am the one who has strengthened you and helped you; and my right hand, that is, the right hand of the righteous, that is, the Lord Savior, has supported you or protected you, as the Septuagint translates. Behold, for your adversaries, the people of the Jews and all who fight against you, and your persecutors will be turned into nothing, and you will seek your adversaries, and you will not find them. And the reason why you will not find your adversaries is explained: because they will be as if they do not exist. But you should not be afraid, because I have taken hold of your hand. I say to you, Do not be afraid: I have helped you; do not fear, worm of Jacob, who are dead from Israel, or as the LXX says, very few from Israel. This that we have set forth, I have helped you: do not fear, worm of Jacob, which is not found in the LXX. But the worm which is said in Hebrew, Tholath (), is called the chorus of the Apostles because of their humility and contempt, imitating the Savior, who speaks in the psalm: I am a worm, and not a man: the reproach of men, and the despising of the people (Psalm 22:7). For just as the worm penetrates the earth, so the apostolic word penetrated the cities of the nations and first entered the hardest hearts. And rightly few are called from Israel, because in comparison to the whole world, very few from the Jewish nation believed, to whom the Lord speaks in the Gospel: 'Do not be afraid, little flock' (Luke 12:32). Or, according to the Hebrew, the dead from Israel, who also say with the Apostle: 'I die daily' (2 Corinthians 15:31). And elsewhere: I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. (Galatians 2:20). And what follows: I have set thee as a new threshing cart, having tearing beaks, signifies that the preaching of the Gospel crushes the opposing powers and lifts up the spiritual wickedness that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; which, according to the variety of pride, are called mountains and hills. And when these are taken away and scattered like a whirlwind, let Israel exult and rejoice in the Holy Lord of Israel. We can also say that an ecclesiastical man, having the serpents of evangelical preaching on a new wagon, which does not work at all in the oldness of the letter, but in the freshness of the spirit, crushes the hardest hearts of unbelievers: separating the wheat from the chaff, and breaking mountains and hills, that is, all the leaders of heretics, who, being crushed and broken, are reduced to dust and taught that they are nothing, so that those who were gathered wickedly may be divided into their own good.
Cyril of AlexandriaAD 444
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 3:5.41:11-14
There are many who think of the holy mysteries and the saving message in disrespectful ways, but they amount to nothing, and such impious adversaries will perish. For those who oppose the divine agents of preaching are doing no less than fighting against the teachings of godliness.… For thousands will make war against God’s ministers, but these will end up as though they never existed and will clearly be brought low, falling under the machinery of the wrath of God. [Isaiah] tells them to quit relying on human strength and their own foolhardiness, saying, “I am your God who strengthens your arm,” that is, I am the one who supports you and makes you prevail in any test. I say to you, “Do not be afraid, O little Israel.”
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
DIALOGUE 1
When we hear the prophet say, “You, Israel, my child, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, whom I have loved,” we do not think, do we, that the Jews are only flesh and not complete human beings composed of bodies and rational souls?… And [don’t we think] that the seed of Abraham is not without a soul and not without a mind but that it possesses everything that belongs to Abraham’s nature?… We confess one Son, who, according to the divine apostle, took hold of the seed of Abraham and brought about the salvation of human beings.
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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