Isaiah 41:6

They helped every one his neighbour; and [every one] said to his brother, Be of good courage.

They helped {H5826} every one {H376} his neighbour {H7453}; and every one said {H559} to his brother {H251}, Be of good courage {H2388}.

Every one helps his fellow workman, everyone says to his brother, "Be strong!"

Each one helps the other and says to his brother, β€œBe strong!”

They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage.

Commentary

Isaiah 41:6 KJV reads, "They helped every one his neighbour; and [every one] said to his brother, Be of good courage." This verse captures a scene of human solidarity and mutual encouragement, but it's crucial to understand this within its broader prophetic context in Isaiah. The passage contrasts the fleeting efforts of mankind with the enduring power and faithfulness of God.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 40-48) where God declares His sovereignty over all nations and His unique ability to foresee and accomplish His plans. Immediately preceding Isaiah 41:6, verse 5 describes nations trembling and drawing near, perhaps in fear of God's impending judgment or the rise of a powerful conqueror (like Cyrus, who is mentioned later in Isaiah). The verses that follow, specifically Isaiah 41:7, make it clear that this "helping" and "encouraging" is occurring among idol makers. They are depicted as feverishly working together, strengthening each other in their futile efforts to create gods that cannot save, in response to a perceived crisis or divine display of power.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Human Effort Apart from God: The primary theme is the stark contrast between human attempts to find security or strength through their own devices (like idols) and God's true, unwavering power. The collective encouragement, while appearing positive, is ultimately misdirected and ineffective because it's grounded in a false hope.
  • Misplaced Courage: The "be of good courage" is a human-generated resolve, not a divine one. It highlights how people might rally together, even with good intentions, but if their foundation is not God, their efforts will ultimately fail. This contrasts with God's command to "be strong and of a good courage" based on His presence.
  • Idolatry and Self-Reliance: The surrounding verses explicitly link this mutual support to the manufacturing and worship of idols. It illustrates humanity's tendency to rely on man-made solutions and self-sufficiency rather than trusting in the one true God, who promises to help and uphold His people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Be of good courage" comes from the Hebrew word chazaq (Χ—Φ²Χ–Φ·Χ§), which means "to be strong," "to be firm," or "to take courage." While often used positively in the Bible when God encourages His servants (e.g., Joshua, David), here it is applied to human beings encouraging each other in a context that is ultimately vainβ€”the creation of idols. This highlights that even commendable human traits like mutual support can be misapplied when not rooted in God's truth.

Practical Application

Isaiah 41:6 serves as a powerful reminder for us today. In times of crisis or uncertainty, where do we seek our strength and courage? Do we rely solely on human systems, collective efforts, or material possessions? Or do we turn to the living God, who alone can provide genuine security and lasting peace? This verse challenges us to examine the source of our hope and to ensure that our encouragement to one another is grounded in the truth of God's Word and His promises, rather than in the fleeting comforts of human endeavors or false gods.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 3:1

    ΒΆ Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

  • Daniel 3:7

    Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

  • 1 Samuel 4:7

    And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

  • 1 Samuel 4:9

    Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

  • Isaiah 40:19

    The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

  • Isaiah 44:12

    The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

  • Acts 19:24

    For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
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