Isaiah 51:19

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?

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?

These two disasters have overcome you - yet who will grieve with you? - plunder and destruction, famine and sword; by whom can I comfort you?

These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Who will grieve for you? Who can comfort you?

These two things are befallen thee, who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; how shall I comfort thee?

Isaiah 51:19 is a poignant verse from the prophet Isaiah, depicting the profound suffering of Jerusalem (often personified as a woman) under divine judgment. It describes a state of utter desolation, where the calamities are so overwhelming that no human comfort or sympathy seems possible.

Context

This verse is situated within a larger section of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah," addressed primarily to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. While much of this section speaks of future restoration and God's faithfulness, verses like 51:17-23 vividly recall the past and present distress of Jerusalem. Prior to this verse, Jerusalem is pictured as having drunk the "cup of trembling" (Isaiah 51:17), a metaphor for God's wrath poured out due to her transgressions. Verse 19 underscores the severity of this judgment, highlighting the absence of anyone to offer solace during these dire circumstances.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Its Consequences: The verse lists four devastating outcomes: "desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword." These are classic biblical expressions of judgment, often resulting from siege, invasion, and war, bringing utter ruin and death. They represent the severe consequences of turning away from God's covenant.
  • Profound Suffering and Helplessness: The rhetorical questions, "who shall be sorry for thee?" and "by whom shall I comfort thee?", powerfully convey the depth of Jerusalem's anguish and her complete inability to find relief or sympathy from any quarter. This emphasizes her extreme vulnerability and isolation in her suffering.
  • A Prelude to God's Comfort: While the verse paints a bleak picture, it sets the stage for God's eventual intervention. The rhetorical question, "by whom shall I comfort thee?", implicitly points to the fact that only God Himself can ultimately provide true comfort and deliverance from such overwhelming distress, a theme that immediately follows in Isaiah 51:22-23.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "desolation" (שׁוֹד, shod) and "destruction" (שֶׁבֶר, shever) are potent terms. Shod often implies violent ruin or devastation, while shever refers to a breaking or shattering. Together with "famine" (רָעָב, ra'av) and "sword" (חֶרֶב, ḥerev), they paint a comprehensive picture of national catastrophe and the complete breakdown of society, commonly experienced during ancient sieges and invasions.

Practical Application

While specific to ancient Jerusalem's experience, Isaiah 51:19 speaks to the universal human experience of profound suffering and feeling utterly alone in distress. It reminds us that there are times when human comfort falls short, and our circumstances seem beyond remedy. For believers, this verse, when read in its broader context, ultimately points us to God as the only true source of comfort and deliverance, especially when facing the overwhelming consequences of sin or the trials of life. It encourages us to seek Him when all other sources of help prove insufficient, trusting in His ultimate promise to comfort His people.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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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