Isaiah 59:11

KJV

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off from us.

KJV (with Strong's)

We roar {H1993} all like bears {H1677}, and mourn {H1897} sore {H1897} like doves {H3123}: we look {H6960} for judgment {H4941}, but there is none; for salvation {H3444}, but it is far off {H7368} from us.

Complete Jewish Bible

We growl, all of us, like bears and moan pitifully like doves; we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.

Berean Standard Bible

We all growl like bears and moan like doves. We hope for justice, but find none, for salvation, but it is far from us.

American Standard Version

We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 59:11 offers a profound and poignant lament from the people of Israel, vividly portraying their deep spiritual and societal anguish. Through powerful animalistic imagery, they express a desperate yearning for divine intervention in the form of justice and salvation. This verse captures the painful realization that, due to their pervasive sin and moral decay, God's righteous judgment and redemptive power seem conspicuously absent and distant, leaving them in a state of profound despair and unfulfilled expectation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 59:11 serves as a heart-wrenching confession and lament situated within a chapter that meticulously details Israel's widespread sin and its devastating consequences. The preceding verses, particularly [Isaiah 59:1-8](/isaiah/59-1-8 "Isaiah 59:1-8 - The People's Sins and Their Separation from God"), lay bare the nation's iniquity, highlighting how their hands are defiled by violence, their fingers by wrongdoing, and their lips speak falsehood. The immediate context of [Isaiah 59:9-10](/isaiah/59-9-10 "Isaiah 59:9-10 - Consequences of Unrighteousness") already describes the absence of light, justice, and salvation, setting the stage for the collective cry of despair articulated in verse 11. This verse functions as the people's agonizing acknowledgment of the spiritual and moral darkness that has enveloped them, a direct result of their rebellion against God, before God's own response to their plight is introduced in subsequent verses like [Isaiah 59:15-16](/isaiah/59-15-16 "Isaiah 59:15-16 - God Sees and Acts").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the book of Isaiah spans various historical epochs, Chapter 59 most commonly reflects the moral decay and spiritual malaise prevalent either in the pre-exilic period leading up to the Babylonian exile or, more significantly, the post-exilic era. During the post-exilic period, the returned exiles struggled to rebuild their society and maintain covenant faithfulness, often falling back into patterns of injustice and unrighteousness. Culturally, the lament of the people reflects the deep covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where blessings were contingent upon obedience and curses followed disobedience, as profoundly outlined in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). The vivid imagery of roaring bears and mourning doves would have been readily understood by an agrarian society, conveying raw, visceral expressions of profound distress. The longing for "judgment" (justice) and "salvation" (deliverance) speaks to a society experiencing internal corruption, oppression, and a perceived absence of divine intervention, leading to a breakdown of social order and a profound sense of abandonment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the pervasive theme of **Human Sin and its Consequences**, demonstrating how Israel's widespread unrighteousness has created an insurmountable chasm between them and God, leading to a state of spiritual and societal brokenness where justice is perverted and truth is absent, as seen in [Isaiah 59:2-4](/isaiah/59-2-4 "Isaiah 59:2-4 - The Separation Caused by Sin"). Another prominent theme is the **Absence of Justice and Deliverance**, as the people lament that despite their desperate longing, neither divine justice nor saving intervention is apparent, underscoring the severity of their plight. This leads directly to the theme of **Profound Despair and Lament**, vividly expressed through the animalistic imagery, conveying a deep sense of helplessness and frustration. Ultimately, this lament also subtly introduces the theme of **Longing for Divine Intervention**, setting the stage for God's ultimate response later in the chapter, where He resolves to act because "there was no one to intercede" ([Isaiah 59:16](/isaiah/59-16 "Isaiah 59:16 - God's Intervention for Justice")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **roar (Hebrew, _hâmâh'_):** From H1993, this primitive root signifies making a loud sound, often implying great commotion, tumult, or rage. When applied to "bears," it evokes a deep, guttural, unrestrained sound of distress, perhaps of frustration or anger, reflecting the intense internal turmoil and chaotic state of the people. It is a sound born of profound disquiet and agitation.
* **judgment (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** From H4941, this word is rich in meaning, encompassing not merely a legal verdict but the broader concept of justice, righteousness, and the proper order of things. It includes divine law, individual rights, and customary practice. In this context, the people's longing for `mishpâṭ` is a desperate cry for God to set things right, to bring order, fairness, and vindication to a society where these elements are conspicuously absent.
* **salvation (Hebrew, _yᵉshûwʻâh'_):** From H3444, this feminine passive participle denotes something saved or deliverance. It signifies aid, victory, rescue, or welfare. The people's desperate search for `yᵉshûwʻâh` reveals their yearning for liberation from their oppressive circumstances, whether internal spiritual bondage or external societal distress, and for a restoration of their well-being and right relationship with God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"We roar all like bears":** This clause vividly portrays a collective, primal cry of anguish and frustration. The imagery of bears, known for their powerful and often unsettling roars, suggests a deep, guttural lament, perhaps even an expression of anger or a desperate plea born out of extreme distress and a sense of being trapped or threatened. It speaks to a raw, unrefined outpouring of pain and disquiet.
* **"and mourn sore like doves":** Contrasting with the forceful roar of bears, the mourning of doves evokes a softer, more sorrowful, and persistent lament. Doves' cooing is often associated with a gentle, mournful sound, symbolizing a deep, continuous, and perhaps helpless sorrow. The addition of "sore" (from `hâgâh`, which can mean to murmur or ponder deeply) emphasizes the intensity and pervasive nature of this sorrow, highlighting a profound, aching grief that consumes them.
* **"we look for judgment, but there is none":** This reveals the core of their despair. The people are actively "looking" or "waiting" (from `qâvâh`, to expect patiently) for divine justice and the restoration of proper order in their society. However, their desperate search yields nothing; justice is conspicuously absent, indicating a complete breakdown of moral and legal systems and a perceived lack of God's righteous intervention.
* **"for salvation, but it is far off from us":** Following the unfulfilled longing for justice, this clause expresses their equally frustrated hope for deliverance and rescue. "Salvation" here encompasses liberation from their current state of sin, oppression, and despair. The phrase "far off from us" (`râchaq`) emphasizes the perceived remoteness and inaccessibility of God's saving power, a direct consequence of their unrepentant sin that has created a chasm between them and their God.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 59:11 is rich with powerful **Imagery** and **Simile**, comparing the people's lament to the distinct sounds of "bears" and "doves." The "roar" of bears conveys a raw, forceful, perhaps even angry expression of distress, while the "mourning" of doves suggests a softer, more sorrowful, and persistent lament. This juxtaposition creates a vivid picture of multifaceted anguish, capturing both the intense outcry and the deep, pervasive sorrow. The verse also employs **Parallelism**, particularly antithetical parallelism, by pairing "judgment" with "salvation" and then stating their absence: "we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us." This structure emphasizes the complete lack of what they desperately seek. The use of "all" and "sore" can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, intensifying the collective and profound nature of their despair. Overall, the verse powerfully evokes strong **Pathos**, drawing the reader into the deep sorrow and unfulfilled longing of the people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the spiritual and existential crisis that arises when a people's sin has severed their connection with God, leading to a pervasive sense of injustice and abandonment. The lament in Isaiah 59:11 underscores the theological truth that sin creates a chasm, not only separating humanity from God's holy presence but also disrupting the very fabric of society, leading to a breakdown of moral order and the absence of divine justice and deliverance. It highlights humanity's inherent longing for righteousness and redemption, a yearning that remains unfulfilled when sin reigns. This passage serves as a stark reminder that true peace and societal well-being are inextricably linked to a right relationship with God and adherence to His righteous standards, and that rebellion inevitably leads to despair and a perceived distance from His saving hand.

* [Lamentations 3:42-44](/lamentations/3-42-44 "Lamentations 3:42-44 - God Has Hidden Himself")
* [Psalm 130:5-6](/psalms/130-5-6 "Psalm 130:5-6 - Waiting for the Lord")
* [Jeremiah 8:15](/jeremiah/8-15 "Jeremiah 8:15 - Looking for Peace, Finding Terror")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 59:11 serves as a timeless mirror, reflecting the profound consequences of collective and individual sin. It challenges us to examine our own lives and societies, asking whether our actions contribute to a culture where justice is elusive and spiritual hope feels distant. The lament of ancient Israel reminds us that when truth is suppressed, righteousness is neglected, and compassion is absent, the resulting despair is not merely an emotional state but a spiritual indicator of a deeper brokenness. For believers, this verse calls for a deep and honest self-assessment, encouraging repentance for personal and corporate sins that might hinder God's manifest presence and work in our midst. It also compels us to actively pursue justice and righteousness in our spheres of influence, becoming instruments of God's kingdom so that the lament for absent justice and distant salvation might be transformed into a song of His presence and deliverance. Though the despair is palpable, this lament also subtly points to the deep human need that only God can ultimately satisfy, prompting us to turn to Him with renewed earnestness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own actions or the collective actions of my community contribute to a sense of injustice or spiritual distance from God?**
* **How do I respond when I perceive a lack of justice or feel that God's help is "far off" in my own life or in the world around me?**
* **What practical steps can I take to be an agent of God's justice and a beacon of His salvation in my daily interactions and broader community?**

### FAQ
**What does the imagery of "roaring like bears" and "mourning like doves" convey?**

Answer: This imagery is a powerful **simile** used to express the multifaceted nature of the people's anguish. "Roaring like bears" (from `hâmâh`, meaning to make a loud sound, be in commotion) suggests a deep, guttural, and perhaps frustrated or angry cry of distress, indicative of intense internal turmoil and a chaotic situation. It's a raw, animalistic sound of profound disquiet. "Mourning sore like doves" (from `hâgâh`, to murmur, mourn deeply, and `yôwnâh`, dove) evokes a softer, more sorrowful, and persistent lament. Doves are known for their mournful cooing, symbolizing a deep, continuous, and perhaps helpless sorrow. Together, these images paint a vivid picture of a people experiencing both a forceful, desperate outcry and a profound, aching grief, highlighting the depth and pervasiveness of their despair.

**What is meant by "judgment" in this verse, and why is its absence significant?**

Answer: The Hebrew word for "judgment" here is `mishpâṭ` (H4941). It refers not merely to a legal verdict or condemnation, but to the broader concept of divine justice, righteousness, and the proper ordering of society. It encompasses God's moral law, fair governance, and the upholding of rights and truth. The people's lament that "there is none" signifies a complete breakdown of moral and legal systems within their society, where corruption and injustice are rampant. This absence of `mishpâṭ` means that the righteous are oppressed, the wicked go unpunished, and the divine order is severely disrupted, leading to chaos and despair. It highlights the profound consequences of a people's departure from God's standards, as seen in earlier verses like [Isaiah 59:4](/isaiah/59-4 "Isaiah 59:4 - No One Pleads Justly").

**Why is "salvation" described as "far off from us"?**

Answer: The term "salvation" (`yᵉshûwʻâh`, H3444) here refers to deliverance, rescue, or restoration from their current state of sin, oppression, and despair. It signifies God's saving power and intervention. The phrase "far off from us" (`râchaq`, H7368, meaning to be distant or removed) indicates the people's perception that God's saving hand is remote and inaccessible. This is not necessarily because God Himself is distant, but because their own pervasive sin has created a spiritual chasm, separating them from His presence and preventing them from experiencing His deliverance. As stated in [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Your Iniquities Have Separated You"), "your iniquities have separated between you and your God." Their unrepentant rebellion has made them feel abandoned and without hope of immediate relief or vindication from the very source of true salvation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 59:11, with its raw lament for absent justice and distant salvation, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The people's desperate cry for `mishpâṭ` (justice) and `yᵉshûwʻâh` (salvation) highlights humanity's inherent inability to bridge the chasm created by sin. It is precisely into this void of despair that Christ enters. He is the embodiment of God's perfect justice, the one who "will bring forth justice to the Gentiles" ([Matthew 12:18](/matthew/12-18 "Matthew 12:18 - Jesus Brings Justice to the Gentiles")) and through whom God's righteousness is revealed ([Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Through Faith")). Furthermore, Jesus is the very "salvation" that was "far off" from humanity. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), providing the ultimate deliverance that Israel longed for. Through His atoning sacrifice, He became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, the lament of Isaiah 59:11, a cry from a people separated by sin, is answered in the person and work of Christ, who draws near to us, bridging the chasm and bringing both perfect justice and eternal salvation within reach.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Ezekiel 7:16

¶ But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

Isaiah 51:20

Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.

Isaiah 59:9

¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk in darkness.

Psalms 85:9

Surely his salvation [is] nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalms 119:155

¶ Salvation [is] far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Psalms 38:8

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.